Rev. Debra Peevey became the first open LGBT person to be ordained in her denomination when she was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1981. She served as pastor of Findlay Street Christian Church and later as a hospice chaplain. While serving as chaplain, she attended Seattle University’s program in Transforming Spirituality and became a spiritual director. She continues her private practice as a spiritual director today. Debra was one of two statewide faith field organizers in California against Prop. 8 and also has served as the outreach director for More Light Presbyterians in their work to end ordination barriers for LGBT faithful. Most recently, she served as the faith director of Washington United for Marriage, helping to pass marriage equality for loving, committed same-sex couples in Washington State. Debra lives in Arizona with her partner of 29 years, Candy Cox.
Jean-Marie Navetta is the Director of Equality and Diversity Partnerships for PFLAG National. In her role, she leads PFLAG’s Straight for Equality project, an effort to invite, educate and engage new straight allies in the fight for equality. Her most recent accomplishment was the completion of be not afraid – help is on the way! straight for equality in faith communities, a publication, web resource and training series to engage more allies of faith to come out with their support for people who are LGBT. Jean-Marie lives in San Francisco, CA, with her wife, Jude.
Andrew has been the minister at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, MD for eight years. He is married to the Rev. Kate Foster Connors, and they have two daughters. Andrew serves as clergy co-chair of BUILD, a faith-based citizen power group in Baltimore, and is a leader in the NEXT movement in the PCUSA.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Danny is 37 years old, the youngest of five children. He is the child of first generation Cuban immigrants. He is currently a member of the Riviera Presbyterian Church in Miami and a second year seminarian at St. Thomas University.
Nathan Sobers is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and currently serves as co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians, a group advocating for full inclusion of LGBT Presbyterians in the life and ministry of the church. Nathan also serves as Clerk of Session for his home congregation, Madrona Grace Presbyterian Church in Seattle. He and his partner Michael recently celebrated their 26th anniversary.
Will has been married to Becky for 22 years. They are the parents of Ian, 21, and Megan, 19 (and CoCo and TyTy, their miniature pincers). Will and Becky live in Benicia, CA. Will has served as pastor of Community Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, CA, a PCUSA/UCC congregation, for almost eight and a half years.
Macky is a documentary filmmaker and senior director of Auburn Media, a program at Auburn Seminary that helps faith leaders committed to justice speak out powerfully in the media. He is a descendant of three generations of Presbyterian ministers who were all committed to justice in different eras in the American south. He is a gay dad and husband in New York.
The Rev. Dr. Katharine Rhodes Henderson is President of Auburn Theological Seminary, an organization whose leadership has been focused for many years on equality for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and beyond. One of Auburn’s hallmarks is to bring people together who wouldn’t otherwise meet for conversations they wouldn’t otherwise have—in other words to keep people on opposing sides of a position at the table together for deeper understanding and respect, even if or especially when they don’t agree.
Rev. Ray Bagnuolo is the Minister Evangelist for That All May Freely Serve, an organization that works pastorally for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBT/Q) Christians in the PC(USA). Ray is also the Stated Supply Pastor at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House, serving our sisters and brothers who experience conditions of homelessness in New York City. Additionally, he serves on the Board of More Light Presbyterians.
Rev. Mieke Vandersall (pronounced “Meeka”) is a clergywoman and director of Presbyterian Welcome, an organization working to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Mieke is a lesbian who says she “comes to this work as a necessity—so that I can serve God with my whole heart and that others with whom I have the privilege of serving with can also do so with their own heart.”
Popular Conversations
Partner Blog
- See more of Janet's favorite links.
