Letting our light shine: we affirm our LGBTQ+ kindred
By Rev. Cal Payne-Taylor
In his letter to the ancient Christian community in Rome, Saint Paul wrote: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). As a queer Episcopal priest, I interpret these verses as a sign of hope that nothing can keep us from God’s unconditional love, a love that affirms the unique identity, inherent dignity, and sacred belovedness of every person. I believe that each of us has been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), an image deep and wide enough to embrace the diversity of the whole human family. I am convinced that our God delights in our diversity, for we are “wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) by a God whose creativity surprasses even our wildest imaginings.
These theological ideas and Scriptural interpretations are representative of the conversations that I have had with members of the Christ Church community in my first few months of ordained ministry. I am what is known as a Curate, which means a newly ordained priest who is mentored by a seasoned Rector while serving alongside her in ministry. Since I arrived in June 2024—the very next day after my ordination to the priesthood—the Christ Church community as a whole has also become a collective mentor to me, blessing me with the wisdom and insights of many lifetimes, while also trusting me as a preacher, pastor, and teacher in their midst. This community has helped me live into my identity as a freshly ordained priest, and has embraced me as an openly queer minister. And together, we have been exploring and deepening what it means to be an LGBTQ+ affirming community.
As a member congregation of the Episcopal Church in the United States, our parish community is committed to following Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, with each other, and with all creation, including its living and nonliving members. Integral to the vows we make at our baptisms is the commitment to strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and to respect the dignity of every person. We continually renew these commitments throughout our lives, and we seek to faithfully embody them in many expressions as the years unfold. Together, we ask questions with open minds and hearts, and we listen for God’s wisdom as we learn from one another. Along the way we make mistakes, seek reconciliation, and find forgiveness—ultimately deepening our relationships with one another and our loving God.
Our mutual listening and learning as a community recently led us into a new ministry. This August, the Christ Church and Ventana School communities came together to show our love and support for our local LGBTQ+ kindred at Silicon Valley PRIDE. We partnered with several other local Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of California, San Francisco Bay Area and the Diocese of El Camino Real in hosting a booth at the PRIDE festival in downtown San Jose. A contingent of Christ Church and Ventana families, staff, and clergy also marched in the PRIDE parade that Sunday morning.
At our PRIDE festival booth, volunteers from our combined parish and school communities offered a welcoming presence, compassionate listening, and friendly conversation to festival attendees. We gave out a rainbow array of candles with stickers that read “Let your light shine!” Additionally, brightly colored kazoos proved to be a big hit—over a hundred and twenty were taken home by delighted festival-goers. One memorable moment from our time at PRIDE was the formation of an impromptu kazoo ensemble, led by two young children of the parish. A group of us formed a circle around them, clapping and chanting, “Good News! Kazoos! Good News! Kazoos!” Our laughter, joy, and open-ended Christian witness came as a surprise to some PRIDE attendees over the course of the two festival days. One person who stopped by our booth told us, with a radiant smile, “I never knew a church could be accepting like this!” Another person broke down in tears when they saw what our booth represented. I offered them a hug, and then simply stood with them as their holy tears soaked into my shoulder. They shared that they were grieving the lack of acceptance they had experienced from churches in the past, while also shedding tears of joy for encountering an affirming Christian community now. I felt so grateful to be able to come together with Christ Church community members to share God’s unconditional love with our LGBTQ+ kindred here in the South Bay—and to be an openly queer priest in the midst of this congregation.
As a queer priest and follower of Christ, I trust with my whole heart that we are each beloved by God in our creaturely goodness, just as we are. Members of the LGBTQ+ community offer a unique reflection of the divine face—of Love itself. The sacred light of our queerness shines out into a world whose awareness of our radiance continues to dawn. Yet I believe that the fullness of that bright morning of acceptance and liberation is coming. Until it does, I have hope for us in radical solidarity with one another and with the communities—like Christ Church—that affirm and uplift us. We are resilient, as our LGBTQ+ forebears have been throughout the centuries. We know the sacred arts of joy, play, celebration, deep listening and witnessing one another’s truths as means of resistance and liberation. These sacred arts lie at the heart of my ministry, and I gladly offer them to you. And so, if you would like to meet for coffee and conversation with a local queer priest who is always available to listen, witness, and celebrate you for who you are, please be in touch anytime at cal@ccla.us or 650-948-2151 x212.
