Writing for a safe, sacred space.
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#10YearChallenge
I’ve never been one to stand on the sidelines, especially if there’s a bandwagon to jump on. So here’s my contribution to the #10YearChallenge. 2009 was a good year in many ways. I had just started my new job as worship pastor at Redeemer Covenant Church in...
Gay God Love Year
A few weeks back, I wrote about why my identity as a gay man matters—-even in church, maybe even especially in church. I'm glad that I was able to find the words and that they resonated with so many of you. It led to some good, healthy conversations on Facebook and...
We Get It, You’re Gay
includer © David Hayward aka The Naked Pastor Purchase a print here. I recently got some feedback about my ministry from someone who used to go to my church. He basically said "I don't want to hear that Matt's gay every Sunday." Oof. I'll admit it. That hurt a little...
Deeply Christian and Profoundly Gay
It's National Coming Out Day, and I have been doing a lot of thinking about my identity. For many, many years I tried to deny a central part of myself, and when I finally came out publicly in 2016, it was really important to me to "live in congruence with reality."...
Not a Good Look
This is not a good look for The Evangelical Covenant Church. It's fascinating for me to watch all of this from the outside. I DEEPLY understand all of the perspectives, both conservative and progressive, that surround this issue. I understand the reasons that my...
Prayer and Worship at the Birthplace of the Modern Gay Rights Movement
Sometimes I can’t believe the places I find myself. God keeps opening doors that I never would have even imagined walking through. This afternoon I spent time at the Ralston White Retreat Center with my new friends CJ, Leah, Sylvia and the...
Meeting Marsha Stevens
<br /> I grew up listening to this song. It was basically a standard in my family and in the churches in which I grew up. And the more I learn about its writer, the more excited I get to meet her and experience her ministry this afternoon. "For Those Tears...
“Every gay person must come out…”
June is always an important month for LGBTQ+ people, a chance for us to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our community and to fight against oppression and injustice in all areas of our lives. It's also a time for queer people to come out, to speak our truth into...
One Spot Left
Last night I spent a couple of hours with six men from all over the United States and Canada. Such a diversity of age, family, career, faith backgrounds, financial situations and life experiences. The one thing they all shared in common? They are all gay men who, for...
#UnchangedLGBTQ
I'm delighted to be featured as part of Q Christian Fellowship's #UnchangedLGBTQ series this week. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to publicly thank four people who made such a difference in my life. So much love to you, Justin Lee, Fred Harrell, Annie...
Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv, former Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International