Far too often, LGBTQ+/SSA people feel alienated from the good news of Jesus by their experiences of sexuality or gender. How can Christian communities become places where LGBTQ+/SSA Christians know they belong, and how do we invite LGBTQ+/SSA folks outside the Church to begin exploring who Jesus is? We’ll discuss best practices we’ve seen both in campus ministry and beyond.
Greg Coles is the author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers. He holds a PhD in English from Penn State and lives in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, where he works as a writer and speaker. Greg is a Senior Research Fellow at The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender.
Jess Pafumi has served with InterVarsity for 10 years. She’s InterVarsity’s first Human Sexuality Resource Specialist serving in the Discipleship and Leadership Department. Her role includes creating and testing ministry resources to better serve the LGBTQ+/SSA community on college campuses. She trains and coaches staff and pastors on how to show hospitality to sexual and gender minorities. Jess also serves locally as a planting Area Director.