Click here to view a video recording of this CLGS event!
Click here to view the video presentation.
Lent is perhaps the queerest season of the liturgical year. The richness and complications of this liturgical season make it a fertile ground for exploring queer exegetical opportunities and community discussion. A queering of Lent can offer us many new ways to explore our faith in church communities.
In this CLGS and MCC Queering the Word preaching workshop, we examined the lectionary texts for Year A, from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, and provided supplemental materials that highlight queer icons and heroes who can enrich our Lenten journey and the hope of resurrection.
Our presenters for this workshop were MCC clergy Rev. Dr. Tijuana Gray, Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw, and Rev. Lauren Bennett.
Rev. Dr. Tijuana Gray
Rev. Dr. Tijuana Gray studies the implications and applications of womanist thought for the queer church. She has pastored two MCC churches and has served the denomination in several roles. In addition to her scholarly and ministerial pursuits, Tijuana is an actor/singer/dancer, movement specialist, and bodyworker. She loves to travel, eat, and cook, and is grateful for a spouse who supports all of her activities and participates in a few.
Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw
Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw is the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa. Jakob received his MDiv and Certificate in Sexuality and Religion from the Pacific School of Religion and his MA in Ethics and Social Theory from the Graduate Theological Union. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Christian Theology and Spiritual Direction from Cardiff University in Wales, and a BA in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Christianity and Islam, from the University of South Florida. Jakob has led trainings on human rights and participated transgender advocacy throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Central and Eastern Europe. Jakob’s favorite thing in life is being a dad! He lives in Tampa, Florida, with his husband and their two children.
Rev. Lauren Bennett
Rev. Lauren Bennett is the Pastor at MCC Greater St. Louis. In addition, Lauren coordinates conferences and events for the MCC denomination. As a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she lived in Washington, DC for four years before moving to the Midwest. Coming from a community organizing background, Lauren is particularly passionate about working with the crucified of our time for liberation from systems of oppression. In her free time, she loves being outside, reading, and spending time with her wife AhSa-Ti and son Ahmmit.
Our CLGS Queering the Word preaching workshops are designed for Christian preachers, seminarians, and anyone else interested in the art of preaching from a queer perspective!
Click here to see a list of other workshops in this series.
