John Magisano: It was a great joy to attend my first Queer Christian Fellowship conference in Portland, OR, USA this year, which was held last January 22 to 25.

I have followed this group for years and wanted to experience it firsthand. I was immediately struck by the sense of welcome and community offered by this wonderfully diverse group of LGBTQ Christians and allies. The diversity represented was not only in terms of race, ethnicity, physical ability, national origin, gender identity and sexual orientation, but also of religious tradition, denominational affiliation and theological orientation.

QCF offers a “big tent” for Christians with different understandings of Scriptural and doctrinal interpretations for queer people of faith. Somewhat challenging to my own queer Christian identity was the welcoming space for “Side B” Christians (those who embrace their queer identity but for personal or religious reasons choose to maintain celibacy) and people in mixed orientation marriages (LGBTQ people married to straight people). In addition, there were many survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” attempts, often forced into it by their families or churches. Also present were many parents and family members of queer Christians.

QCF offers a safe and welcoming space for all, regardless of where on the queer spectrum one falls. The plenary sessions and workshops made rich contributions with thought-provoking material from authors, researchers and podcasters. Worship services were inspiring and included wonderful preaching and soul-stirring music with styles ranging from Pentecostal to liturgical. The conference offered multiple volunteer opportunities, and I volunteered for the prayer team. This wonderful team offered prayer partners available at all worship services, in the quiet space of a dedicated prayer and sensory lounge, and 1:1 prayer with those who asked.

This was frequent as participants brought many wounds and could be triggered by material that brought up past trauma. I was greatly impressed with the level of volunteer training and preparation, including the community’s safety guidelines, clear boundaries and the availability of other mental health and pastoral care resources for situations requiring more than prayer.

Finally, I was struck by how many people there had been influenced by MCC in some way. Almost everyone I spoke with had some experience with MCC on their journey, some directly, some through mentors who came through MCC, others from reading books by our founder, the Rev. Moderator Troy Perry or by our former Moderator, the Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson. Many expressed gratitude for MCC opening the door and living the truth that being LGBTQ and Christian are not diametrically opposed as rightwing Christianity would have us believe.

The QCF and the diversity of queer liberation movements within Christianity would not have been possible without those twelve people gathered in Rev. Troy Perry’s living room in October 1968.