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Tim Otto is pastor of Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco, California, an intentional community that lives and serves together: “We believe God intends Christians to live out the pursuit of holiness not just individually but with a people, with a local church.” The community offers an apprenticeship program, where one can apply to join this unique fellowship for a year, as well as discern a long-term commitment. Tim, who is gay and theologically affirming of same-sex relationships, discerned a vow of celibacy in 2009 in order to devote himself to ministry. He has long given his life to serving others. As a Registered Nurse he was one of the first to work with AIDS patients. He has pastored Sojourners while simultaneously serving the broader San Francisco community.

Tim grew up in the Baptist church as a missionary kid (MK). Being an MK had its challenges, including attending seventeen different schools before he graduated high school. But Tim held fast to his Christian faith and began looking for ways to make a difference in the world from a young age, whether serving immigrants or teaching English through World Relief. In an article he wrote for Plough, he says, “Love perseveres in spite of failure, and humbly seeks forgiveness and love from God and others – and to forgive and love others – for the thousandth time. Love is rare because it is so difficult. At the Simple Way, a community known for service to its poor neighborhood, the participants say, ‘The most radical thing we do is choose to love each other…again and again.’” Tim has a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree from Duke Divinity School and has authored two books: Inhabiting the Church: Biblical Wisdom for a New Monasticism (co-authored with Jon Stock and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove) and Oriented to Faith: Transforming the Conflict Over Gay Relationships.

Listen to Tim Otto talk about the church and living in community in this podcast episode with pastor Tom of Sycamore Church.

One of the most amazing people that has changed history for the better, and yet who most people have never heard of, is Pauli Murray (1910-1985). I first learned about Pauli when I lived in Durham, North Carolina, which happens to be the hometown of this remarkable Christian. Across Durham, you will find beautiful murals of Pauli tucked away in various parts of the city, along with a childhood home still standing and now preserved as The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. It’s the home where Pauli was sent to live  with relatives after becoming an orphan at the age of three.

Pauli experienced tremendous adversity from both racial and sex discrimination, including being barred from enrollment at the University of North Carolina for being Black and later being barred from Harvard for being a woman. Pauli also experienced the stress of being attracted to the same-sex and gender atypical at a time when both were taboo (looking for answers, an exploratory surgery was performed to discern if an intersex condition was present). Pauli persevered, eventually graduating from Yale Law School (1965) and is credited by Thurgood Marshall as the influence behind the arguments that overturned segregation laws. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) similarly credits Pauli with the arguments in Reed v. Reed, a landmark Supreme Court case that ruled against sex discrimination. Pauli was many things: a lawyer, poet, human rights advocate, professor, and pastor. This brief description doesn’t begin to do justice. I was awestruck reading Pauli’s autobiography, Song in a Weary Throat, which is rich with major historical events that Pauli was actively involved in. A true history maker.

A life-long Christian, Pauli entered seminary at the age of 62 and helped to overturn a ban on the ordination of women in the Episcopal church. In one interview Pauli said, “If you want to talk in theological terms, I would say I have been led, guided, and directed all my life. This door was closed so this door would open. I’ve always been more or less a devout Christian . . . I take very little credit for the things I’ve done except . . . that I’ve been responsive to the Holy Spirit.”  To meet Pauli, watch the excellent new documentary My Name is Pauli Murray (available on Prime). The trailer is below:

I first encountered B. T. Harman through his amazing podcast called Blue Babies Pink, which tells the story of what it’s like to grow up in the Bible Belt and realize you are gay. Later, I was able to get to know him in-person through LGBTQ Christian leadership circles. His story, Blue Babies Pink, is truly riveting. Thousands of people have listened to it or read the blog version. Episodes of the podcast have been downloaded more than a million times and it reached #1 on iTunes Religion/Spirituality chart. The story has been transformative for many people who listen to it.

B. T. Harman was born in Texas, but raised in Alabama after his family moved there when he was just six years old. As the son of a Baptist preacher, B. T. has a strong Christian faith and still attends a Baptist church in Atlanta, where he lives with his husband, Brett. For many years, B. T. worked for Booster, an organization that helps schools raise much needed funds. With his corporate team, he raised millions of dollars for elementary schools. In 2016, he launched his own speaking and consulting business, which includes teaching others storytelling for creative campaigns, leadership skills, as well as addressing LGBTQ concerns. One of the outreaches he started is Harbor, which provides support and education for parents of LGBTQ people.

But most recently, B. T. has become smitten with the Camino de Santiago, a network of walking routes popular with Christians on pilgrimage. After taking more than one pilgrimage himself, he founded Camino Made. Is he about to start taking others on the journey? If so, I might be the first to sign up!

To get to know B. T. and be inspired by his story, click on the image below to get started.

I first met Pastor Candace Hardnett about four or five years ago through ministry connections, and I was immediately struck by her deep passion for Christ. Pastor Candace was born and raised in a small Virginia town. After serving in the Marines, she planted a church called Agape Empowerment Ministries, which she has served for the past fourteen years. She also started a podcast called Godly and Gay. In 2021, she created a popular TikTok channel that uses humor to challenge prejudice against LGBTQ people. Pastor Candace and her wife, Erika, have three daughters and live in Savannah, Georgia.

Trust me, you do not want to miss this encouraging word from Pastor Candace. Click on the video below to listen to her sermon entitled, “I’m Still Standing.” She starts preaching about the 15 min 24 second mark. But, I encourage you to enjoy the worship from the beginning (opening prayer and singing). It will encourage your heart as well. If the challenges of life have you down, the Holy Spirit can lift you up.