The Journey Begins

Let the highest truths and values guide you. Live up to those demanding standards in everything you do. -Quaker Saying

Hey everyone! Welcome to Gay by the Grace of God: A Gay Seminarian’s Journey. I’m really excited to start this blog about my seminary journey, church life in my small congregation, and my work as a commissioned minister of both music and LGBT Outreach at First Christian Church-Katy here in Houston, TX. I’ll also be taking a look at ways to be better christian allies in marginalized communities and how that can direct our activism to create a more welcoming culture in our churches and society in general.

My Story So Far…

I was born in Lansing, MI and started singing and playing the piano almost immediately. I attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI and graduated with my Bachelors in Vocal Performance in 2014. During my time at Western I studied the organ and began playing church services throughout the lower west side of Michigan. After that I went to Wichita, KS and was a student singer at University Congregational Church for two years and eventually the interim organist at First United Methodist Church of Wichita for a few months before I moved to Houston, TX. Fortunately, just a month after I moved here I found my new church home and haven’t left since. It was at this church that I finally realized that my call was in church work bridging the gap specifically between the LGBT Community and the religious communities here in the U.S.

I’ve recently started pursuing a M.Div from Phillips Theological Seminary which has proven to be an amazing experience already. I’m looking forward to see what new things I will learn and how it will help me grow over the next few years until graduation and a hopeful ordination in the Disciples of Christ Church.

I hope you join me in this long, exciting journey.

Peace and blessings,

Rev. Mike