Announcement: New Queer Committee Established By Eastern Synod Council
As a church committed to speaking out against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the Eastern Synod recognizes that there is still much work to do.
Amid rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ and anti-trans hate, we commit to going beyond awareness, and are taking actionable steps to support the queer community, including our trans, nonbinary, Two Spirit, and gender diverse siblings.
At their November 2024 meeting, the Eastern Synod Council took steps to establish a new 2SLBGTQIA+ Portfolio, under which was the establishment of a Queer Committee in the Eastern Synod. Rev. Adam Snook will provide staff support in this area.
Queer is a term that offers a unifying and celebratory way of appreciating those whose gender and sexual orientation identities are not heterosexual or cisgender. Once a derogatory term that has caused much harm, the word ‘queer’ has been reclaimed by many in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as a way of appreciating difference instead of stigmatizing it. Some people prefer to identify as ‘queer’ instead of a specific letter of the acronym as a way to gain a measure of privacy, while claiming a place in the larger community.
The mandate for the committee will be as follows:
- To provide opportunities for education and self-awareness of queer persons, our relationships with them and the experiences of life in the church.
- To bring concerns of Queer persons before congregations on a regular basis and to equip rostered leaders and lay people with resources and support for worship, learning, and pastoral care.
- To encourage and facilitate participation in the RIC (Reconciling In Christ) process within Congregations, the Eastern Synod ministries and staff.
- To coordinate an intentional public presence at pride events across the territory of the Eastern Synod.
- To respond to current world events by calling the church to advocacy and action.
Committee Members
Rev. Brett Ballenger (he/him/they)
Deacon Sherry Coman (she/her)
Rev. Victoria Featherston (she/they)
Rev. Steve Hoffard (he/him)
Masha Koyama (she/they)
Rev. Lori Pilatzke (she/her)
Rev. Adam Snook (he/him)
Rev. Ralph Carl Wushke (he/him/his)
Committee Member Hopes & Dreams
