Biblical & Theological Support for Inclusion

At Covenant Conversation: New Castle Presbytery, the Rev. Dr. Tracy Keenan and the Rev. Matt Gaventa asserted the good news of Jesus Christ and God’s expansive love by reviewing God’s Word as it relates to gender and sexuality.

The Rev. Dr. Tracy Keenan is missional presbyter of New Castle Presbytery, where she sparks enthusiasm and hope in member churches as they lean into loving their communities as God loves them. Before coming to New Castle Presbytery, she pastored churches in Pittsburgh, PA  and Columbus, OH.

The Rev. Matt Gaventa (he/him) is senior pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, a congregation with a long history of striving for inclusion across its ministries. He previously served as pastor to Amherst Presbyterian Church in Amherst, Virginia, and as chaplain to Sweet Briar College. Matt is an acclaimed writer and preacher whose work has been featured in Working Preacher and in The Christian Century, for whom he co-hosts the podcast Sunday Morning Matinee. Matt also sits on the Advisory Boards of Day1 and of The Church Lab. Matt holds degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Iowa, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has spoken at Covenant Network of Presbyterians events and served on the board since 2018.