Courageously Building a Church for All — Panel Discussion
Setting the foundation for Covenant Conversation: East Iowa/Great Rivers, church leaders from across the region and the country shared ways we can create sacred spaces that are safe and affirming for all God’s people—especially those who have have historically experienced exclusion from the church. A panel of LGBTQIA+ church leaders and family members told their stories, lifted up the significance of these efforts, and offered practical help for congregations and individuals trying to bring about change in their communities. As we all strive to expand the church’s welcome, this conversation with Katie Styrt, Slats Toole, Tim Haworth, and Paul Winer—moderated by Covenant Network of Presbyterians Executive Director Brian Ellison—challenges us to listen, learn, and act.
Rev. Katie Styrt (she/her) currently serves as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Milan, IL. She grew up in a church where being bisexual was no barrier to being loved and supported, and works to foster that same spirit of welcome in the congregations she serves. She is passionate about contextualizing scripture, board games, and pub trivia. Milan is the fourth First Presbyterian Church she’s served!
Tim Haworth (he/him) currently serves as Parish Chaplain for First Presbyterian Church in Springfield IL. Tim is the grandson, nephew, and cousin to generations of pastors. Starting with a third grade Sunday school class his junior year in high school, Tim has served the church in some form (volunteer or staff) for almost 50 years. Tim’s grandma was the Sunday school superintendent at the time, and he did what he was “voluntold”. Other roles Tim has held in the local church include youth leader, camp staff and ultimately camp program director, lead worshipper, lay associate pastor, hospice chaplain, and parish chaplain. Tim also has served in the “outside world” as a mental health case manager and ultimately assistant director of a county mental health board. In his free time, when such a thing existed, Tim enjoyed working with the local community theater group taking roles on-stage and back-stage. Tim is proud to be serving his community as president of UNITED: Open and Affirming Faith Communities (advocating for justice and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people in our community), treasurer of the Heartland Housed Board (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating homelessness in our county) and the PCUSA as moderator of the newly formed LGBTQIA+ Equity Advocacy Committee. Tim will be the committee’s corresponding member to the General Assembly. Tim lives in Springfield with his husband Jeff and a pack of three dogs and a cat.
Slats Toole (they/them) is a writer, musician, preacher and theater professional currently based in Minneapolis, MN. Slats’ Lenten poetry series has been compiled in the collection Queering Lent, and their work has also been published in places like Call to Worship, The Presbyterian Outlook and Sacramental Life. Slats has led workshops on expansive language and queer theology (with a particular emphasis on gender identity) throughout the United States and Canada, and is proud to serve on the Covenant Network board.
Paul Winer (he/him) lives in Fairfield Iowa and is a member of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. He is a husband and father of two adult daughters. He is a management consultant, enjoys reading, gardening, landscaping and meditation. When Paul’s transgender daughter came out five years ago at age 20 he was concerned about her happiness and their relationship. Now those concerns are gone. He has since become Vice President of the Mount Pleasant chapter of PLFAG and is active in One Iowa Action, an LGBTQ+ advocacy and lobbying organization.