The PC(USA) & LGBTQIA+ People — Workshop

This workshop explored the past and future of the Presbyterian Church (USA) as it relates to LGBTQIA+ people. This session delved into the historical context of the PC(USA)’s stance on LGBTQIA+ inclusion and discussed challenges facing the church today. Facilitators Tim Haworth and Brian Ellison examined the current realities of LGBTQIA+ experiences in the church and potential future developments, including the upcoming General Assembly.

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.

Brian Ellison (he/him) has served as Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians since 2012, preaching, teaching and providing overall strategic leadership in implementing the organization’s mission. Brian is available for working with congregations, councils and groups of interested Presbyterians about inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people, fostering and navigating difficult conversations, organizing and advocating for transformation, and on the Covenant Network and its mission. Brian also serves as Stated Clerk of the Synod of Mid-America. He has served previously as pastor of Parkville Presbyterian Church (near Kansas City, Missouri) and as stated clerk of Heartland Presbytery. He currently is moderator of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission; previously, he was a director of the Board of Pensions, a member of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, and moderator of both the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment and the Stated Clerk Review/Nomination Committee.  His writing on matters of faith and theology have appeared in numerous church and independent publications. A graduate of Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Brian also is host/contributor at NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. He and his partner, Troy Lillebo, live in Kansas City with their two dog daughters, the recalcitrant Willoughby and the dopey Sage.