PROGRAMME
Thursday
6:00pm Christchurch Youth Workers Dinner with Karl Hand and Steff Fenton.
62% of young people identify as “not straight”.
Join us for FREE FOOD AND DRINK and learn how to be an effective youth leader to our LGBTQ+ communities.
We understand that caring for LGBTQ+ youth can be tricky, especially when our churches are so conflicted about this group.
We want to equip you and your youth leaders to understand how to create safe spaces (and why they are important), language and how to have healthy conversations, and how to find support when you need it.
This is for Youth Worker and Leaders only
Friday
9:30am Human Rights Commission & Diverse Church – Creating Safe Churches
Join the Human Rights Commission and Diverse Church to help churches become safer spaces for rainbow people.
The Human Rights Commission is looking for rainbow people of faith to participate in a workshop covering questions about church culture, and safety for rainbow people. After brainstorming, we will prioritise and then clarify key messages for church leaders.
Findings from the workshop will be presented in an afternoon workshop for church leaders.
If you can’t attend, feel free to send your contributions to MattL@hrc.co.nz
Click here to find out more.
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm Human Rights Commission & Diverse Church – Church Leaders Workshop
Are you a church leader with questions about conversion practices?
Do you know how the new law banning conversion practices impacts you and your faith community?
Do you know what rainbow people of faith want from their church communities?
The Human Rights Commission will host a workshop to discuss the new law, what it means for you, and what rainbow people of faith have said they need to feel safe in their faith communities.
Feel free to send any questions you’d like addressed to MattL@hrc.co.nz
Click here to find out more.
4:30pm Registration Open
6:30pm Welcome // Session 1 – Keynote : Karl Hand
9:30pm Evening Activities
Saturday
8:30am Doors Open // Coffee
9:00am Session 2
10:30am Morning Tea // Break
11:00am Workshops
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm Workshops
3:00pm Afternoon Tea // Break
3:30pm Workshops
5:00pm Break
6:00pm Dinner
6:45pm Session 3
9:00pm Evening Activities // Pride Dance Party
Sunday
10:00am Pride Service with Durham Street Methodist
12:00pm Combined Lunch
1:30pm Workshops
3:00pm Afternoon Tea // Break
4:00pm Session 5 (Final)
5:30pm Conference Ends
WORKSHOPS
Great Hall
Chapel
Wānanga Room
Lounge
Saturday 11am
Theology 101: the Road to Self-discovery
Speaker/facilitator: Karl Hand
This workshop is designed to help us as Christian believers who find ourselves identifying as LGBTQI+ understanding our faith and ourselves in an integrated way.
Self-care – how to look after ourselves
Speaker/Presenter: Jean Malcolm/Charlotte Cummings
Looking after those times where we run out of energy, keeping the focus on the main thing, finding the energy and the resources to continue. Making sure you have your support community, having your safe people.
From a perspective of spiritual direction – asking what’s going on for me, what is my self talk, what can I do to take care of myself in those situations.
Relationship Ethics 101: Deconstructing sacred and secular mythologies around sex and relationships
Speaker/Presenter: Michael Toy/Richie B
Is there such a thing as an ethical hook up? Is a slutty Christian an oxy-moron? Behind these questions are assumption, values, and narratives around what sex is or isn’t—on the one hand we have purity culture that fosters shame around all narratives except the hetero-patriarchal script, and on the other end of the spectrum is the hook-up culture assertion that if something feels good, it must be God endorsed. In this part one of two workshops on relationship ethics, we will collaboratively explore the myths and stories we tell ourselves about our own sexuality, our identity as sexual creatures, and our calling as Christians moving through an ever-shifting landscape.
Being an ally vs being a good bystander
Speaker/Presenter: Philomeno Kinera / Amanda Pilbrow / Michael J. Frost
Setting sail on ally-ship. For those who identify as cis-gender straight. Providing techniques and hearing experiences and participating in a conversation around what it means to be an ally, what allies can add, and how to support and engage when ally-ship is required.
Sharing Durham Street Methodist’s story: mission statement of “open hearts, open minds, open doors”.
Saturday 1:30pm
How to come out as a church. Ministering to the community outside your church
Speaker/Presenter: Michael J. Frost / Ian Gainsford / Craig Watson / David Allis / Megan Herles-Mooar
A conversation through a denominational lens. What does it mean to come out as a church?
Practicalities of what to do.
Worship & liturgy for queer experiences
Speaker/Presenter: Richie B / Jean Malcolm
How might public worship and pastoral rituals reflect queer experiences, including those that are hurt by how some churches do worship? going beyond inclusive language. Covering reformed worship and its elements, an opportunity to share resources; pastoral rituals – significant points in queer peoples’ lives that often go unmarked but can be helpful tools in providing pastoral care for queer folk during these times – how the church has used ritual historically, tradition from a queer lens, workshop participants’ experiences of what’s worked and what hasn’t.
Becoming a Rainbow Parent – adoption and surrogacy
Anne Ott (Fertility Associates) / Jill Hawkey + Lucy Da’eth / Wendy Fowler / Qtopia
Covering the journey of becoming a rainbow parent. Opportunity to discuss with people who have lived this.
Te Ao Māori
Speaker/Presenter: Geremy Hema & Fr. Cruz
Mana Takatāpui runga i te marae, i roto hoki i ngā hāhi, me ngā hapori – Takatāpui leadership and presence on our marae, in our churches and communities. What are the issues? A session for the Māori community or for those who wish to learn more. Balancing being Māori with being queer and with being Christian.
Saturday 3:30pm
Theology 201: Queer Deconstruction – Queering a Text of Terror
Speaker/facilitator: Karl Hand
We will be queering (deconstructing) the theme of submission in Ephesians 5:21–6:9 via a facilitated discussion about the journeys we find ourselves taking in re-reading our Bible and re-evaluating our theological stance in the light of our queerness – and discovering intersectional dimensions of that journey as people of this land.
Inviting people on the journey toward “affirming”
Speaker/Presenter: Amanda P / Michael J. Frost
A conversation exploring the journey of becoming affirming faith communities. How we can invite people on the journey, provide on-ramps, identify fears and roadblocks, help people understand and navigate changes in their belief structure and experiences, and embed the conversation in the wider context of our faith and community.
Queerly Faithful, Faithfully Queer
Speaker/Presenter: David Brommel
In this workshop we will discuss being true to ourselves as queer within faith communities and true to ourselves as people of faith in queer communities. The workshop will combine presenter input, personal reflection and small group discussion.
How to have ‘the hard conversations’ with people
Speaker/Presenter: Jean Malcolm
Finding your voice, About avoiding conflict. Often we will avoid the conversation to avoid conflict. This workshop is about empowering equipping enabling you to have conversations in a safe and inclusive way. Looking at experiences, and provide resources that you can use.
Not about picking some Bible verses, but getting to the heart of why we have the conversation in the first place.
Sunday 1:30pm
How the LGBs can be better allies to the T’s
Speaker/Presenter: Steff Fenton & Qtopia
Trans inclusion is often the last part of journeying towards full inclusion. How can we embrace all of our rainbow family?
Hands on practical things, specific arenas where advocacy is needed.
Theology around gender identify and expression – we all know LGB bible verses but need to know the Ts.
Talanoa
Speaker/Presenter: Jeremy Faumuina (Moana Va), Andre Afamasaga (HRC)
Q & A with former Pasifika Faifeau/Pastors viewpoint on the impact of colonization within indigenous cultures and its attitudes towards MVPFAFF+, LGBTQIA+ people in our churches.
Good friends Andre and Jeremy will be having their style of talanoa/conversation around the above topic of colonization within our faith and churches. We will be sharing our vā space with those that attend our session by welcoming you into our narrative and thoughts from our own journey. Allowing for some Q & A and good times.
- Does Tagata Moana have agency in our churches in Aotearoa?
- If NOT, why? | If YES, where?
- Is it a Handshake or an Embrace?
Relationship ethics 201: How do we have intimate relationships in an over-sexualised culture?
Speaker/Presenter: Richie Brown & Michael Toy
Both “Biblical” rules-based and “do what you want” approaches to relationships have the potential to cause more harm than good. This session offers theological frameworks and scriptural values to help us shape a healthy ethic of relationships and sex. We will explore scenarios using these tools to begin bringing our faith into consideration when it comes to healthy and God-honouring relationships, whether a hook-up, ethical porn, masturbation, or sexting.
You are welcome to participate even if you missed Relationship Ethics 101.
Other workshops
Trans & gender-diverse safe space
Speaker/Presenter: Steff Fenton / Qtopia / Elinor Galbraith
A room will be set aside for those that are on the journey or questioning gender to be with others on a similar journey, and share or ask questions in a safe and unscripted environment.
Outside of the gender binary, there are several ways to think about gender in the Pasific. Some terms for gender identities used in the Pacific include:
M for Mahu in Tahiti and Hawai’i.
V for Vaka sa lewa lewa in Fiji.
P for Palopa in Papua New Guinea.
F for Fa’afafine in Samoa and American Samoa.
A for Akava’ine in the Cook Islands.
F for Fakaleiti or leiti in the Kingdom of Tonga.
F for Fakafifine in Niue.
PRESENTERS
Karl Hand
Karl Hand is the pastor of CRAVE Church in Sydney, Australia (on Gadigal Land). Karl has a PhD in New Testament through Charles Sturt University and has authored a number of articles and book chapters on Jesus, justice, and queerness, including the chapter on Ephesians in the Queer Bible Commentary in 2022.
Steff Fenton
Steff Fenton (they/them) is Co-Pastor and Co-Founder of New City Church, an inclusive community exploring faith in new and engaging ways. Steff is an advocate, speaker and writer, who shares the intersections of being trans and Christian.
Steff was the co-founder and Chair of Equal Voices Sydney, an interdenominational network of LGBTIQA+ Christians and allies across Sydney. They recently graduated with a Master of Divinity through the University of Divinity, writing a thesis about masculinity, male entitlement, and gender-expansiveness in the Gospel of Matthew.
Steff is passionate about sharing stories, creating safe spiritual spaces for LGBTIQA+ people and cultivating a more equitable and expansive faith. Wearing a different hat, Steff is also the Learning & Development Manager at Twenty10. They also enjoy scrolling Instagram for cute puppy photos.
Rev. Philo Kinera
Philo is the minister of the Aldersgate Centre, Durham Street Methodist church in Christchurch.
She migrated to New Zealand from Singapore and has been in New Zealand for 25 years. Serving as a minister in the North Island and the past 10 years in the South Island.
Philo comes from a strong Methodist background and is committed to feminist and liberation theology. She has a Bachelor’s degree in theology and Arts and a Master’s in Religious Studies majoring in Buddhism. Keen interest in exploring mythology in various traditions and religion.
She is also very involved in the Canterbury Interfaith Society, community outreach and is a strong advocate for the rights of humanity and creation. Philo is also a supporter of Indian Origin Pride New Zealand and ethnic rainbow communities.
She is married to Jeff and has two adorable cats Thamby and Maya.
Michael Toy
Michael (he/him) identifies as a queer, Episcopalian thirst trap. He studied media studies at Wheaton College and graduated with a M Div from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2015. He is currently a PhD candidate at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington in Religious Studies and Public Theologian for Student Christian Movement Aotearoa. He and his partner, Nadine, currently reside in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and attend St Peter’s on Willis.
Dr David Bromell
Dr David Bromell was asked to resign from Baptist ministry within days of coming out as a gay man in 1986. He then became a focus of the Methodist Church’s debates on gay people in ministry from 1990 until he left the church in 2003. He was a keynote speaker at the first national gay and lesbian Christian conferences in Auckland in 1991 and Wellington in 1992.
Jean Malcolm
Jean Malcolm is an Anglican Priest and Co-Vicar at St Peter’s, Willis Street, Wellington. She revels in the creative life, the mystery of God, and the call to be vulnerable partners with the Divine in the everyday. She believes in the transformative power of inclusive communities who are willing to wrestle with the hard stuff of belonging, compassion, and self-giving.
Peter Lineham
Peter Lineham is retired Professor of History from Massey University, has an MNZM, and is chair of Auckland Rainbow Community Church and a well known commentator on religious issues in the media. He has written a number of books and articles, and more are on the go, generally about religious history and trends. Contact him through P.Lineham@massey.ac.nz
Richie Brown
Richie Brown is passionate about personal and relational wellbeing. He has a postgraduate Certificate in Chaplaincy, A Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Otago Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou.
In 2022 Richie took up a Chaplaincy Role at Salmond College Te kāreti O Salmond a Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand owned but university affiliated residential college in Ōtepoti Dunedin. In 2023 Richie took on a broader role in college life supporting the pastoral care and the special character of the college.
Richie has been reflecting on the interweaving of queerness/sexuality and faith/spirituality through his personal journey, postgraduate writing, and ministry.
David Allis
I’m straight, married with one wife for 40 years, 6 kids & 5 grandkids. Converted as a teenager, and radicalised for justice & poverty while at university, there are lots of ex’s in my journey… ex-engineer, ex-manager, ex-missionary, ex-Bible-College-Principal, ex-pentecostal-minister, ex-church-health-consultant, ex-house-church-leader, ex-conservative(ish)-evangelical. Happily freed from all of that, I’m now trying to be an entrepreneurial businessman and charity innovator, especially in the areas of poverty and justice, working to make a better world. Proud to be an Ally, Diverse Church Trustee, and hoping to nudge the NZ church and conservative Christians towards full inclusion and other essential areas of justice.
Jeremy Faumuinā
My name is Jeremy Faumuinā, my pronouns are He / Him. I’m a devoted husband to my wife Shelley and dad to our five children. I’m a fierce advocate of the MVPFAFF+ and LGBTQIA+ Community. I’m known as a multipotentialite: Communicator, Social Worker, Motivational Speaker, Public Relations Consultant, and Design Lead of various Educational Leadership Training Programmes across Aotearoa and Sāmoa.
My passion is people! I have an astute awareness of how to teu the vā (build and nurture relationships) which has allowed me to work in various businesses, non-for-profit, government agencies, community groups, board groups, families, and currently for the New Zealand Police as a Social Worker in helping serve Aotearoa.
Amanda Pilbrow
I’m an Ally, a person of faith, a ‘once-upon-a-time’ pastor – now spiritual director, liberation theologian, speaker, a constant student and researcher, artist, Enneagram Practitioner, celebrant, and curator/researcher/workshop presenter of Alreadyenough.co.nz. I’m a silver-streaked, tattooed, cis-gendered woman. Mother of three adult children (and their partners), and wife of 33 years (to the same man) – that’s me, Amanda (she/her).
Michael Frost
Michael Frost is theologian, host of the ‘In the Shift’ podcast, and co-leader of Edge Kingsland (a church community in Auckland). He is a researcher and writer in the areas of theology, spirituality and social change, and has a particular interest in how Christian faith can function to subvert oppressive power structures and act as a liberating force for human freedom. He also loves playing music and watching cricket, but hates it when tongs get stuck in a kitchen drawer the wrong way around.
Anne Ott
My name is Anne Ott and I am the counsellor at the Christchurch Fertility Associates Clinic where I have worked for over 14 years. I am part of a counselling team with the other counsellors being based at our clinics throughout the country. My background is in social work with a mental health and women’s health focus. My role at Fertility Associates involves conducting all the mandatory counselling associated with donations of egg, sperm or embryos for both recipients and donors. Also the counselling associated with surrogacy. Where necessary I prepare the counselling reports for applications to the Human Assisted Reproduction Technology Committee and assist patients with this process. My role also involves supporting patients through the often challenging journey to start their families.
I have 3 children myself and now 3 grandchildren and I am passionate about helping people on their own journey to have a family.
Ian Gainsford
Ian Gainsford (he/him) is the Secretary for Mission in The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji Tonga and Samoa. In this role he is responsible for helping to coordinate all the activities of The Salvation Army – faith communities, welfare centres, addictions work and more – through an awesome team of people passionate about caring for people, transforming lives, and reforming society by God’s power.
He has a postgraduate qualification in theology from the University of Otago Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou, and has been a Salvation Army Officer for 20 years, serving in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Tanzania. Ian is passionate about exploring what it means to embody the love of God rather than retreating to dogma; making space for the vulnerable and excluded, not just the familiar; and bringing appropriate humility to the task of understanding what it means to being agents of the gospel.
Eleanor Galbraith
Welcome, I’m Elinor, (My friends call me Elly)
I am a Mother, Friend, Spiritual director, Spa therapist and Retreat facilitator. I love all things centred in the Divine, that are simple, nourishing and inclusive.
I offer some tools and gentle re remembering of this by way of one to one companioning (Spiritual direction), Delicious Spa body treatments and lifestyle guidance and workshops on introducing as well as deepening the many ways we can slow down and access our hearts and our indwelling wisdom.
Megan Herles-Mooar
Megan Herles-Mooar is the Vicar of All Souls Anglican Church, which has a commitment to inclusivity and strives to live under the banner “All humankind around one table. She is currently writing her Masters thesis on how we may be transformed in the face or trauma. Trauma and transformation became a key area of interest for Megan after working with communities, for whom inaction in recognising the pain and suffering caused by trauma, led to illness within the Church that has been lived out through generations. Megan is a part of the team working with those impacted by the historic abuse as outlined by the commission of enquiry and is a firm believer in the belief that “Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” When Megan is not ministering within her community, or working within the wider Church as an Archdeacon she can be found lost in an online game or writing speculative fiction.