This show features two out and proud religious leaders in Santa Cruz County talking about their inclusive churches.
Dave Pattee is the Pastor of Peace United Church of Christ and Simon Dinglasan is the Rector at Calvary Episcopal Church.
Rob Darrow and Cece Pinheiro learned more about how these churches are inclusive of LGBTQ+ people and discussed the intersection of religion and LGBTQ+ people and how religion has been traumatic for some LGBTQ+ people.
Dave talked about how Peace United Church, originally called the First Congregational Church, was established in 1857 and was the first church in Santa Cruz County to have same sex marriage in their church. He also shared his coming out story and how he and his husband are pleased to live and minister in Santa Cruz County. He has lived in many places around the world including Zambia.
Simon, who was born in the Philippines, shared how he was bullied throughout his elementary and high school years living in Santa Cruz and gradually came out to his family. He became the rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in November 2024. Calvary Episcopal was established in 1864 and gradually moved to be a more inclusive congregation throughout California and the U.S. and now marry same sex couples. Simon was born in New York, attended college in Maine and then served as a member of the Society of St. Francis in San Francisco for five years before becoming ordained in the Episcopal Church in 2024.
