GCN Conference 2012: Speakers

This year's speakers are all Ambassadors of Reconciliation in unique and unexpected ways. Check out the awesome lineup we've got in store!

Misty Irons

What would it take for conservative churches to be reconciled to the LGBT community? Even as a straight Christian with a conservative ("Side B") view of homosexuality, blogger Misty Irons still felt that churches like hers needed to do more to support LGBT people.

Misty's essay, "A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same-Sex Marriage," sparked widespread controversy within her very conservative denomination. After a year and a half of debate, discussion, and judicial proceedings within the ecclesiastical court, Misty and her husband Lee were forced to leave the denomination and disband Redeemer Chapel, the church plant they started as seminary students, at the end of 2003.

Misty blogs regularly at MoreMusingsOn.blogspot.com.

Jeremy Marks

The process of reconciling faith and sexuality can be an incredibly rocky journey with plenty of twists and turns. In 1998, Jeremy Marks founded Courage UK—then an "ex-gay" organization—which became one of the leading Christian ministries in the UK for lesbian and gay people.

Twelve years later, he startled the evangelical world by publicly embracing a fundamentally gay-affirming ("Side A") approach, after recognizing the despair that had resulted for many sincere Christian folk who had tried unsuccessfully to become straight.

Though gay himself, Jeremy and his wife Bren remain committed to one another as well as to a gay-affirming ministry approach.

Justin Lee

Justin Lee is the executive director of The Gay Christian Network (GCN), which sponsors this annual conference and ministers to thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians around the world, as well as the straight Christians who love them.

Justin has been a leading advocate of bridge-building between "Side A" and "Side B" Christians, and he uses his own unique blend of humor, pop culture, and in-depth Biblical analysis to share that message and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Justin has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the Dr. Phil show, The New York Times, OUT magazine, and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.