Fabulous Fierce & Sacred Reflections

Nearly 80 lgbtqia+ Anabaptists gathered in Philadelphia, PA May 2-4, 2025 for a Fabulous Fierce and Sacred retreat that lived up to its name! Five participants reflect below.

Devin Dixon-Rosario, he/him

BMC Board Member, PA

For the first time in my life, I’ve gathered both in physical and spiritual form with queer siblings from all across the United States. For the first time in my life as a collective, I’ve felt not just ‘content’ or ‘accepting’ at the intersection of my faith and sexuality/gender identity but liberated by it. I am fabulous—and not just in a physical sense. I am surrounded by unheard stories, unseen people, and silenced personalities. The cries of my spirit in heteronormativity are suddenly not only mine to carry.

Chris Becker, he/they

Houston Mennonite Church, TX 

I cannot express enough how wonderful this weekend retreat was. 

We made new friends and connected with some old friends, but most of all, it was the atmosphere of the event that made it so special. Being in the same space with 78 other Anabaptists identifying as queer or trans was truly liberating.  

I have been exploring my identity as a queer person for some time now, but this weekend really hit me. I feel now like I belong in a way I did not feel before. This weekend, I was free to be me and express myself in ways I have not been able to in the past. There’s just something about being amongst your own people. It is liberating.

Kim and I attended two workshops while there. The first was “Queering Scripture & Theology” and the second was “Polyamory & Faith.” Both were enlightening. The first workshop on queer theology proved to be important to me. It’s not that I learned new techniques or found great resources (though I did), but I learned that I’ve been doing queer theology all along. I am queer and I do theology. That is queer theology. [In the second workshop] we learned new ideas regarding how we as people of faith can (and maybe should) be expressing love in all of our relationships and how many of the current ideas surrounding traditional marriage and sexuality are entrenched in white colonialism and patriarchy. This is not okay.

Kim and I arrived home both invigorated and encouraged. We feel enlightened and lightened. Kim and I have found our place in a new community that brings life and joy to our souls. We learned some new songs that embrace inclusion and celebrate our differences, but mostly, we found ourselves. 

Rin McLaughlin, they/them

Methacton Mennonite Church, PA

I had no idea what to expect when my Pastor sent me a flyer for a queer Mennonite Conference. I worried that it would be a weekend of prayer and despair because of the political climate we are enduring. Instead I found a weekend of pure unapologetic queer joy. For three days I found sacred space to breathe deeply and be my whole self surrounded by safe and accepting people.

Anna Lisa Gross, she/they

Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, IN

Eight Brethren gathered near the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia May 2-4. We were among about 60 Mennonites, and I felt welcome and at home, as I always do with Mennonites. This was a robustly hospitable gathering of Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBTQ Interests, hosted by both Germantown and West Philly Mennonite congregations, with pastors Jay Bergen and Jonny Rashid sharing leadership with BMC's Director Annabeth Roeschley and others, including Jessie Houff of the Church of the Brethren.

Like most Brethren/Mennonite spaces I'm accustomed to, it was a majority-white gathering with some people of color. The average age was much lower than, say, a Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The energy was high and creative for both the 2-hour hymn sing as well as Queer Karaoke. Fierce, Fabulous and Sacred was the gathering, and we felt this spirit among us.

I appreciated workshops and worship services and most of all, cherished getting to know people and their unique stories of coming out. The mutual care and support was foundational, from the thoughtful planning of the event, to how we interacted throughout the weekend. Travel support was available for those who needed it, and we stayed in people's homes and the local congregations (including Ambler CoB) did all the cooking.

I am so excited to gather in Minneapolis next May for BMC's 50th anniversary celebration, for stories of courage and radical inclusion, of persistence amidst pain, of faithfully seeking divine revelation, of experiencing God's love as fierce, fabulous and sacred members of the faith we share.

Isaiah Smith, he/they

Student at Bethel College, KS 

If there were one word to describe the Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred conference, it would be powerful. I entered this conference blind with zero expectations of what it would be like. All I know is that being surrounded by a bunch of queer Christians sounded awesome! And it would help with my social work research project. It was intimidating at first, not identifying as Christian and never attending an Anabaptist/Mennonite event. Very quickly, however, that feeling of intimidation turned into an overwhelming sense of love and joy. Interacting with a diverse group of people, all with different backgrounds and identities, each experiencing hardship but immense joy, was inspiring. Here, I didn’t have to code-switch or embody something that I was not. I was accepted for my authentic self. I started to believe that I am fabulous, fierce, and sacred. 

This conference was more than just a celebration of our queer identities; it was a space where we could come together and create a haven. This was a place where we could embrace our true selves. While my original inspiration to come to this conference was for my research project, I left with new perspectives and interactions that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Connecting with older queer Christians who had created these sacred places for queer Christians and hearing stories of people embracing queer identity late in life made me grateful. I don’t have to face as intense scrutiny and discrimination as they had to.

When I left the conference, I can say that I had never felt as much joy in one weekend in my life. I left remembering the importance of celebrating my queerness. I left being reminded that in a predominantly cisgender and heterosexual society, it is healing and a necessity to find spaces with predominantly queer and non-cisgender people. I also left with a new perspective on Christianity. The Christian faith is made for anyone, regardless of sexual and gender identity. I was exposed to a non-judgmental, affirming, and welcoming group of Christians, many of whom were church leaders or pastors. Each and every one of the participants didn’t shy away or treat me differently because I was unfamiliar with Mennonite and Anabaptist culture and norms. They all embraced and loved me for how I showed up. 

When reflecting on Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred, I still feel the emotions that I felt when I was at the conference. If only all spaces felt that welcoming and affirming, this world would be a better place. So, thank you. Thank you to all of the brave participants who attended the conference with me. Every one of you has a heart of gold and has made me a better person. Thank you to the queer ancestors who had to suffer and fight for events like this one to happen. Thank you to the organizers of this conference and to everyone who helped make the weekend a success. The environment that Fabulous, Fierce, and Sacred created made me truly feel like I was at home.