The Church of St. Paul & the Redeemer is launching the Murray Fellows, a new initative for LGBTQ+ young adults in discernment for Christian ministry. Named for the Rev. Pauli Murray, the Murray Fellows program will provide participants with one-on-one mentoring, peer support, and vocational exploration opportunities.

“LGBTQ+ Christians exploring ministry experience the same call as their straight peers,” says the Rev. Catherine Healy, rector of St. Paul & the Redeemer and director of the Murray Fellows. “They just encounter more roadblocks along the way. The Murray Fellows’ goal is to help queer and questioning young adults discern together in a way that helps them navigate some of those specific challenges, affirms their identities, and celebrates the many gifts they have to offer the church.”

The Murray Fellows will welcome young adults ages 18-30 from all Christian traditions, in discernment for all types of lay and ordained vocations in ministry. The program is funded by a grant from the Forum for Theological Exploration.

“St. Paul & the Redeemer has a long history of raising up young adults for ministry,” says Healy, “and we have had LGBTQ+ clergy and laypeople at the highest levels of parish leadership for more than 25 years. We are committed to changing the world through a progressive, inclusive expression of faith, and we’re glad to be able to use our church’s resources to help train the next generation of LGBTQ+ Christian leaders.”

Additional information and the application are available on the Murray Fellows website. Applications for the 2021-2022 cohort are due June 1, 2021.