LGBTQ Community

Many LGBTQ people been rejected by the churches they grew up in, and we are heartbroken by this.

Christ Lutheran Church welcomes people of all gender identities and all sexual orientations.  We don’t just welcome you, we are you! Queer folks participate in every aspect of the church. We are very proud to have called LGBTQ candidate Brenda Bos to be our pastor in 2014 and Juli Patten in 2021. We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation. Reconciling in Christ is a designation given by Reconciling Works, a Lutheran organization promoting LGBTQ inclusion. We are proud participants in Orange County Pride and Transgender events, joyfully marry same-gender couples and work to support other churches in their LGBTQ ministry. You can also find us on www.gaychurch.org.

Pastor Juli Patten – 2021-present

Christ Lutheran Church called a pastor who is from the LGBTQ community this past February. Joining us from Hawaii, where she was raised since age 4, Pastor Juli Patten is a 2020 graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, after 30-plus years in teaching (primarily 2nd-4th grades). She did her internship at Davis Lutheran Church in Northern California.

Pastor Juli has worked as a Resident Hospital Chaplain, work she loves and plans to continue here in a volunteer capacity. She is passionate about caring for the marginalized among us, including the homeless and the hungry, patients in nursing homes and the LGBTQ+ community. She has been very active in WELCA at her own small Maluhia Lutheran Church in Waianae on Oahu, at Davis Lutheran and through the Pacifica Synod, as a board member, creating and leading Bible studies. A lifelong Lutheran, Juli has served in nearly every layperson role at Maluhia, including on council.

A message from Pastor Juli: My favorite quote from the Bible is from Matthew 22:36-39 36 “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” This is what guides my life and my ministry! “I was thrilled to be recommended for call by your Call Committee and Church Council and I can’t wait to get to know all of you and get to work for Christ Lutheran and the Lord. Love and aloha!”

Pastor Brenda Bos – 2014-2019

Pastor Brenda Bos received her Master of Divinity from Claremont School
of Theology and her Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies from
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. Before
entering the ministry, Pastor Brenda worked in television production for
eighteen years, most notably on “The George Lopez Show”, “Suddenly
Susan” with Brooke Shields, “Mad About You” with Paul Reiser & Helen
Hunt, and “The Golden Girls”.

Because of this production background, Pastor Brenda understands the joys and challenges of communicating clearly with parishioners. “We have very good news about God’s love,” she said. “I feel so privileged to share that message every week.”

Pastor Brenda enjoys hiking, her dogs, music and making her preschool students laugh during chapel. Her wife Janis is a licensed social worker with expertise in trauma-informed care and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Our Visit with Vicar Drew Stever

In the video below, Vicar Drew Stever reads the gospel and preaches the sermon at 7:45. At 44:48 they talk with Pastor Brenda about their experience to help our congregation better understand our trans siblings.