How LGBTQ+ folks are finding faith, community in new spaces

This is a great article from Megan Raposa at Sioux Falls Simplified about How LGBTQ+ folks are finding faith and community in new spaces.

“Simplified: In recent months, Sioux Falls has seen several new resources for the LGBTQ+ community, including the state's first-ever LGBTQ+ Christian ministry – Shepherd's Table.

Why it matters

South Dakota's political and cultural landscape has historically been unfriendly to LGBTQ+ folks, and that can be particularly true in church communities. Shepherd's Table founder Rev. Sawyer Vanden Heuvel said he's seen and experienced it firsthand as a gay man.

This month, Vanden Heuvel hosted the first-ever Shepherd's Table event at the Prism Community Center – another new resource and gathering space for LGBTQ+ communities. More than 100 people showed up to sing carols, decorate cookies and find fellowship.

The hope moving forward is to create a "dinner church" model, very similar to how early Christians gathered around tables, shared a meal and spread the gospel, Vanden Heuvel said. Jesus broke bread with all sorts of people, he added, and Shepherd's Table intends to do the same.”

Read the full article here.