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Will Brown


 Will Brown

Will Brown is a Baptist minister and hospital chaplain serving in Charlottesville, Virginia. With pastoral experience in both congregational ministry and chaplaincy, Will is committed to helping people of faith think deeply about questions that matter, bringing together mind and heart in service to God and their community. His experience parenting a nonbinary child and ministering to gender- expansive people has given him a passion for creating more space in faith communities for understanding and embracing all God’s children. His first book, No Longer Male and Female, was released in fall of 2026. This is Will's first Wild Goose Festival, and he's thrilled to be here!  


Book

EXPERIENCES
    Activity Time Information
    Show Date
    Sat 5 Sep 2026 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM
    Title ShortBeyond Affirming: Putting LGBTQ+ Inclusion into Action
    Venue Make Believe
    Presbyterian / 1001 Worshiping Communities
    Experience DescriptionMore churches than ever before consider themselves LGBTQ-affirming, but that declaration—often following a years-long process of debate and discernment—is only the beginning of what it means to be an LGBTQIA-inclusive church. Beyond that momentous decision are everyday practices and choices that make your congregation a truly welcoming, joyful, familial place to be for queer people and their families. This panel of pastors with particular training and insight on various aspects of ministry and queer experience will discuss inclusive approaches to preaching, worship, pastoral care, adult education, youth and children’s ministry, outreach, and advocacy. Should we avoid scriptures that have historically been used to “clobber” LGBTQ people? How can we help the older adults who finally came around on gay marriage to understand and embrace transgender folks too? What unique pastoral care needs should I be aware of for queer congregants? How can we create a culture of inclusion that starts with our very youngest members? These questions and more will bring new insight to how we practice LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout the church. Panelists include Will Brown, CBF pastor and author of \No Longer Male or Female: A Biblical Guide for Our Questions about Gender\; and Art Wright, pastor of Williamsburg Baptist Church and co-author with Sanders of the forthcoming \Beyond Affirming: Ministry in LGBTQ+ Inclusive Churches.\