When the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America began accepting openly trans pastors, Megan Rohrer was one of the first seven to become ordained.
Because of the ‘religious abuse’ they experienced while growing up, Rohrer was driven to study religion as a way to “vocalize what I knew in my gut was OK,” they told Cosmopolitan. Today, this 37-year-old pastor uses faith to bring folks together, not to divide.
What started as a response to hate became a passion to do so much good. Rohrer is now the Executive Director of San Francisco faith-based organization ‘Welcome‘, which offers assistance to homeless and vulnerable folks through hospitality, arts, education, food, and referrals. They also help faith communities welcome LGBTQ folks in.
“Each week, I preach about ancient stories of faithful people who were just as diverse, fabulous, and motley as we are today,” Rohrer told Broadly. “Their stories inspire me to find hope in hopeless times, having the courage to come out, act and remain authentic saves the lives of others.”
Rohrer also started Singers of the Street—a choir of homeless folks and advocates. After each rehearsal, the choir eats a free lunch together. Their CD is available on Amazon.
They are also now the SF Police Department’s first LGTBQ chaplain, stepping in to comfort officers during tragedies, like the Ghostship warehouse fire of 2016.
“If people of faith could love the fabulous diversity of their neighbors as much as they love God—we would change the world,” Rohrer told Broadly.
“Rather than using faith to unite, I hope we will use faith to diversify. Meaning, we will be able to love ourselves enough to be vulnerable and honest without shame or fear. And we will love others enough to love them just as they are.”
