We are pleased to announce that the Rev. Denyse Barnes will be our new LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Coordinator of the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church.

In this capacity, Rev. Barnes will serve for three years within Connectional Ministries, working with the Cal-Pac LGBTQIA+ Task Force in developing strategies that encourage a culture of full inclusion within our Conference and coordinating conversation opportunities and resources related to human sexuality and church unity in the local church. She will serve in this capacity on a quarter-time basis while also serving as Associate Pastor at Hollywood United Methodist Church.

Rev. Barnes’ passion and experience with the LGBTQIA+ communities includes starting ministries such as Spectrum which meets at the LGBT Center in Hollywood for conversations on the intersection of a relationship with God and sexuality and Spirit Pub which is a gathering of LGBT and Allies as well as advising other organizations across the United States of America on starting such groups.  Recently, here in Cal-Pac, Rev. Barnes has been leading the Rainbow Havens gatherings which focuses on helping adults in congregations learn about specific, concrete ways a local church can be more welcoming to LGBTQIA+ young people.

Rev. Barnes holds a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Coventry Technical College in the United Kingdom and a Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology.

“We are delighted to have Denyse join the Connectional Ministries team,” says Rev. Myron Wingfield, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries. “Our team and the California-Pacific Conference will be stronger for this, and Denyse will excel in this role.”

Let us welcome our sister Denyse in this capacity now with open arms!