Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted author, activist, and public theologian working at the intersections of spirituality and social renewal. A prolific writer, he is the author of seven books on spirituality, justice, and theology, including the INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace. In 2021, Rolling Stone Magazine included Robertson in its annual “Hot List” of top artists, creatives, and influencers who “are giving us reason to be excited about the future.” Each year, Robertson speaks on a variety of topics across the globe and has been an honored speaker at renowned institutions from The White House to Oxford University. Robertson received his Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Theology from Moody Bible Institute, his Master of Theological Studies from Iliff School of Theology, his Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Eastern Illinois University, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Religion from Drew University.
Brandan’s talk is titled, “Gay and Christian, No Contradiction”:
“In this talk, I will weave together my journey as an LGBTQ+ Christian pastor who began within the evangelical tradition, was forced into conversion therapy, and after that failed to ‘heal’ me, I moved to reconcile my faith and sexuality. After spending a decade studying the Bible and Christian theology, I was surprised to find that the anti-LGBTQ+ interpretations of Scripture were wholly inconsistent with a historical approach to the Bible, and discovered a long tradition of queer people within the pages of the Bible and throughout Christian history. In this talk, I will share why homophobic interpretations of the Bible are plainly incorrect and how LGBTQ+ people can reclaim their place in as rightful members of the community of faith.”