Kinship Connects

Kinship Connects- Episode 19  features Stephen Chavez, an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister. Now retired, he spent nearly half of his career as a parish pastor and a little more than half as an editor in the church's publishing ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Church Relations for SDA Kinship. His connection with Kinship has been one of the most rewarding of his life.

Kinship Connects Episode 18, the second segment of a two-part interview, features Samuel Pang. Samuel lives in the Boston, MA area with his husband Andrew, and their 2 sons. He has been a long-time Kinship member and supporter and continues to be active in Kinship leadership and counsel.

Kinship Connects Episode 17, the first segment of a two-part interview, features Samuel Pang. Samuel lives in the Boston, MA area with his husband Andrew, and their 2 sons. He has been a long-time Kinship member and supporter and continues to be active in Kinship leadership and counsel.

Kinship Connects- Episode 16, the second segment of a two-part interview,  features Jordan Leddy, a Loma Linda University graduate who works as a Clinical Counselor in southern California. Jordan was one of the first openly LGBTQ Adventists asked to speak on a recent Panel at Called Convention. The Panel was titled “LGBTQ & Christian? A Conversation about Creating Inclusive Worshiping Communities”

Kinship Connects- Episode 15, the first segment of a two-part interview, features Jordan Leddy, a Loma Linda University graduate who works as a Clinical Counselor in southern California. Jordan was one of the first openly LGBTQ adventists asked to speak on a recent Panel at Called Convention. The Panel was titled “LGBTQ & Christian? A Conversation about Creating Inclusive Worshiping Communities”

Kinship Connects Episode 14 features Jay Wintermeyer, a lifelong Adventist who lives in the Portland area with his husband Craig. He shares his journey of learning to accept himself and the challenges of church employment.

Pastor William G Johnsson, retired editor of the Adventist Review, author of over 40 books, New Testament scholar, and much more, sits down with SDA Kinship and shares some of his experiences and impressions of a lifelong work within the Adventist church and the General Conference. Pastor Johnsson, born in Australia, now resides with his wife in southern California.

Episode 12 features George Scheideman (retired X-ray tech) and his husband Tom Chatt (software engineer), a Los Angeles couple married for 20 years and together for 22. They share their stories of growing up SDA and Jewish, meeting and constructing a life together that blends their religious beliefs and backgrounds. They are active members of Glendale City Adventist Church and love traveling.

Episode 11 features Todd Leonard, the senior pastor of the Glendale City Church in Glendale, California. He shares his journey about how he became aware of SDA Kinship via the General Conference in Atlanta, GA because of one of his parishioners who came by the Spectrum booth and found out that there is an Adventist group for LGBTQIA+ members of the church. The meeting was truly God working to make that connection as he is now pastor of one of the most vibrant, welcoming, and affirming congregations in Adventism for all folks who find themselves on the margins of the church. Check it out for yourself. Todd is truly a servant of God.

Episode 10 features Laura Cason, a retired attorney, who lives in northern California and enjoys golfing in her spare time. Laura is the granddaughter of HMS Richards Sr and shares with Kinship her memories of growing up and coming out in a famous pioneer Adventist family. She talks about her brother coming out first and how her family became one of the premier affirming Adventist families. Her mother Virginia advocated love and understanding among parents who had LGBTQ children. This interview gives an inside look into a well-known early Adventist family and how they dealt with homosexuality and how they understood how God relates to it.

Episode 9 features Matt Segebartt, a former Adventist pastor who is living in the Vancouver, WA area. Shortly before coming out, he stepped down as an active Adventist pastor. He now has his own counseling and coaching business.

Episode 8 of Kinship Connects features Maciej Kopeć, a recently disfellowshipped Seventh-Day Adventist, who lives with his partner in Warsaw, Poland (the Polish law does not allow him to have a legal husband). He works as a team leader in the clinical research area in one of the big pharma companies and supports LGBTQ folks in Poland, fighting for their rights as well. He is especially sensitive to the issues of psychological safety of young LGBTQ people where the suicide rate is high.

Episode 6 features Kendra Arsenaux interviewed by Kinship president Floyd Poenitz.

Episode 5 features Carrol Grady, Adventist Pastor's wife and longtime LGBTIQ+ advocate interviewed by Kinship president Floyd Poenitz.

Episode 4 features Sergio Pizon interviewed by Kinship president Floyd Poenitz.

Episode 3 features Jesse Martin of Old Gays, interviewed by Kinship president Floyd Poenitz.

Episode 2 features former Heritage Singer Mark, Honaker. interviewed by Kinship president Floyd Poenitz.

Episode 1 features Yolanda Elliott, former president of SDA Kinship.