The United community will have a significant presence at this year’s virtual Parliament of World Religions. In addition to hosting a virtual booth — stop by! — an alum and member of the faculty will be speaking.

Kimi Floyd Reisch (‘19, current DMin student) will be facilitating a panel discussion entitled “Advocating for LGBTQIA+ Justice Inside and Outside Protestant Churches.” The session will be on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT and features the following religious leaders: Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, a former Provincial Member of Parliament who performed Canada’s first legalized same sex marriage, Rev. Jide Macauley, founding Pastor and CEO of House Of Rainbow CIC, and Mx Chris Paige, an OtherWise-identified writer, educator, organizer, and coach.

Kimi will also lead their own session entitled “Compassion to Justice to Inclusion for LGBTQIA+ Christians.” This session will highlight how churches who start centering Indigenous and Buddhist teachings of compassionate listening and storytelling can reduce stigma toward LGBTQIA+ people and fling the church doors open. The session will take place on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 11:00 AM EDT.

Rev. Karen Hutt, United’s Vice President for Student and Community Engagement, is a featured speaker in the plenary session on grief on Sunday, October 17, 2021, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

Click here to register for the Parliament.