Deanne (she/her) is attending Brite Divinity School to earn the remaining credits of a Masters of Divinity Equivalency and is pursuing her call to chaplaincy ministry. As an LGBTQ person of faith, she knows the crucial and important work the church and its people do for the LGBTQ community and the world around them. Having been on the receiving end of this work, she feels a call to take part in it. 

As her own faith has grown, shifted and developed over the years, she has grown passionate about walking alongside others as they do the hard work of sorting out their own journeys of faith. She is grateful for Galileo’s sponsorship for ordination with Disciples of Christ and proud to be a part of this community.

JOSH (he/him) is a hospital chaplain. He graduated from Brite Divinity School in May 2020, and completed his chaplain residency in August of 2022. That same month, he began the ordination process with the Disciples of Christ, with Galileo’s sponsorship. He has served on both Galileo’s Missional Logistics Team and Spiritual Care Team, and occasionally fills in as preacher. 

It was at Galileo that he learned the defining refrain of his ministry: “You are so loved.” It is a phrase he goes back to again and again in his work as he helps people reckon with some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and it grounds him as he remembers his own belovedness. He resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his husband, the Gelatinous Cube (a.k.a. Ethan) and their cat, Nebula.

LAUREN (she/her) is a commissioned minister within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and she currently serves as Assistant Chaplain for TCU. Lauren has a passion for helping young adults cultivate belonging through authentic and vulnerable relationships, and she loves listening to peoples' spiritual journeys. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from Texas Tech University, as well as a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Doctorate in Christian Education from Southern Seminary. Lauren is currently earning the remaining credits needed for her MDIV equivalency for ordination, and she is thankful for Galileo's sponsorship and support throughout this process.

CARISSA (she/her) is working toward her MDiv degree at Brite Divinity School. Meanwhile, she blogs voraciously about the interplay of theology and everyday life and serves as ministry intern at a nearby Disciples of Christ church. She also enjoys helping out at Galileo as needed. When Carissa first began attending Galileo Christian Church with her wonderful spouse, Ryan, and their three children, she was breaking a fundamental law she had believed her entire evangelical life— that you should never attend a church with a female pastor. After the first few Sundays, though, she surprised herself by saying, “I want to be a pastor.” Over the course of another set of years, Carissa battled the fundagelical demons of her past and began saying “yes” to the call to be a pastor. This wrestling and sifting process was something Galileo Church was there for— its safe, loving, no-bulllshit community provided her with theological language, affirmation, and support. Largely because of this, one of the things Carissa's hopes to do as a pastor is facilitate others in working out their own life-affirming stories.