Rev. Regan Saorise Joins the KO as Consultant for LGBTQ Clergy

Born in Hays and graduating high school in Lawrence, Regan is a Kansan through and through. She's lived in Oberlin, Plainville, and Russell as a girl, and De Soto, Topeka, and now El Dorado as an adult. In Wisconsin for four years, she graduated with a Biology degree from Northland College. She joined Plymouth Congregational, Lawrence in 2000 and started attending KO Conference gatherings as often as possible.

She attended Eden Seminary, graduating in 2007, going to Chaplain residency and marrying the same year. Regan became ordained in 2009 at Plymouth with Dr. Rev. Christopher Grundy as guest musician. With 17 years as a chaplain in hospice and hospitals, she is taking a break while she handles a couple of surgeries and works on her Doctor of Ministry in Intereligious Chaplaincy. She is on Committee on Ministry Discernment, worked on Fitness Reviews, and has served as extended pulpit supply. She is Co-chair of the Subcommittee for Operations for General Synod 35. 

Knowing she's bisexual since grade school, she adopted the updated definition of pansexual 10 years ago. Regan also doesn't consider herself tied to the female gender, and so is genderqueer. When the attacks on trans and LGBTQ rights became more heated the last couple of years, she decided the reasons to come out outweighed the reasons to remain closeted. During the past year, she volunteered time to gather LGBTQ clergy together online. She applied for and received a grant for a small retreat which was successful. The KO Board of Directors hired her as a Consultant for LGBTQ Clergy for the coming year. She’ll keep everyone updated in the KO newsletter about that work as well as a few ONA opportunities from the UCC. 

The coming few years will be tough for our beloved LGBTQ siblings, open or in the closet. Let us be sure to support our LGBTQ clergy who contribute to the heart of our Conference!