Here is a short narrative …

David Weiss is a theologian, writer, poet and hymnist committed to doing ‘public theology’ around issues of sexuality, justice, diversity, and peace. In his work he seeks to bring the strength of his academic training into fruitful conversation with the wider audiences of church and society. His writing has appeared in newspapers, periodicals, and newsletters throughout the U.S.

Born (1959) and raised in Michigan City, Indiana, David attended Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) and Wartburg Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa). He then lived and worked for several years in Madison, Wisconsin, before returning to Indiana for graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. His first teaching position took him back to Iowa, where he taught religion for four years at Luther College in Decorah. In 2002, after several years of long-distance courtship and marriage, he re-located to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he and his wife, Margaret, now make their home. Their blended family includes five children and three grandchildren, and assorted animals that approximate a peaceable kingdom. David and Margaret are also deeply invested in the life of their congregation, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

In the Twin Cities David has taught religion/theology at Augsburg College, Hamline University, and St. Catherine University. From 2006-2009 he was Campus Ministry Coordinator for Social Justice at St. Catherine University, a position he left in order to devote his full energy to public theology and welcome. Beyond his professional work, David has been active in local peace work and locally and nationally as an ally for GLBTQ persons in faith communities.

David’s involvement in GLBTQ awareness and advocacy dates back to his seminary days in the mid-80’s when he counted a number of closeted gay and lesbian Lutheran seminary students among his close friends. For the past decade he has been increasingly vocal in working for the full inclusion of GLBTQ persons in faith communities. While at Luther College he developed a course on “GLBT Voices in Theology.” After moving to the Twin Cities he worked for several years as a part-time staff person in the Reconciling in Christ Program of Lutheran Concerned/North America (LC/NA), both in the Twin Cities and as a national trainer. He continues his local involvement as a volunteer today.

In 2005 David became the first straight person invited to co-facilitate the biennial LC/NA retreat at Holden Village. In 2006 he received a “Saints & Reformers” Award for his advocacy and writing from the Twin Cities chapter of LC/NA. Also in 2006 David was the only straight person invited to give a talk at a plenary session of the LC/NA biennial Assembly in Toronto. In 2008, as part of their commitment to raise the level of conversation about matters of sexuality in the Lutheran church, Wingspan Ministry of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church (St. Paul, Minnesota) partnered with David to publish his first book, To the Tune of a Welcoming God: lyrical reflections on sexuality, spirituality, and the wideness of God’s welcome. In 2009 David began writing a monthly column for Q View Northwest, a GLBTQA publication out of Spokane, Washington. As a straight man, David’s work has also focused on the need for a healthier, more whole affirmation of sexuality among heterosexual persons as an essential step in communities of faith that desire to become more welcoming toward GLBTQ persons.