Biography

Gina Durbin

I am a 46-year-old African American woman born in St Louis, MO but raised in North St Louis County in Hazelwood, MO.  I have lived in St Louis all of my life.  I am an only child and both of my parents are deceased.  I am currently married to my wife, Kelly Durbin and I am the mother of two stepchildren; Jonah 15 and Grace 13.  I am a member of Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St Louis and have been a member for over 10 years. 

The person most significant in my life and personal growth and development was my mother.  She is the one who took me to church and gave me a foundation of my relationship with God.  I have strong and supportive relationships with friends and family of choice.  Because of my sexual orientation I am not close with my extended birth family. 

I have a rich faith heritage. I was born and raised A.M.E. Zion until I was 18.  I gave my life to Christ at age 16 when I prayed the sinner’s prayer with a well-known tele-evangelist.  I attended a non-denominational church with a membership of 3500 from 18-22. At age 22-27 I attended one Pentecostal Church and one smaller non-denominational church.  I stayed at the smaller non-denominational church until I was “outted” as a lesbian.  I left the church completely for about 6 years until I started attending MCCGSL.

I have been a member of MCCGSL since April 2001.  I have been an active member of the Praise and Worship Team since joining the church and had been a member of the choir for over 7 years.  During my time at MCCGSL I have grown spiritually, been healed emotionally and felt my renewed sense of call that I received many years ago at the age of 17. 

I still remember the first time I walked into MCCGSL.  I was waiting for the lightening to strike!  How could I, a lesbian dare set foot into a church, further more walk up to receive communion and not die at the altar.  I still share that testimony of being afraid of taking communion the first time; thinking I was taking the bread and wine or juice in an unworthy state.  I was thinking on the inside, I am going to die right here in this church, but I didn't die and I kept coming.  It had been 6 years since I had been in church prior to that moment; and 6 years since I had sang.  I was glad to find out a church like MCCGSL existed. My only wish was that I had found out sooner.  In 2000, at my very first Pride, the first booth I walked up to was MCCGSL. I don't think it was a coincidence.  One of the pastors gave me a bottle of water and invited me to the church.  I came that Sunday and have been there ever since.  This place has allowed me to come and be my authentic self. We say at MCCGSL “come as you are; believing as you do”.  I think that is a great place to start when anyone comes to a new spiritual home, but as you keep coming something else happens and it is what happened to me over a period of time, growth and movement of the Holy Spirit; transformation.

I feel called to MCC because someone was the light on the hill for me.  People need to know God loves them, without all of the strings of adjectives, adverbs and other colorful words attached.  God loves them and wants to be in relationship with them and if no other church wants you, you are welcome here. 

I realize our foundation has and will always be rooted in the LGBT community, but I also know we are looking into the future and seeing ourselves as the human rights church.  And that goes right along with there is room at the cross for all and there is room at the table for all.

In September 2009, I decided to pursue that call professionally and entered the Master of Divinity Program at Eden Theological Seminary. I am currently working to complete that degree May 2014.  At Eden Theological Seminary along with the classroom work completed I have completed 6 units of Contextual Education or Field Education. The first two units were spent at Shalom House, a homeless women’s shelter. Shalom House is a shelter for women who are suffering with mental illness and/ or substance abuse. I was assigned as a chaplain to participate in their bible study, spirituality programs and pastoral care of the residents. The other 4 units were spent at MCCGSL where I have participated in all aspects of worship including preaching, singing, planning liturgy and picking music for worship and celebrating communion. 

I am also seeking ordination with our denomination UFMCC. I have applied and been accepted as an “in care status clergy candidate.” What that means is I have completed psychological testing; I have attended the REVM (Readiness for Entering Vocational Ministry) Retreat; and am following the MAP (Ministry Action Plan) that has been prepared in consultation with denomination leaders specifically for me.  In my MAP, I am required to finish my Master of Divinity degree, complete CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), complete a 1 year internship at another MCC that is not my home church, continue my spiritual formation through a variety of spiritual practices and assignments, and take 3 required MCC courses.

Currently I have completed 1 required course, Queer History. I am taking a sexuality course at Eden that will qualify for the denomination required sexuality course, and I am currently enrolled in a yearlong accredited CPE Program at Barnes Jewish Hospital – St Peters (approximately 14 hours per week). 

I have always been drawn to pastoral/congregational care, but since I have been in seminary and doing various internships, I have discovered it is my passion. I have the philosophy that with God’s help and guidance transformed people can and do transform people.  If we are to be a community, a place where there is communion and unity, we will care for one another and be a place that all people can truly call home.