By Jay Stracke
A heart must believe in something. Whether it believes in a higher power, in one’s dream, or in the strength that is exuded from one’s own gifts and talents, a heart must beat for something greater than itself.
A heart beats within the halls of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. St. Peter United is dedicated to the acceptance and visibility of all people. And etched within every stone, there lies a legacy. It is a legacy not only steeped in a rich history, but one that is being built each new dawn through the passion, love, and dedication of those who walk in every Sunday, who sit in each and every pew, and who stand before an open and diverse congregation, who together make up St. Peter United’s beating heart.
“We don’t have to wait on heaven to live a better life or for justice to come,” Rev. Leslie Jackson, minister of St. Peter United, says. “In the Lord’s prayer, when Jesus says ‘thy kingdom come,’ we believe it’s a call for us to join in co–creating that kingdom here and now on Earth. It’s a call inviting us not to wait on some distant, disembodied future of which none of us can foretell. We have faith, which is enough, but we don’t know all the details.”
Rev. Jackson, who joined St. Peter United after the church’s merger with the Cathedral of Hope Houston earlier this year, was called to ministry at a young age. Having grappled with his identity as a gay Black man who, at the same time, held a dream to serve God and the church, Jackson eventually pursued seminary after being called on once more through the loving encouragement of his husband and faith.
But Jackson was not the only one who received a calling. While on vacation with her wife, Cindy Sterling, moderator for St. Peter United, happened to attend a viewing of Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music. The film moved and inspired Sterling through its compelling narratives of gay women who persevered in an industry that sought to deny them opportunity and to keep their shining talents quelled and dimmed. “I came to Leslie and said, ‘I think there’s a marriage here between us and this film,’” Sterling explains. “We have ministries around social justice and creative arts and this film brings the two together.”
Chely Wright in ‘Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music.’ Photo: Outhaus Films
After hearing the stories of the women in the film, Jackson recalls: “I found myself and my spiritual journey to becoming a pastor in their stories. God speaks to me through the narrative of other people’s lives. And, I ask: What does this story mean for me? What does it mean for my calling as a pastor? What does it mean for St. Peter United? Where do we find ourselves in this story?”
These answers lay cradled within a helping hand.
On October 19, St. Peter United will host an exclusive test screening of Invisible to help raise funds toward the film’s final production. In addition, prior to the screening, the church will offer a workshop for film students led by T.J. Parsell, director of Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music, and winner of Best Documentary Short at the Edmonton International Film Festival for his documentary short, The Gender Line. “Recognizing the power of personal narrative is what got me into film school and is what informs all the work that I do,” Parsell says. “I feel I’m a social activist first and I’m simply using film as a vehicle for change.”
Parsell, whose work heavily focuses on criminal justice reform, was first approached with the concept for Invisible by a friend. “It’s been a fascinating journey and a fascinating subject,” Parsell says. “We’re looking at a very specific industry and a select group of women, but I think their experience is pretty universal, and I think it goes beyond [being] gay.”
Bonnie Baker (r) in ‘Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music.’ Photo: Outhaus Films
“It is an incredibly triumphant story in the end,” Parsell adds. “In spite of all the different forces that conspired to keep these women down, they persevered anyhow. They are magnificent artists and their voices came through. And I think that’s ultimately what I’d like people to see. To be inspired by them.”
“I don’t believe God wants us to hide who we are in fulfillment of the vocation that She has called us to,” Rev. Jackson says. “The talents, gifts, and abilities that God has given us are a gift to the world. This film is at the intersection of exploring God in the midst of these women’s stories and how they have lived and been able to express their gifts, but also understanding the call to create a better world where no one has to hide who they are.”
The film student workshop will be held on October 19 at 4 p.m., followed by the exclusive test screening of the film, which begins at 7:30 p.m. that same day. The workshop and screening will be held at St. Peter United at 9022 Long Point Road, Houston, TX 77055. For more information on the workshop and screening, visit stpeterunited.com/INVISIBLE. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Cindy Sterling at 281-799-0461 or [email protected].
