When the Church Leaves the Building: St. Paul's, San Antonio Walks in Love with LGBQT+ Community

At Council 2024, the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas, introduced “Lift High the Cross” as this year’s theme. He encouraged clergy and congregations to put this theme into action with a missional mindset, experimenting with new ways of engaging and serving parishioners and individuals within diocesan communities.

This missional mindset is not new to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church & Montessori School in San Antonio. Located in the heart of the city, just northeast of downtown and adjacent to Fort Sam Houston, the church has been deeply rooted in the community since 1883. St. Paul’s has a prayer book catholic tradition that isn’t just about high church worship. It includes a long history of serving diverse communities, welcoming people who are excluded, marginalized, or feel like they don’t belong.

The Rev. Brian Fox, Rector of St. Paul’s, shared, “St. Paul’s affirms that all people belong in the beauty of holiness. When we get beyond the walls of the church and open our hearts to our neighbors, we find that our common life is enriched. Celebrating with the LGBTQ+ community in San Antonio is an extension of the celebrating that we do at the altar on Sunday — a way that we bless our neighbors and are blessed by them in turn.”

St. Paul’s is supporting the community by participating in the upcoming San Antonio Pride parade to be held on Saturday, June 29th at night. Fr. Brian and St. Paul’s welcome anyone who would like to join them in sharing God’s love with our LGBQT+ community.