Queer Country Femme Ministry with Rev. Jes Kast

Queer Theology

We’ve known Rev. Jes Kast for a long time now and it was an absolute pleasure to have her on the pod this week talking queer, country, femme ministry! Jes is a minister of word and sacrament in the United Church of Christ and shares her journey of faith and queerness in this conversation. She discusses her upbringing in a conservative Christian environment and her deep connection to her identity as a queer femme. Jes emphasizes the importance of faith in her life and how it has shaped her understanding of herself and her role as a pastor. Jes reflects on her transition from big city femme to rural queer life and the sense of community she has found in her small town. Jes discusses the beauty and challenges of living in central Pennsylvania and the importance of community and care in small town life. She emphasizes the need to recognize the complexities and realities of both small town and big city life, and to avoid idealizing or romanticizing either.

Takeaways

• Faith played a significant role in Rev Jes Kast’s upbringing, and she found comfort and strength in her belief in a benevolent God.
• Jes’s journey of self-discovery as a queer femme led her to embrace her identity and find joy in expressing herself through fashion and artistry.
• As a pastor, Jes values the opportunity to journey with people through important moments in their lives and create meaningful rituals.
• Jes’s transition from big city femme to rural queer life has allowed her to reconnect with her small town roots and find a sense of community and safety. Central Pennsylvania is often overlooked and misunderstood, but it has its own unique beauty and interesting people.
• Small town life is more communal and caring, with a greater reliance on each other.
• Living in a rural community as an out queer clergy comes with its challenges, but also a deep sense of respect and support.
• Preaching in a small town requires a different approach, focusing on the realities and concerns of the community.
• It’s important to recognize the complexities and realities of both small town and big city life, and to avoid idealizing or romanticizing either.
• Visibility and representation are important, especially in rural areas where there may be fewer queer role models.
• Finding joy in the presence of sapphic farmers and connecting with the history and spirituality of figures like Hildegard von Bingen.
• Creating spaces for reflection and connection, such as an echo monastery, can bring joy and a sense of peace.

Chapters

(03:06) Exploring Identity as a Queer Femme

(06:01) The Role of Faith in Jes’s Upbringing

(08:01) The Intersection of Faith, Femme, and Fashion

(13:28) Embracing Queerness and Finding Strength in Faith

(25:03) Small Town Faith and Queerness

(27:34) The Communal and Caring Nature of Small Town Life

(32:13) Navigating the Challenges of Being an Out Queer Clergy

(36:02) Preaching with Honesty and Authenticity in a Small Town

(43:21) Recognizing the Complexities of Small Town and Big City Life

(45:17) The Importance of Visibility and Representation in Rural Areas

(47:41) Finding Joy in the Presence of Sapphic Farmers

(52:36) Creating Spaces for Reflection and Connection: The Echo Monastery

Resources:

• Learn more at https://www.revjeskast.com/
• Follow Jes on Instagram at @revjeskast
• Join the Sanctuary Collective Community

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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