What was the real issue at Sodom and Gomorra; was it homosexuality, or was it something else? What does Paul say in his letters about homosexuality? What does Jesus say? What does the Bible really say?

The Reverend David C. Parsons is a native of Traverse City, Michigan.  Raised in the Lutheran Church, his first vocation was as a performer in opera and music theater.  Trained at Interlochen Center for the Arts and The University of Michigan, he made his professional debut with Michigan Opera Theatre as Silvio in I Pagliacci.  Between 1979 and 1997, Rev. Parsons sang more than 60 leading roles with opera companies and orchestras throughout North America and Europe.

In 1997, David began studies in theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  He served as Vocal Artist in Residence, developed a multi-media worship service, The Creativity of God and, in 2001, received the degree Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Worship and the Arts.  For his Master’s thesis Rev. Parsons created a Lutheran Mass, Remembering the Light: A Musical Communion. The concluding canticle from that liturgy, “You Shall Go Out,” is published in Amazing Abundance: Hymns for a Growing Church (Abingdon Press). 

In 2002 Rev. Parsons was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament by the Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he serves as pastor.  He serves as Dean of the Brooklyn Bridges Conference, and is past co-chair of the Metropolitan New York Synod Commission for Gay and Lesbian People.  David is married to Dr. Judith Diers; their daughter, Liv, is three.