Staff

Brent Walsh, Spiritual Director

Brent was raised in a conservative Christian family in central Illinois. He attended Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar, Wisconsin and then later, Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. Brent identified as lesbian throughout most of his life and for years struggled with the religious ramifications that came with being gay in a faith tradition that considers homosexuality a sin. After several failed attempts to “go straight,” he did some deep soul-searching and realized that sexuality need not conflict with faith. In 1998 he began writing essays explaining why being gay and Christian are not mutually exclusive. Brent has made several trips to South Africa, engaging in dialog with other Christians about homosexuality. While there, he acknowledged that he had always identified as male, even if not always on a conscious level and in 2005 underwent his transition from female to male. Since that time he has helped others find confidence in their own decision to transition. He preaches about transgender issues at churches nationwide, serves as a guest speaker and a panelist in transgender awareness forums, and offers advice and support through social networks to people around the world. Brent is an active member at LifeJourney Church in Indianapolis as a discipleship teacher and writer for Be Still and Know… the online devotional ministry of the church, and appears as a contributing author in Quench!: Refreshing Devotionals by Gay, Trans, and Affirming Christians. Brent is currently completing his Master of Divinity degree at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.

Julie Walsh, Counseling Director

Julie grew up in St. Louis and attended, since the age of nine, a Metropolitan Community Church with her mother and mother’s partner. She moved to Indianapolis to attend Butler University, obtaining a degree in all-area Music Education and began a ten-year tenure as the Minister of Worship at LifeJourney Church. During that tenure, Julie served as a worship leader, educator, and consultant for MCCs nationwide. Julie remains active at the church as a writer for Be Still and Know… the online devotional ministry of the church, and appears as a contributing author in Quench!: Refreshing Devotionals by Gay, Trans, and Affirming Christians. She has taught music in public and private schools as well as within a juvenile correctional facility where she developed a life-skills curriculum and established a tribal drumming circle. Julie serves as a guest speaker and panelist about trans* issues at universities, churches, community events, and trans* conferences. She is completing her Master’s of Social Work degree with a concentration in mental health and addictions at Indiana University. In addition, Julie is an active member of WPATH, NASW, Soulforce, the National Association for Music Education, the Percussive Arts Society, and Sigma Alpha Iota.