May 1-2, 2026
An Intimate Gathering for Queer Exvangelicals
A small, in-person experience for those who are done pretending
You’ve deconstructed the theology.
You’ve survived the exile.
You’re out.
But now what?
This is not a conference.
It’s a small, intentional gathering designed for depth, honesty and real connection.
There’s a way of being queer in the world that isn’t bitter, performative or hidden behind curated personas. There’s a way that’s whole. Integrated. Honest. Human.
And, yes, deeply spiritual, without asking you to shrink or posture.
This experience is for queer people who came out of Evangelicalism and are ready for something quieter, deeper and more real.
What This Space Is For
This gathering is for those who are:
Done performing strength or certainty
Curious about healing that doesn’t bypass the body or the past
Hungry for connection that goes beyond networking or trauma-bonding
Ready to be seen as they are—not as who they had to be to survive
We’ll talk about God and grief.
Sex and shame.
Desire, embodiment and the vulnerability it takes to actually connect.
We’ll laugh.
We’ll likely cry.
We may get uncomfortable.
But we’ll do it together, in a room small enough to hold trust and honest enough to hold truth.
You’ll be known by name.
You’ll be heard without rushing.
You’ll have space to show up without performing.
Community isn’t forced here. It’s built through shared time, real conversations and mutual care.
What You Can Expect
A facilitated, in-person experience grounded in presence and honesty
Space for story, reflection and connection (not lectures or sermons)
A room where your queerness and your spirituality are not in conflict
No fixing. No altar calls. No shame.
This is a space to be reminded of who you are beyond the trauma, the theology and the roles you had to play to survive.
Details
Dates: May 1–2, 2026
Location: Nashville, TN
If you’re looking for something polished and distant, this isn’t it.
If you’re looking for something honest, embodied and human, you’re in the right place.
Schedule
Friday
2pm - Check-in registration
3:15pm - Opening address
4:30pm - Session
6:00 - Dinner
7:30pm - Session
Saturday
10 am - Session
12:00 - Lunch
2:00pm - Breakouts
3:15pm - Session
4:30pm - Session
6:00pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Session
Special Guests
Mike Maeshiro
Mike Maeshiro is the founder of Numa, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals recovering from religious toxicity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. A prominent voice in both the LGBTQ+ and deconstruction movements, Mike draws on his experiences as a gay man navigating his Christian upbringing and ministry to share profound insights about faith and identity.
In addition to his advocacy, Mike is a social media influencer and thought leader, emphasizing the transformative power of living authentically and reclaiming spirituality in affirming ways.
“HUMANS MATTER MORE THAN THEOLOGY.” - MIKE MAESHIRO
Stan Mitchell
Stan Mitchell grew up in a conservative Pentecostal community in Arkansas, where he became a teen minister and later a highly influential Lead Pastor. Guided by a deep desire to make room for all, he underwent a transformative journey toward progressive Christianity. Stan now serves as a Teaching Pastor at The Village Church in Atlanta, GA, and Austin New Church (UMC) in Austin, TX, and is Pastor Emeritus of GracePoint Church in Nashville, TN, which he led from 2003 to 2019—shepherding its landmark move in 2015 to fully affirm and celebrate LGBTQ+ people. Today, Stan is a speaker, LGBTQ+ advocate, and consultant within the Progressive Christian Movement, including work with the LDS community.
More details will be announced as they become available!