Grace Under Fire Award: Zander Keig: Outstanding Social Worker

Zander Keig, an award winning speaker, writer and educator, is employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, as a homeless outreach social worker and is currently volunteering his outreach, organizing and coordinating talents to the following projects & programs: NASW National Committee on LGBT Issues (2013-2016); NASW-CA Diversity Committee (2013-2015); Department of Veterans Affairs Transgender Education Workgroup; and the Transgender Advisory Group for the California LGBT Reducing Disparities Project.

Zander holds a B.A. in speech with a concentration in interpersonal communication (Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1999), a M.S. in conflict analysis and resolution with an emphasis in college student personnel administration (Nova Southeastern University, 2002), a M.T.S. in Theology with a focus on world religions (Pacific School of Religion, 2004), and a M.S.W. in social work with a focus on clinical social work (San Diego State University, 2012).

Zander resides in Berkeley, California with his beautiful wife, Margaret. They will be celebrating their 12th anniversary in 2014!

Grace Under Fire Award: Outstanding

Michael G. Pappas was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA) in 1983, after which he successively worked as a lobbyist, regional field director for a presidential campaign and investment banker for the oldest municipal bond firm in New Jersey.

In 1987, he left the world of politics & finance and enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, MA) attaining an M.Div., with honors, in the class of 1992. An ordained priest of the Greek Orthodox Church, Michael served parishes in Palos Hills, IL, Stockton, CA, and San Francisco, CA.

During his sixteen-year ministry, he was a prolific writer, contributing articles to numerous religious and secular periodicals. As well, he devoted energy to work with the homeless and to further ecumenical/interfaith relationships. After transitioning from parish ministry in 2007, he was selected by the San Francisco Interfaith Council to the newly created administrative post of Executive Director.

In his tenure as Executive Director Michael has helped increase the Council’s budget and programs substantially; strengthened existing and cultivated new relationships with civic leaders, NGO’s, judicatories and congregations; and significantly projected the SFIC through expanded use of technology.

His previous/current board memberships include: Mayoral appointments to the San Francisco Disaster Council, San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement's 2010 Census Complete Count Committee; San Francisco Assisi Sister City Committee, and San Francisco Human Rights Commission, where he chair’s the Commission’s LGBT Advisory Committee. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter.

Michael has served as a Board Member of the National Shrine of Saint Francis; Board of Directors & Program Committee Chair of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio; The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Executive Committee and Advisory Board; Episcopal Charities Board of Trustees; Night Ministry Advisory Board Member. Until recently he  was a member of the United Religions Initiative (URI) North America Region Leadership Council and was elected by that Region to serve as a Trustee on URI's Global Council.

He traveled to Turkey as a participant in the Pacifica Institute Cultural Exchange, attended the United Religions Initiative Global Assembly in Mayapur, India; the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia; spent a week in New Orleans doing disaster relief; and was the guest of the Jewish Community Relations Council in their Community Leaders sojourn to Israel.

He is the father of two sons, George and Paul, and one daughter, Julia. He is a congregant at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco.

Grace Under Fire: Award Ceremony, Online Fundraiser and Dinner

Grace Lutheran Church in San Francisco, recently had a congregation who shared space at the church leave after 20 years of worshiping in the same space.  The congregation cited the sexual orientation and gender identity of our pastor, Megan Rohrer and our hosting of the Faithfully Fluid Conference (a conference for Christian college students to talk about LGBTQ issues and intersections of justice) as the reason for their departure.

As they leave our congregation, they will also leave an $18,000 gap in our budget for 2015.  We are not only interested in raising funds to fill this gap, but we also want to use this moment to listen to what the spirit might have in store for us next.

In our Christian tradition fire and the holy spirit is not viewed as destructive or full of revenge.  Rather, it provides light in the deepest darkness; hope in the face of fear; and joy in a grumpy world full of finger pointers.

During this time, though it has been stressful and emotionally difficult, we still believe that there is grace abounding.  Our congregation has used this moment to reaffirm God's welcome to ALL people and we hope will join us in celebrating others who continue to be faithful in the midst of difficult times.

We will be hosting a dinner and award ceremony following the Faithfully Fluid Conference.  If you want to join us on December 13th, 2014 from 6-10pm you can get your tickets here.

Grace Under Fire Awards Winners:

Outstanding LGBTQ Faith Leader: Michael Pappas
Outstanding Seminarian: Ashley Moore
Outstanding Social Worker: Zander Keig
Outstanding Congregations: St. Francis and First United Lutheran