DES MOINES, Iowa — Friday marks the start of the 45th annual PrideFest in Des Moines, and new this year is an interdenominational worship service Sunday morning.
Capital City Pride Executive Director Wes Mullins previously spent 20 years in ministry. This year is his first with Capital City Pride.
"It was a natural connection for me to find my colleagues in the community and say, 'Well, how can we come together?'" Mullins said. "And I was so excited that 11 churches sort of answered that call to not just come here, but to cancel their in-person services at their locations."
"It's a pretty hard sell to ask churches to move their entire services and not actually meet in their buildings on Sunday," said the Rev. Remi Shores. "I've never seen anything like it."
Shores is an associate pastor at Plymouth Church. Plymouth was their first call out of seminary, and they came because of how affirming the church is.
"It's really important to [me and my family] to be surrounded by a faith community that, not in spite of our faith but because of our faith, supports who we are and who God created us to be," they said. "And we want a more inclusive Iowa, and we're going to do everything we can to make that happen for everyone."
While this year is the first to have multiple churches participate in the pride worship, Pastor Debbie Griffin of Downtown Disciples has been hosting one on her own.
"Six years ago, Downtown Disciples was really blessed with an opportunity to host and to lead Pride Worship," Griffin said. "So, it's really fabulous to be able to partner with 10 other affirming Christian churches that represent I believe, six different denominations, and three queer pastors who are going to be preaching at Pride worship."
Shores is one of the queer pastors preaching on Sunday. Joining them are Pastor LeAnn Stubbs, also of Plymouth Church, and the Rev. Greg Neal, from Grace United Methodist Church.
Neal and his husband were invited to Grace Des Moines last year, in part because Neal is gay and married. He told Local 5 he is excited for the service on Sunday and to speak along with fellow clergy.
"It's a wonderful way to connect the people with faith, and faith to the people," he said. "Especially for a community that has been so marginalized by Church, by Christians, by people of faith, to be able to be open and affirm, and to welcome them into a sacred space outdoors, where there's no judgement, and no opposition. Where there's simply the love of God proclaimed."
Mullins also emphasized the importance of having a service like this during Pride Month as many churches hold anti-LGBTQ+ views.
"It's critical that religious voices are the ones who are speaking out and saying there is another way, saying that God does love you," he said. "That's what Sunday morning is about."
Find a program for Sunday's service here.