Introducing “Known By Name Collective”
“God has formed me, exactly who I am, in the womb that carried me. Knit together with love. What God has made is wonderful, what God has made is beloved, what God has made is good. Who I am was never hidden from God. Even before others knew who I would be, God knew who I would be. God knew my story before others wrote my narrative for me. ”
Mission Developer of Known By Name Collective, Pastor Sommer Loar
New Synod-Authorized Worshiping Community Launching in Appleton to Serve 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
A new ministry is taking shape in the Fox Valley. The East Central Synod of Wisconsin has officially been approved by the ELCA to launch a Synod Authorized Worshiping Community (SAWC) in Appleton focused on ministry in, with, and among the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The ministry will be developed by Pastor Sommer Loar, a recent seminary graduate who has deep connections in the local community through leadership with Fox Valley Pride. The initiative is part of the ELCA’s wider effort to cultivate new Christian communities that help more people encounter the way of Jesus through love, justice, and belonging.
Responding to a Local Need
At the current moment the Appleton area has limited organized support structures specifically serving 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, individuals and families. While Reconciling in Christ congregations are present, their primary missions are broader, and there is no local PFLAG chapter providing family-centered support.
At the same time, some traditional support systems—such as Gay-Straight Alliances in schools—have been losing funding, or disappearing – and are not always a “safe place” for students to be themselves. The new worshiping community hopes to help fill that gap by creating spaces for connection, faith exploration, and healing.
A Community of Care and Belonging
The new ministry will focus on several key areas:
Trauma-informed worship for those who have experienced harm in church settings.
Safe gathering spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth where healing is cultivated and trust can be built.
Pastoral care and mutual support for parents and families of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and those who seek to understand God’s love in a different way.
Partnership with local congregations to strengthen allyship and welcome across the board.
Known By Name Collective is not a place where you have to give up membership from another church, or youth need to leave their home youth group- this is a "and also" opportunity. The worship experience will be intentionally inclusive, using gender-expansive language for God, creative music, and multisensory practices. Services may take place in nontraditional spaces—such as parks or community venues—to ensure accessibility for those not yet ready to enter a church building.
Building a New Kind of Faith Community
Beyond worship, the community plans to cultivate queer-led leadership and discipleship through:
Queer-led Bible studies and book groups
Emerging “queer confirmation” curriculum for youth
Opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and musicians in worship
Intergenerational mentorship and leadership development
The hope is for this ministry to become a place for people who are curious about faith but unsure how to reconnect with the church and where healing can start.
An Invitation to Support this Work
Known By Name Collective was brought into being through seeds planted long ago by the Holy Spirit and through generous prayers and financial support. Especially, leaders give thanks for the gift of $200,000 shared by Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton, through a legacy gift that accompanied discernment of its mission completion. As one ministry comes to an end, we give thanks for the gift of resurrection and new life and are excited to invite others into opportunities to be generous with financial gifts and prayer. To join the leaders of Trinity in making a gift, you can send a check to the East Central Synod of Wisconsin (PO Box 655 Appleton, WI 54912) designated with a memo, “Known By Name Collective.”
With support from a leadership team, Known By Name Collective aims to establish a core community of 10–20 participants, and begin regular worship within the first several months of its ministry. Through partnerships with congregations and community organizations, the new SAWC seeks to embody a simple but powerful message: there is a place for everyone at Christ’s table.
