Last Updated on October 30, 2024 by Kittredge Cherry

Use Your Voice Vote by David Hayward

“Use Your Voice / Vote” by David Hayward

God’s love for LGBTQ people is revealed at Q Spirit in an ongoing series of cartoons by David Hayward, known as nakedpastor. Prints and other items are available at the Nakedpastor Etsy shop and the Nakedpastor store.

book Flip It Like This by David HaywardHayward, a Canadian artist, uses gentle humor to open hearts, minds and church doors to everybody — not only for LGBTQ people, but also for women, racial minorities, immigrants, abuse survivors and others who have been excluded. A hundred of his LGBTQ-themed cartoons are collected in his book “The Art of Coming Out: Cartoons for the LGBTQ Community.”

LGBTQ cartoons are also an important part of his book “Flip It Like This!” It was one of the top LGBTQ Christian books of 2022 at Q Spirit.

Election / Voting cartoons

Voting is encouraged in “Use Your Voice / Vote,” a cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

U.S. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Q Spirit is sharing the cartoon now to urge Americans to vote in this important election.

The “Use Your Voice / Vote” cartoon shows a large, diverse group of people, each of them thinking, “But I’m just one person!” The unspoken message is that together we can have a big impact.

When Hayward posted the cartoon, he wrote, “Would significant things have ever happened if everyone who made a difference in this world said, ‘But I’m just one person!’ and ended up doing nothing? If individual votes didn’t matter, why is there such a concerted effort to suppress them? …Be you! Vote! Say something!”

 

LGBTQ Pride Month cartoons

Its Always Pride by David Hayward

Jesus hugs a group of rainbow sheep in “It’s Always Pride,” a cartoon by David Hayward, known as Nakedpastor.

Art of Coming Out book coverHayward celebrates Pride Month with an image of Jesus wrapping his open arms around a group of rainbow sheep who represent LGBTQ people. “It’s Always Pride” depicts sheep whose colorful fleece matches the many flags of the greater LGBTQIAP+ community. They go far beyond the familiar rainbow and transgender flags. The broad embrace of this Christ figure includes sheep with the bright colors of the following 10 identity flags. From left: pansexual, transgender, asexual, LGBT, bisexual, lesbian, intersex, aromantic, genderfluid and nonbinary.

Happy Pride Month by David Hayward

“Happy Pride Month” by David Hayward, 2023

 

“God and Gay Pride” by David Hayward

Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit join the joyous crowd marching for LGBTQ Pride in “God and Gay Pride” by David Hayward.

The Holy Trinity joins a LGBTQ Pride celebration in “God and Gay Pride” by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor. The cartoon shows God, Christ and the Holy Spirit celebrating the full spectrum of human sexuality and gender identity.

That's the Spirit by David Hayward

“That’s the Spirit!” by nakedpastor David Hayward

In another Pride Month cartoon, the Holy Spirit urges Jesus and God the Father to put on rainbow clothes, saying “I know we’re allies all year round, but it IS Pride Month!”

Theology of the Trinity is also expressed in “That’s the Spirit!” The Holy Spirit, known for being an unpredictable trailblazer, is already clothed in rainbow. Jesus, who knows what it is to be human, smiles at the prospect of dressing up for Pride. Looking perplexed, God the Father studies the new clothes with parental concern.

LGBTQ Christmas cartoons

LGBT Christmas by David Hayward

A star shines rainbow light over the Nativity scene in “LGBT Christmas: Merry Christmas EVERYBODY” by David Hayward.

Gay Shepherd Couple by David Hayward

“The Gay Shepherds” by David Hayward

A couple of gay shepherds are amazed when the Christmas angel announces “peace on earth and goodwill to all people” in a new cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

“Does that include gay people like us?” the gay shepherds ask.

The angel responds, “What about ‘all’ is so hard to understand?”

Hayward emphasized the point on his blog announcement of the Christmas cartoon: “Even though some of us may not believe in the historicity of the gospels’ birth narratives, I think we can agree that the thrust of the message is clear: ALL MEANS ALL!”

Creation of the gay shepherds cartoon was prompted by a question from Q Spirit founder Kittredge Cherry.

Hayward released the cartoon on Dec. 20, 2019, with an announcement saying, “Last Christmas, my friend Kittredge Cherry requested I do a cartoon… something to do with gay shepherds. I drew one with just one shepherd. She wished there had been two. A gay couple. So I did it this year.”

Gay Shepard by David Hayward

“The Gay Shepherd” by David Hayward

Cherry says that she actually likes both versions of the cartoon. “The cartoon where the shepherds are a gay couple makes a strong visual statement,” she said. “But the idea of an angel comforting a lonely gay man also rings true.”

 

“Neither”

queer black Jesus Neither by David Hayward

“Neither” by David Hayward

Hayward also is creating an ongoing fine-art series of “Images of Christ.” They include the LGBTQ dimension of Jesus through images such as “Neither.” It’s almost impossible to find a Christ figure that expresses both LGBTQ identity AND non-white racial / ethnic identity. “Neither” is one of these rare treasures.

“Neither” shows a dark-skinned Jesus who is male on one side and female on the other in the style of the Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara. He/she has a rainbow halo and holds a transgender symbol.

The title “Neither” comes from the Bible: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28).

 

 

Added in June 2021

Jesus and the Rainbow Sheep Selfie by David Hayward

“Jesus and the Rainbow Sheep Selfie” by David Hayward

Jesus takes a happy selfie with an LGBTQ+ rainbow sheep in a new cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

A loving Jesus kisses the cheek of a delighted rainbow sheep while capturing the moment on a smartphone to share on social media. “This cartoon was so fun to draw and so fun to show the world!” Hayward wrote when he posted it on his blog. “It actually brought tears of joy to my eyes. I hope it moves you too. We should all be this happy and filled with love for all!”

Added in October 2020

Jesus LGBTQ Black Lives Matter by Hayward

“Jesus LGBTQ BLM Cartoon” by David Hayward

Jesus joins a Black Lives Matter parade with LGBTQ people in a cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

The Black Lives Matter cartoon shows how Jesus sides with people who face injustice, whether over race, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other issue. Progressive Christians point out the need to focus on black lives now, noting that Jesus compared himself to a shepherd who leaves a flock of 99 sheep to find one that was missing.

Jesus wears the rainbow sash of the LGBTQ community in the BLM march. Hayward explained in comments on Facebook that this Jesus looks grim because “he’s focused and his friends are dying.”

Added in August 2020

“Invite into Our Lives” by David Hayward

Rainbow sheep gladly invite white sheep into their lives, even though the white sheep hesitate to do the same in an LGBTQ Christian cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

Hayward — like Jesus himself — often uses sheep to make a point about people. Here “coming out” as LGBTQ actually means inviting others in.

“We’re thinking of inviting you into our lives,” says a member of the white flock to the rainbow flock that represents the LGBTQ community.

“We’ve already invited you into ours,” replies a rainbow sheep.

Revealing one’s LGBTQ identity is commonly called “coming out of the closet.” Hayward wrote on his website that he was inspired to create this cartoon when he read a gay person say that they invited people in instead of coming out.

“If LGBTQ+ people wanted in included, accepted, received‚ then wouldn’t it be easier for them to stay in the closet? Wouldn’t they have a better chance of being a part of the crowd if they continued concealing themselves? Instead, when they come out, aren’t they indeed inviting others into their unique and personal stories?” Hayward wrote.

The importance of welcoming people is emphasized over and over again in the Bible. For example, Jesus said,

“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 35-36, 40)

Added in July 2020

Realest Sin by David Hayward

“The Realest Sin” by David Hayward

A religious fundamentalist shuts out an LGBTQ person for their “sin,” but is the door of exclusion the real sin?

This question is raised in the cartoon “The Realest Sin” by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

Arms folded, the fundamentalist says, “Knock all you want! I won’t let you in. You’re not like me, and you live in sin!”

A person in a rainbow shirt knocks on the other side of the door, saying, “There is no out and there is no in. This door you made is the realest sin!”

It calls to mind the words of Jesus: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Matthew 23:13) as well as his warning, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.

 

Added in June 2020

“LGBTQ Stay Outside” by David Hayward

“LGBTQ Stay Outside” by David Hayward

A Bible-toting Christian orders Jesus to remove his rainbow shawl before entering the church in the new cartoon “LGBTQ Stay Outside” by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

Jesus wears a stole with the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ community as he tries to enter a church in the cartoon. A member, possibly the pastor, points at the rainbow banner and insists, “Um, no. The shawl stays outside!” Note that Jesus has historically accurate dark skin, while he is blocked by a balding white man.

“The core message of the gospel is inclusion. When exclusion is exercised, it violates this gospel,” Hayward explained as he posted the cartoon on his blog. “Those claiming to preach and exemplify the gospel become those the gospel came to challenge and break open.”

During his lifetime Jesus angered religious authorities by ignoring purity laws to welcome and connect with various outsiders, including sexual outcasts.

Added in May 2020

Hugs Back by David Hayward

“Hugs Back” by David Hayward

 

With churches closed and hugs banned, LGBTQ Christian humor can help people cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. A queerly uplifting look at the quarantine comes in two new cartoons by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor: “Hugs Back” and “LGBTQ Online Church.”

Jesus maintains the recommended social distance when he greets a rainbow sheep in “Hugs Back.” Always ready to share in human suffering, Jesus is dressed in the same kind of face mask and gloves that many people started wearing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  He still wears his crown of thorns too.

He opens his arms wide and exclaims, “Hugs!!”

The sheep baas its response from behind a face mask, “Hugs ba-a-a-a-ack!”

Hayward — like Jesus himself — often uses sheep to make a point about people. The longing and frustration of long-distance love feels completely up-to-date and yet eternal.  It’s always a challenge to get close to Christ, and as the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: …a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 5).

Hugs are missing, but the virtual church services do have some advantages, as Hayward illustrates in “LGBTQ Online Church.” Church-goers can safely stay connected during the pandemic by accessing live interactive online worship services. Hayward shows a diverse group of sheep watching an online service on a laptop together: a white sheep, a pink-and-blue transgender sheep, a black sheep, and a rainbow LGBTQ+ sheep.

Online church for all by David Hayward

“LGBTQ Online Church” by David Hayward

In real life, LGBTQ people still feel unwelcome in many churches, but some barriers disappear with online church. As the trans sheep points out, “The cool thing about online church is no one can tell us where we can or can’t go!”

When Hayward released the cartoon, he added an explanation about why the sheep were crowded around the computer screen: “No, they aren’t practicing physical distancing very well. But they are all members of one family.”

Added in March 2020

LGBTQ Bike by David Hayward

“LGBTQ Bike” by David Hayward

A rainbow sheep takes the lead while riding a tandem bicycle with Jesus in a new cartoon about LGBTQ Christian life by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

“The moral of the story: we discern the Spirit of Christ leading us through the marginalized,” Hayward wrote when he shared it on Facebook.

In “LGBTQ Bike,” the rainbow sheep steers in the front seat of a bicycle built for two while Jesus enjoys pedaling in back, his long hair flying in the wind beneath a crown of thorns.

This cartoon calls to mind the famous slogan “God is my co-pilot” and scriptures about how God works with people, such as “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20) and “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5).

Added in January 2020

You Just Can't Play by David Hayward

“You Just Can’t Play” by David Hayward

A rainbow sheep gets rejected by a flock of white sheep in a new cartoon about LGBTQ experience in the church by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

“Of course we welcome you… you just can’t play,” says the hypocritical sheep that blocks the gate. Inside the fence, the white sheep are happily playing soccer.

Here the sheep’s hypocritical “welcome” is similar to the way that some churches claim to welcome LGBTQ members, while denying full access to marriage and ordination. Some churches even demand celibacy for all lesbian and gay members.

Jesus is unseen in this cartoon, but in scripture he promised an open door. “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep,” Jesus said in John 10:7.

Added in November 2019

We're Working on It by David Hayward

“We’re Working On It” by David Hayward

 

A rainbow sheep dies waiting to be allowed into a flock of white sheep in “We’re Working on It,” a cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

He shows the deadly impact of churches that exclude LGBTQ people with endless delays, studies and dialogue. It’s scary to see the outcast sheep turn into a rainbow skeleton with the colors of the LGBTQ flag. It seems appropriate to share this frightening cartoon at Halloween. Based on my own experience, those bones are real.

Although Jesus is not pictured, his anger over such situations is clear in scripture when Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.” (Matthew 23:13)

Out of all Hayward’s many cartoons, this one has the biggest impact on me personally. It reminds me of the years that I spent advocating for LGBTQ rights at the World Council of Churches and US National Council of Churches as ecumenical officer for Metropolitan Community Churches in the 1990s…. and the friend who died in the process.

I was like the rainbow sheep in the cartoon, waiting patiently while a seemingly endless string of committees and conferences debated whether LGBTQ people deserve church membership.

I can relate to how the cartoon sheep felt as it grew weary. The sheep starts out standing, but it sits and eventually lies down to rest as the sun sets while the gatekeepers kept bleating, “Still working on it.”

My years as ecumenical staff ended when I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. And others were even more debilitated by the long struggle for LGBTQ equality in the church.

The rainbow bones in this cartoon are real. LGBTQ colleagues did die while waiting for churches to open their doors to us. The bones remind me of queer friends who stood with me as we urged the National Council of Churches to open its doors to LGBTQ people. In particular I remember two who died waiting for the church to heed their call for justice: Howard Warren of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns and John Taktikos of Axios (Eastern and Orthodox LesBiGay Christians).

These heroes of LGBTQ faith did not die utterly alone like the rainbow sheep in the cartoon. They were part of the rainbow community that finds and follows Christ outside the institutional church.

The faces of the real people represented by the rainbow sheep can be seen in a photo that I took at our 1992 protest for LGBTQ rights at the National Council of Churches meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. John Taktikos of Axios, the Orthodox LGBTQ group (pictured at front left), died of AIDS before our next protest in the following year.  The sign in this 1992 photo says, “Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual: We are Already in the Church. Let us be Open, Free.”  Also pictured are, from left, Nancy Wilson of Metropolitan Community Churches and Lorna Cramer of Unitarian Universalists for Lesbian/Gay Concerns.

NCC protest 1992

Waiting for LGBTQ rights in the church

There has been some progress over the years. But in many ways we are still waiting for full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the church.

I strongly agree with the message that Hayward wrote when he posted this cartoon:

“Always remember that asking for patience in delivering your rights is a luxury for those in power.

Saying “We’re praying about it” or “We need more meetings” or “Let’s not rush this” or “We need to be cautious” or “We need to count the costs” are all power moves.

Period.”

Added in October 2019

Don't stone others by David Hayward

Jesus protects a rainbow sheep in “Don’t Stone Others” by David Hayward

Jesus raises his hand to stop a flock of white sheep from throwing stones at a rainbow sheep in a new cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

Here he shows Jesus defending a sheep that has rainbow fleece like the LGBTQ flag.

The cartoon gives an up-to-date LGBTQ interpretation of a popular Bible story: Jesus prevents a crowd from stoning a woman caught committing adultery in John 8:7. He tells the hostile crowd, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” When the accusers heard this, they left one by one.

Hayward takes the story a step further because his crowd actually starts throwing stones — even hitting Jesus in the process. Some of his other cartoons such as “Don’t Worry about It! That’s Their Problem” depict Jesus comforting LGBTQ sheep in the face of such attacks.

Added in September 2019

Don't worry about it by David Hayward

Jesus comforts LGBTQ sheep in “Don’t Worry About It” by David Hayward

“Don’t worry about it! That’s their problem,” says Jesus to colorful LGBTQ sheep when hostile white sheep surround them a new cartoon by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor.

He shows Jesus embracing sheep who have the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ flag and the pink-and-blue hues of the transgender flag.

The white sheep stare with disapproval in this cartoon, but they are openly antagonistic in other nakedpastor cartoons.  For example, Jesus tries to stop them from hurling stones at a rainbow sheep in “Don’t Stone Others.”

Many scriptures form the Biblical foundation for this cartoon. “Do not be afraid, little flock,” Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 12:32.

And all of Psalm 23 expresses the love that the sheep feels because
“God is my shepherd, I shall not want….
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies…”

Added in August 2019

“The Rainbow Around God’s Throne” by David Hayward

A flock of rainbow sheep gathers around God in “The Rainbow Around God’s Throne” by David Hayward

A huge flock of rainbow sheep makes a ring around God in a new cartoon by David Hayward, known as nakedpastor. A surprised white sheep exclaims, “I know the Bible says there’s a rainbow around God’s throne but this is NOT what I expected!” It illustrates how LGBTQ people are already close to God, even though others don’t expect it.

The white sheep is referring to a prophecy about heaven in Revelation 4:1-3:

There before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”

This shining rainbow is shown as a heart-shaped ring of LGBTQ sheep in “The Rainbow Around God’s Throne.”
His own commentary on the cartoon states, “For the church and for believers, words like ‘include, ‘welcome,’ and ‘accept,’ etcetera, in reference to the LGBTQ community are problematic because it presumes the ones who use them are already inside and hold the power to determine who can enter and join them.”

Added in July 2019

Jesus in the Confessional by David Hayward

Jesus smiles in a rainbow sash when a Christian admits being gay in “Jesus in the Confessional” by David Hayward.

Jesus smiles in a rainbow sash when a Christian admits being gay in “Jesus in the Confessional” by David Hayward, also known as nakedpastor. “Hear my confession: I’m gay,” says a worried believer who thinks it’s a sin to be gay.

But Jesus sees it differently. He is hidden from the believer on the other side of a traditional confessional booth.  But his rainbow sash affirms that he already knows and approves of the believer’s sexual orientation — because Jesus is either gay himself or an enthusiastic ally.

The scene calls to mind what God said to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5).

The idea that God creates some people as LGBTQ was also expressed recently by Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, a devout gay Episcopalian who said, “If me being gay was a choice, it was a choice that was made far, far above my pay grade.… If you have a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me. Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.”

It would be fascinating to see what happens next in the cartoon confessional. Perhaps Jesus will express affirmation that leads the believer to join the psalmist who wrote:

O God, you have searched me and known me….
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well. (Psalm 139:1, 13-14)

Added in April 2019

Sheep Conversion Therapy by David Hayward

A rainbow sheep doesn’t change when its colorful coat is cut off in “Sheep Conversion Therapy” by David Hayward

A rainbow sheep doesn’t change when its colorful coat is cut off in “Sheep Conversion Therapy” by David Hayward. “This white sheep thought he was being helpful,” Hayward explains. “He thought the LGBTQ sheep was just LGBTQ on the surface and it could be easily removed. To his dismay, he realizes it’s much deeper than he thought.”

The cartoon illustrates how foolish and ineffective it is when churches try to “pray the gay away” and change someone’s LGBTQ sexual orientation with conversion therapy. There is virtually no reliable evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Some states and countries ban conversion therapy as unethical and dangerous.

In the Bible, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd and often told stories comparing people to sheep. Hayward builds on this understanding in a series of cartoons about rainbow sheep.

At his Last Supper, Jesus used the metaphor of sheep when he spoke to his disciples about potential conflicts between his followers. This scripture, John 10:16, is a favorite among LGBTQ Christians:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Added in March 2019

Lost or Kicked Out by David Hayward

A rainbow sheep is rejected by the flock when Jesus tries to bring it home in the cartoon “Lost or Kicked Out?” by David Hayward.

Jesus is stopped by the head sheep of a uniformly white flock who bleets: “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold it right there! He wasn’t lost. We kicked him out!”

This cartoon illustrates how churches reject Christ when they exclude LGBTQ people. It is especially timely now with the recent United Methodist vote to expel LGBTQ clergy and oppose same-sex marriage.

The cartoon is based on Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-6:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ”

Previously posted LGBTQ Christian cartoons

“Jesus and the LGBT Community” by David Hayward

Arms lovingly wrapped around the rainbow tribe, Jesus prophesies to the LGBTQ community, “I’m afraid your stories aren’t going to make it into the Bible” in a cartoon by David Hayward.

“I Think I’m Gay” by David Hayward

Jesus is happy but not surprised when a believer comes out in “I Think I’m Gay” by David Hayward.

“Not Going in There” by David Hayward

A man who disapproves of homosexuals gets a big surprise at the pearly gates of heaven in “Not Going in There” by David Hayward.

“Jesus Rides the Gay Wave” by David Hayward

Christ surfs on rainbows in “Jesus Rides the Gay Wave” by David Hayward.

“Heroes of the Faith Who Came Out” by David Hayward

“Heroes of the Faith Who Came Out” include Moses who came out of Egypt, Jesus who came out of the tomb — and Pat who came out of the closet in a cartoon by David Hayward.

“Bring More People” by David Hayward

A Christian turns his back on the living Christ and his rainbow followers, unaware that they are the answer to his prayer: “Please, Lord, bring more people into your church!” in a cartoon by David Hayward.

“Gays Not Allowed and the Subversive Christ” by David Hayward

A subversive Christ steals the “not” from a church’s “Gays Not Allowed” sign in a cartoon by David Hayward.

LGBTQ Easter cartoons

“Rainbow Blood of Jesus” by David Hayward

The crucified Christ bleeds rainbow blood in solidarity with people persecuted for being LGBTQ in “Rainbow Blood of Jesus” by David Hayward.

About nakedpastor cartoonist David Hayward

“My LGBTQ cartoons all try to illustrate the discrimination against LGBTQ people and the struggle against the discrimination, not only in the church but in society. They also try to illustrate the good news that we are all one, already all reconciled into a body where there is no division, and that this reality should be made visible by our actions,” Hayward told Qspirit.net.

His eclectic faith journey includes a master’s degree in theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and 30 years of pastoral experience. He was was baptized Anglican as a baby, came to faith in a Baptist church as a teen, changed to Pentecostal and married another Pentecostal named Lisa, was ordained Presbyterian, pastored a Vineyard church, and planted independent churches. In 2006 he launched the Nakedpastor blog with daily cartoons, often based on current events.

“I’m often asked why I have the name ‘nakedpastor.’ I answer, ‘ ‘Naked’ because I’m real; ‘pastor’ because I care,’” he explains on his website nakedpastor.com.

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This article was originally published on Q Spirit in March 2019, was expanded with new material over time, and was most recently updated on Oct. 30, 2024.
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Copyright © Kittredge Cherry. All rights reserved.
Qspirit.net presents the Jesus in Love Blog on LGBTQ spirituality.

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