Rev. Randall G. Lucas leads a congregation rooted in radical welcome and intersectional justice. As a lifelong United Methodist and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Rev. Lucas offers a deeply personal reflection on what it means to live authentically in ministry.
In this Pride Month spotlight, he invites us on his spiritual journey of belonging and reflecting God’s expansive love.
Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.
I serve as the Lead Pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas. We’ve been a Reconciling Congregation since 1989, which means we are committed to the full inclusion and celebration of LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of church life and leadership. But our justice work doesn’t stop there. We also advocate for affordable housing, immigration justice, racial equity, and the dismantling of all forms of discrimination.
That intersectional approach has resonated with the wider community—we’ve seen a 20% growth in our congregation, which I believe reflects a deep hunger for a church that lives out its love boldly and visibly.
What initially inspired you to pursue ministry and theological education?
My call to ministry began when I was 15 or 16, during a transformative experience at church camp. I studied cross-cultural ministries and marketing in college, and during that time, I came out as a gay man. At the time, I believed I had to give up my call — that I couldn’t serve in the church and be fully myself.
But God never stopped working in my heart. Eventually, I began serving at Lovers Lane UMC in Dallas, and during a mission trip to Haiti, the spark that God had placed in me was reignited. With the encouragement of two trusted pastors, I found the courage to answer the call and attend Perkins while being fully out.
Can you describe the moment that most affirmed your calling?
There have been many affirming moments throughout my journey, but one that stands out happened while watching the ordination service of the legacy North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church several years ago. As I watched each candidate step forward, I found myself in tears. It was a deeply spiritual moment—one where I felt, with clarity and conviction, that I was called to ordained ministry. That sense of call has continued to be affirmed by my congregations, other pastors, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and so many others who have spoken words of encouragement, hope, and life into my ministry.
What does Pride Month mean to you personally and theologically?
Personally, Pride is a time of deep affirmation. I grew up hearing that being gay was sinful and shameful. That kind of messaging made me want to hide. But Pride declares the opposite: I am not a mistake. I am who God created me to be.
Theologically, Pride is an act of sacred resistance. It says we are all made in the image of God, and there is no shame in living fully into that truth. Pride gives us space to stand tall — not in spite of our identity, but because it.
How has Perkins shaped your theological understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion?
Perkins gave me the space to ask honest questions and to explore my calling with integrity. I’m reminded of Peter’s vision in Acts, where he’s shown animals considered “unclean” by tradition. God tells him not to call unclean what God has made clean. That vision wasn’t just about food — it was about people. Peter was being called beyond his boundaries, and so are we. Today, the Spirit continues to push the Church toward those it has too often left out.
As denominations continue to grow and change, what do you believe should be the driving force behind that progress?
We need to reclaim the core of evangelism—not as a method for conversion, but as a calling to meet people exactly where they are and reminding them they are already loved by God. The church must become fluent again in the language of belonging. When people know they are seen, loved, and valued—not despite who they are, but because of who they are—that’s when transformation happens. Love and belonging should be the focus of our denominational progress.
What reflections or actions might faith communities take during Pride Month?
Faith communities should ask: Who are we excluding? Who are we being called to embrace more fully? Pride Month invites us to reflect on how we embody welcome and whether our spaces truly reflect God’s love for all people. It’s a time for reflection, listening, and commitment to the kind of community we’re called to be.