Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Thomas.
Hi Neil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in the United Kingdom in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Due to religious differences our family left the Mormon church and became nominally religious. However, I still felt connected to God and began to explore my religious beliefs. At age 14 I knew I was “different” from my siblings and came out as a gay man at age 15.
I continued to explore my religious and spiritual connections and at age 18 began my theological studies. Graduating at 22 and ordained at 23 – at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the UK.
Honored by HRH Queen Elizabeth for my service to the Bournemouth community where I pastored Metropolitan Community Church, Bournemouth for 12 years, opened night shelters for the homeless, established services to the LGBTQ+ community and more. I have had an amazing journey that ultimately took me from the UK to Los Angeles, CA to pastor Founders Metropolitan Community Church for 13 years and currently pastor Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ for the past 10 years (June 1 2025). COH is the largest predominately LGBTQ+ congregation in the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As an openly gay man working in an institution (Christianity) that is often hostile to LGBTQ+ community, this has definitely not been an easy or smooth road.
The impact of AIDS on the world and specifically the hostility toward those living and dying of AIDS complications and a theological backdrop that once promoted that AIDS was God’s wrath on the gay community, has alienated many from their faith.
I have been in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and at the forefront of the marriage equality movement.
Transgender conversations today impact many in our community.
Our church is regularly targeting for protest and more recently was picketed by Ne0-nazis.
So much more!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Senior Pastor of Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ, Dallas, TX. COH is a 4000 member church known as the largest predominately LGBTQ+ congregation in the world.
I am most proud of the work I get to do in reconciling people to their faith – people who have been told that they are going to hell because of their sexual orientation or some other reason that the church has decided they have the authority to decide on!
My work with inter-religious partners is another area that I am proud of.
What sets me apart is my unapologetic belief that, as a gay man, I will not be silenced and stand against religious hypocrisy, specifically in relation to human sexuality and faith.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have fallen in love with Dallas. It is a wonderful city that is diverse and attempting to be welcoming to all. What I least like is the continued systemic racism that divides north and south.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cathedralofhope.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathedralOfHope
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CathedralofHope
