Past PHS LIVE: The David Sindt Papers and LGBTQIA+ History

On April 15, 2021 PHS welcomed Barry Smith, the historian of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago, who described his personal experience working with the David Sindt Papers and knowing David.

David Sindt (1940-1986) was the founder of Presbyterians for Lesbian/Gay Concerns, which is still working today as More Light Presbyterians. In the early 1970s, Sindt worshipped at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago. The Session called him to serve as an assistant pastor and establish an outreach program to the local gay community, but this call was rejected by the Presbytery of Chicago because Sindt was an openly gay man. This was believed to be the first call ever issued to an openly gay man by a Presbyterian congregation and motivated Sindt to form a network of Presbyterians who would advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights within the Church.

Click below to hear Barry and PHS Processing Archivist Liz Wittrig talk about the David Sindt Papers.