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Meet Our Panelists!

Thursday's roundtable participants will model a loving and vulnerable dialogue that both sits with and addresses the tensions we encounter through the diversity of faithful living, religion, sexuality, and gender identity. Each person is dedicated to creating a space that is safe, open, and intentional. Agape is the centerpiece of this roundtable.

“In the continual pursuit of shared healing and meaningful dialogue, The Agape Table works directly with faith communities who have or want to reconcile the topics of human sexuality and gender identity with their long-held convictions and beliefs. Through a methodology called "fishbowl dialogue," a panel of participants model a loving dialogue amidst the tension. It is a public conversation for the congregation to see and reflect.”

Artist, Writer

Evelyn Berry

Evelyn Berry (she/her) is the trans, Southern author of Grief Slut (Sundress Publications, 2024) and the chapbook Buggery (Bateau Press, 2020). Her chapbook T4T is forthcoming from Small Harbor Publishing in 2026. She is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship and South Carolina Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship for Poetry. She is the winner of the BOOM Chapbook Prize, Button Poetry Short Form Contest, Dr. Linda Veldheer Memorial Prize, KAKALAK Poetry Prize, Emrys Poetry Prize, Broad River Prize for Prose, and other honors. She lives in Columbia, SC with her spouse and their pets.

Evelyn Berry (she/her) is the trans, Southern author of Grief Slut (Sundress Publications, 2024) and the chapbook Buggery (Bateau Press, 2020). Her chapbook T4T is forthcoming from Small Harbor Publishing in 2026. She is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship and South Carolina Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship for Poetry. She is the winner of the BOOM Chapbook Prize, Button Poetry Short Form Contest, Dr. Linda Veldheer Memorial Prize, KAKALAK Poetry Prize, Emrys Poetry Prize, Broad River Prize for Prose, and other honors. She lives in Columbia, SC with her spouse and their pets.

Artist, Painter

Michael Naughton

Michael Naughton (he/him) is an abstract acrylic painter, mostly self-taught, however on a journey of continuous learning to continuously improve his art pieces. Michael came out as gay later in life, as did his passion for art. Michael’s work, often described as expressionistic, is done with bold, bright colors. Michael finds great joy and comfort in creating his paintings. Sometimes viewers may find ‘easter eggs’ hidden his work.

Michael is active in the Crooked Creek Art League. He has shown his work at locations including the SC AG Art Tour, the Cottontown Art Crawl, Artista Vista, Gemini Studios, Palmetto Fine Arts, and currently at the Newberry Opera House, and Irmo Branch Library. Michael was born in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to the Columbia Metro area in 1994. He currently lives in Chapin with his husband Roger. They have six adult children and 7 grandchildren and share their home with George, a golden retriever and Murray, a labradoodle.

Michael Naughton (he/him) is an abstract acrylic painter, mostly self-taught, however on a journey of continuous learning to continuously improve his art pieces.  Michael came out as gay later in life, as did his passion for art.  Michael’s work, often described as expressionistic, is done with bold, bright colors.  Michael finds great joy and comfort in creating his paintings. Sometimes viewers may find ‘easter eggs’ hidden his work.

Michael is active in the Crooked Creek Art League.  He has shown his work at locations including the SC AG Art Tour, the Cottontown Art Crawl, Artista Vista, Gemini Studios, Palmetto Fine Arts, and currently at the Newberry Opera House, and Irmo Branch Library.   Michael was born in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to the Columbia Metro area in 1994.  He currently lives in Chapin with his husband Roger.  They have six adult children and 7 grandchildren and share their home with George, a golden retriever and Murray, a labradoodle.

Artist, Musician

Josie Chung

Saint Josie is a queer, Korean-American, trans woman, indie artist, producer, and content creator. Her music speaks to her experience as a queer and trans person, through grieving the loss of the parts of her life that she left behind in the process of transition, finding hope and healing in search of abundance, and celebration of authentic self love. Josie is also incredibly passionate about fighting oppression through queer joy and authentic love and ceaselessly advocates for liberation for all.

Saint Josie is a queer, Korean-American, trans woman, indie artist, producer, and content creator. Her music speaks to her experience as a queer and trans person, through grieving the loss of the parts of her life that she left behind in the process of transition, finding hope and healing in search of abundance, and celebration of authentic self love. Josie is also incredibly passionate about fighting oppression through queer joy and authentic love and ceaselessly advocates for liberation for all.

Community Organizer, Nonprofit Leader

Dylan Gunnels

Dylan Gunnels (he/him) is a local activist, organizer, and social entrepreneur. He graduated from Charleston Southern University with a BA in Theology and has been in the ministry and non-profit world ever since. He is a lover of people and enjoys walking with others on the journey to discovering their true self, their true faith, and their true community. He centers his life on the freedom found in agape and believes that Jesus is inviting us to be a part of making the world whole again. He is the Founder & Equity Designer at The Agape Table, an organization that is healing, educating, and activating to create a South Carolina where every queer person belongs. Through his consulting firm, Igesia, Dylan leverages the power of relationships and leadership to guide non-profits to long-term community engagement and sustainable funding. He also currently serves as the Missions Director at Emmaus Church. Dylan is a dog dad to Samson and Delilah, a cat dad to Skene and Mila, and he cherishes the loving relationship with his partner Jack.

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When it comes to the topic of human sexuality and gender identity, the conversation is filled with nuance. That conversation is even more nuanced as it relates to the church. As followers of Jesus, how do we build community in the church amidst theological, sexual, and gender diversity? How do we wrestle with the scriptures as well as the stories of our LGBTQIA+ friends in such a way that honors both and still gives life? How can we begin to look more like Jesus in the midst of this potential difference?
Join us for a roundtable discussion as we model loving dialogue and courageous vulnerability in pursuit of a unity that is deeper than agreement. This conversation is more than just topical – human lives are being affected. So, let’s talk about it!
How does this work?
Each dialogue partner answers one pre-selected question, followed by responsive conversation with the other partners. After a 45-minute demonstration of loving dialogue, the conversation opens up for pre-screened questions from the congregation and 15-20 minutes of responses and closing thoughts. The goal is to keep the gathering between 60 and 75 minutes.
What You Won’t Observe at a Roundtable
  • theological heel-digging, debate
  • closed-ended or leading questions
  • agreement
  • dismissiveness, demonizing
  • a need to be right
What You (Probably) Won’t Take Home With You
  • the answers to all your questions
  • tidy theological conclusions
  • discouragement
What You Will Observe at a Roundtable
  • compassionate curiosity
  • open-ended questions
  • disagreement
  • mutual respect
  • a desire to understand
What You (Probably) Will Take Home With You
  • more (and better!) questions
  • appreciation for diversity
  • hope for unity amidst difference

Please understand that we may not get to every question, as they are pre-screened for the safety of our panelists and the protection of time. We will do our best to get to them all! Thank you!
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