The Team

Core-Team Volunteers

Heidi Weaver-Smith
Founder & President
Heidi is the founder/president of LOVEboldly and has been hosting dialogues with traditionally-minded Christians and the LGBT+ community for the Read More
Heidi Weaver-SmithFounder & President

Heidi is the founder/president of LOVEboldly and has been hosting dialogues with traditionally-minded Christians and the LGBT+ community for the past nine years. Compelled by Christ’s interactions with marginalized folks in the Gospels and disturbed by the stories of LGBT+ friends who had been treated poorly by Christians, Heidi founded LOVEboldly in 2011. Heidi has a B.A. in Media Communications from Asbury University and attended Asbury Theological Seminary from 2011-2013, completing coursework towards an M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling. Through her leadership of LOVEboldly, Heidi empowers the LGBT+ and Christian communities to step towards loving one another boldly, and engage with dignity and civility in the polarizing conversations surrounding faith and sexuality. Heidi travels and speaks around the country at conferences, universities, and seminaries on the intersection of faith, sexuality, and gender identity. She lives with her husband, Steven, and her dog Malcolm in Cincinnati, OH.

Jill Schad
Administrative Assistant
Jill volunteers with LOVEboldly because she want to live in a world filled with diversity and people who care about each Read More
Jill SchadAdministrative Assistant

Jill volunteers with LOVEboldly because she want to live in a world filled with diversity and people who care about each other. Her mission is to love, serve and listen.  Jill’s life is one of service, whether in her role as the manager at a pharmacy, in her church as a volunteer in many capacities, or at home. She has a BSN from Kent State University and has one year toward a Master’s in Nursing at University of Cincinnati. Jill is married to her junior high school sweetheart, Kevin, and they have a lovely daughter, Claire. In her spare time, Jill loves to bake cookies, make caramels, travel and read.

Kevin Schad
Volunteer Coordinator & Relationship Manager
Kevin serves as volunteer coordinator for LOVEboldly.  By day, Kevin is a Federal Public Defender.  By night, Kevin attempts to make Read More
Kevin SchadVolunteer Coordinator & Relationship Manager

Kevin serves as volunteer coordinator for LOVEboldly.  By day, Kevin is a Federal Public Defender.  By night, Kevin attempts to make his wife of 26 years (Jill) happy despite all his faults!  Kevin volunteers at LOVEboldly because he is interested in loving people like Jesus would.  In his free time, Kevin likes to bike.  Kevin’s greatest accomplishment is his daughter Claire, a music therapist in Washington D.C. Kevin has a deep love for donuts and beer.  He has a JD from University of Cincinnati, and completed one year of seminary education at Cincinnati Christian University.

Board Members

LOVEboldly board members take a break to goof off at our annual board retreat.

LOVEboldly board members take a break to goof off at our annual board retreat.

Christy Wade
Board Member
Christy is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary where she completed her Masters of Divinity in 2012.  Christy has ministered ...read more.
Christy WadeBoard Member

Christy is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary where she completed her Masters of Divinity in 2012.  Christy has ministered in various national and international contexts and has a heart for LGBTQ youth and young adult discipleship.  She has extensive experience working with those seeking to reconcile their faith and sexual orientations, and has worked as a Fellow in the Religion and Faith Department of the Human Rights Campaign, located in Washington, DC.  She participated in the inaugural Reformation Project, which seeks to transform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. Christy serves as the editor of Owning Our Stories, a place where LGBTI people, their parents and friends can own their stories by sharing it with others. She also blogs about faith and sexual orientation and serves as a founding board member of LOVEboldly (2011-Present). Christy lives in Lexington, KY and is planning a wedding with her partner Sarah.

Heidi Weaver-Smith
Founder & President
Heidi is the founder/president of LOVEboldly and has been hosting dialogues with traditionally-minded Christians and the LGBT+ community for the ...read more.
Heidi Weaver-SmithFounder & President

Heidi is the founder/president of LOVEboldly and has been hosting dialogues with traditionally-minded Christians and the LGBT+ community for the past nine years. Compelled by Christ’s interactions with marginalized folks in the Gospels and disturbed by the stories of LGBT+ friends who had been treated poorly by Christians, Heidi founded LOVEboldly in 2011. Heidi has a B.A. in Media Communications from Asbury University and attended Asbury Theological Seminary from 2011-2013, completing coursework towards an M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling. Through her leadership of LOVEboldly, Heidi empowers the LGBT+ and Christian communities to step towards loving one another boldly, and engage with dignity and civility in the polarizing conversations surrounding faith and sexuality. Heidi travels and speaks around the country at conferences, universities, and seminaries on the intersection of faith, sexuality, and gender identity. She lives with her husband, Steven, and her dog Malcolm in Cincinnati, OH.

Jenell Paris
Board Member
Jenell Paris is Professor of Anthropology at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She is author of The End of Sexual ...read more.
Jenell ParisBoard Member

Jenell Paris is Professor of Anthropology at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She is author of The End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex is Too Important to Define Who We Are (IVP, 2011) and Courageous Leadership in Sex/Gender Conflicts (Cascade Press, 2016).

Mary Dunn
Board Treasurer
A graduate of University of Kentucky in Business Administration, Mary has served a variety of churches, nonprofit organizations and small ...read more.
Mary DunnBoard Treasurer

A graduate of University of Kentucky in Business Administration, Mary has served a variety of churches, nonprofit organizations and small businesses by providing financial accounting and reporting. Additionally she received a Masters of Theology from Liberty Bible College in Pensacola, Florida.  Mary currently lives in Woodstock, GA with her wife, Brenda, where she practices “body ministry” through providing massage therapy.

Matt Steinruck
Board Member
Matt is a creative professional and ministry volunteer in Downingtown, PA. Most recently, his passions merged while leading an innovative ...read more.
Matt SteinruckBoard Member

Matt is a creative professional and ministry volunteer in Downingtown, PA. Most recently, his passions merged while leading an innovative program designed to shift the perceptions of the Bible in culture. At its heart (and his) is teaching people with differing views to have better conversations about issues that matter.  Matt is a husband, foster dad, drummer, tech nerd and creative thinker.