Pride is Faith in Action: The Journey of Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran

Director of United Methodist Connections, Reconciling Ministries Network

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran’s story begins in a sacred moment of convergence—he was born in a United Methodist hospital in the Philippines in 1968, during the days the Uniting General Conference convened in Dallas to form The United Methodist Church. “I was born into this church, and I celebrate that,” he says with conviction.

But Israel’s story is not one of unbroken ease. As a child growing up in Manila, immersed in the life of Knox Memorial UMC—the oldest Protestant church in the Philippines—he discovered a love for worship, for pastors who led Bible study in his home, and for the call of ministry that stirred in him at just ten years old. It was during a church camp consecration service that he felt the Spirit’s nudge, walking to the altar with a clear sense: he was called to teach and preach. 

At the same time, Israel was quietly reckoning with another truth. “I knew my sexual orientation. I had crushes on my male classmates,” he recalls. “So I struggled with my call because I also knew that my church would not accept me.” The institutional church had declared him “incompatible with Christian teaching”—language that remained in The Book of Discipline until it was finally removed in 2024. 

Raised in a religiously conservative society without role models, Israel found himself deeply closeted and ashamed. “I did not have any gay role models or mentors,” he says. “Add to this that I was surrounded by a Roman Catholic culture that did not affirm gay persons.” 

It was in seminary where his theology and his identity began to find convergence. There, he encountered liberation theology and feminism. He began to see how colonialism, poverty, gender-based violence, and Western political and economic domination intertwined with the theological rejection of LGBTQ+ people. “Anti-LGBTQ views of the church and society colonized the minds and bodies of LGBTQ persons,” he reflects. “These realizations shaped my vision of ministry. I would be a queer social justice advocate, rooted in the Gospel mandate to love unconditionally and struggle for what is just.” 

Today, that is exactly who he is. 

Rev. Dr. Alvaran is an ordained elder in the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church, appointed to serve as Director of United Methodist Connections for Reconciling Ministries Network. Through this ministry, he works tirelessly for LGBTQ+ justice and inclusion in The United Methodist Church and beyond. His calling has become one of visibility, mentorship, and resistance—for himself, and for the next generation of queer leaders in the church. 

“Pride is a Commitment to Justice I Make Every Day” 

Israel didn’t experience Pride Month celebrations until he moved to the U.S. in 2003. Now, Pride is both a celebration and a spiritual discipline. “As a person of faith and a gay man, Pride Month is a reminder that the struggle for LGBTQ+ justice is never over,” he says. 

His theology is grounded in the understanding that the Gospel of Jesus is liberation. “Jesus sided with the oppressed and offered grace, redemption, and restoration—even to the oppressor.” For Israel, queer liberation is Gospel work because it is about love, justice, and the building of Beloved Community. “Love is a powerful force that liberates both the oppressed and the oppressors,” he says. “I always seek to see the image of God—that spark of divinity—in everyone.” 

His ministry is deeply intersectional. As a gay immigrant of color, Israel knows that LGBTQ+ identity cannot be separated from other experiences of oppression. “Queer people exist in all communities. When I look in the mirror, I am reminded that I am gay, an immigrant, and a person of color. All of these are real, constant, and connected.” 

Signs of Hope and the Work Still Ahead 

The 2024 General Conference was a watershed moment for The United Methodist Church. Israel describes it as “a transformation of hearts” and a true movement of the Holy Spirit. “I never thought it was possible this soon,” he admits, “but a spirit of humility and understanding pervaded the conversations. It wasn’t just about changing rules, it was about healing relationships.” 

Still, he is clear: the work is far from over. 

While some regions, like the Philippines Central Conference, have reinstated anti-LGBTQ+ language in their regional Book of Discipline, Israel also sees hope in their commitments to create safe spaces and educate congregations toward just and compassionate ministry. Likewise, he witnessed powerful moments of public repentance in the U.S.—liturgies of confession, financial support for Reconciling Ministries, and open acknowledgment of harm done. 

“These are concrete acts of solidarity,” he says. “They are signs of a church yearning to be in mission together.” 

To Young LGBTQ+ Christians: “You Are Beautiful” 

Israel offers words of affirmation, not just advice, to LGBTQ+ people discerning their place in the church today. “You are beautiful. Wonderfully created. A child of God,” he says. “Celebrate who you are. Be brave. Speak the truth in love. And remember, no one can take away your baptism or your call to ministry.” 

And to allies? “You are not saviors. We are already working for our own liberation. But we need you to stand with us, open doors, and help us speak. Learn from us. Respect our contexts. And remember: intersectional justice is the lens through which true allyship flows.” 

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran’s life and witness are reminders that Pride is not a one-month event. Pride is protest. Pride is healing. Pride is faith in action. And in his words, “Pride is a celebration and commitment to justice I make every day.