Celebrating the Life of Rev. Derek A. Terry | Monday Invocation
Graphic rights belong to the Open & Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ. You can read the released statement provided by both organizations here.
Today, we pause our current series celebrating the diverse ways that families are represented and embodied within the LGBTQ+ community to honor and celebrate the life of Rev. Derek A. Terry. We are grieving the loss of Rev. Derek, a friend and colleague to the Q Christian Fellowship community, by joining the chorus of voices lamenting his sudden passing and the pain felt across the LGBTQ+ Christian communities worldwide.
Rev. Derek was the Executive Director of the Open & Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ, a national nonprofit in covenant with the United Church of Christ, where he promoted LGBTQIA+ inclusion and equity within the church and broader society. Additionally, he was the pastor of St. Peter's United Church of Christin Cincinnati. Rev. Derek leaves behind a life of fierce advocacy for not only the LGBTQ+ community but also for the thriving of all people. He often could be found bringing light to the topics of civil rights, racial and social justice, income inequality, body positivity, and courageous living.
In addition to his pastoral and social justice work, Rev. Derek was a passionate visual artist, creating compelling works in graphite, watercolor, marker, and other media. He often was found using his creativity to advance difficult conversations and to create coloring books and pages to celebrate influential Black figures and events. Rev. Derek also authored several other works, including God Loves Me & So Do I (2015) and The Shattered Ornament (2017).
Rev. Derek was a member of the Collective of Queer Christian Leaders and the Lavender Interfaith Collective as well as other collaborative networks and partnerships across denominational lines, faith practices, and traditions.
Rev. Derek was kind, creative, courageous, and thoughtful and was always ready to support others in the ways he could. Rev. Terry’s multifaceted work will continue to inspire and challenge individuals and communities to embrace inclusivity, justice, and authentic living. Please hold Rev. Derek’s family, friends, the ONA Coalition staff and Leadership Team, and extensive church family in your prayers as we all navigate the coming days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Funeral details can be found below.
Thursday, August 20, 2026 - Cincinnati, Ohio
12-1pm - Receiving Hour
1:00pm - Memorial Service with reception to follow
Location: First Church United Church of Christ (5808 Glenview Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45224)
Saturday, August 22, 2026 - Louisville, Kentucky
10am-12pm - Receiving Hour
12:00pm - Funeral Service with reception to follow
Location: Quinn Chapel AME Church (1901 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd, Louisville, KY, 40203)
Pieces of this post were sourced from Rev. Derek Terry’s website and the released statement provided by the Open & Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ.
