Q Christian’s Volunteer
Parent & Family Advisory Council Members
The Parent & Family Advisory Council will help guide our vision for parent and family engagement at QCF, ensuring that our programs reflect the needs, hopes, and stories of our community. If you're passionate about supporting families, advocating for inclusion, and helping QCF grow in love and wisdom, we would love to have you. Come journey with us!
Tim Beals
he/him
Tim has worked in the social work field for over 20 years and has extensive experience working as a case manager, therapist, and care coordinator involving all ages. He grew up in rural southern Illinois; a graduate from Martin University in Indianapolis, Indiana with his MS in Community Psychology; and currently resides in Florida.
Tim is passionate about the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing for all people.
Danny Cortez
he/him
Danny Cortez (he/him) founded and directs Estuary Space, a non-profit that provides consultation to faith communities as well as pastoral support to LGBTQ people and their families. He also serves part-time as a pastor at Long Beach Christian Fellowship, in Long Beach, CA. Originally, he served as the pastor of New Heart Community Church, a Southern Baptist Church that was dismissed from the denomination as a result of becoming inclusive of LGBTQ people. He also serves as a board member of PFLAG API San Gabriel Valley. He also co-founded Bridges in Africa, a non-profit that seeks to help alleviate the persecution and suffering of LGBTQ people in African communities. He and his wife, Abby, are parents of 4 children, three of whom identify as LGBTQ.
Tonya Edmisten
She/Her
My passion is helping parents and their whole families through the journey of when their kid or a loved one comes out. Our journey was lonely, painful, and filled with so much unknown; it is my hope to equip families so their journey can be one of celebration. I have read and studied so many resources hoping to have fruitful conversations with others that can help them move towards inclusion. We have built a large chosen family which has been so vital in our journey, not just our family, but also the ones we now consider family.
Erin Freiberg
she/her
Erin joined the QCF Board and Parent Advisory Council in 2025 as the parent of 3 older teens/young adults. Erin grew up in non-affirming evangelical churches and wrestled for years with the disconnect she felt between Jesus’ call to love our neighbors without judgement, and how the church treated the LGBTQ+ community. The dissonance came to a head when one of her children came out as gay. Based on her life experiences, Erin empathizes with the fears many Christian parents face when their child comes out, while passionately advocating for a relational path forward based on love above all else.
Jenna Martin
she/her
I am originally from San Francisco and love the Bay Area, but have spent large chunks of my life living in Western Massachusetts, Northern Virginia, and San Jose, CA. I am the mother of three grown daughters and a seasoned early childhood educator. I have also worked as a certified parent coach, helping parents find clarity, energy, and joy in everyday parenting as they become more competent and confident in handling parenting challenges.
During their teen years, each of my children came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community. My journey to understand, love, and support them has grown into the rewarding experience of supporting other cis, straight parents as they navigate these issues in their own families. I have loved creating safe spaces for parents to process their overwhelm and disorientation. Because the learning curve can be steep and the stakes are so high, I have enjoyed providing support for parents that empowers them to love their children well.
My husband and I now live in Vermont with our dog, Gus, and two cats, Bowie & Clementine.
Karen Reaume
She/Her
Karen Reaume (she/her) is the mother of four and spiritual mother to dozens of others, several of whom identify as LGBTQ+. She has been active in church life and ministry in an array of contexts, including Catholic, Mainline, and Evangelical churches, where she has served as a youth leader, small group minister, teacher, program director, and worship arts leader. She has also co-founded several ministries, most with an aim of fostering ecumenical cooperation. Karen has a Master's of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary, where she is completing a Doctor of Ministry focusing on the intersection of neuroscience and spiritual formation.
Raquel Simbala
she/her
Raquel Simbala is a queer Latina creative, partner, and mom who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the Family Advisory Council. She currently works for a quality assurance NPO supporting credentialing in higher education, and has a background as a public-school teacher, wardrobe stylist, and creative professional. Raquel and her partners are raising two beautiful children together in a joyful, inclusive household, and find joy in the everyday messes and lessons of parenthood. Valuing the power of working alongside others and believing meaningful change happens through connection and shared vision, Raquel is excited to serve on the QCF Parent & Family Advisory Council to help create family-friendly programming that celebrates the beauty and diversity of queer Christian community.
Bobbi Ullinger
her/she
Bobbi is a non-binary, gender fluid transwoman, and uses her/she pronouns. She met and married her wife, Cathy, in college 48 years ago, and came out to Cathy after 29 years of marriage. Bobbi has facilitated peer support groups for the transgender community both in person and online, as well as the Q Christian Fellowship community group for persons in mixed orientation marriages, and is active in several online support groups for parents of LGBTQ kids. She is on the boards both QCF and United Christian Ministries at Kent State University, and is an active member of The Church in Silver Lake (UCC). Bobbi is the proud parent of 5 adult kids (their youngest is gay), and Pap-Paw to 8 grandkids. She is a retired firefighter/paramedic, and currently works for an audio production company where she gets to make rock bands loud.
Are you looking to apply to be on the EDI Council or to see what other volunteer opportunities are available? Click the link to see more!