Proclaim member Rev. Mark Erson of St. John’s Lutheran Church in New York City spoke at the Pride Rally this year.  Mark has been pastor at St. John’s since 2011 and is married to his high school sweetheart Scott Jordan.

Ten minutes before Mark took the stage at the Pride Rally he was told a surprise guest would be coming on after – Lady Gaga. 

Watch a video of Mark at the Pride Rally here. 

Of the experience Mark shared: “Yup, met her back stage and then went out and had a ball speaking to the crowd.”

Proclaim is the professional community for Lutheran pastors, rostered lay leaders and seminarians who publicly identify as LGBTQ.  Proclaim is a program of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.