WHO WE ARE

In May 2008, the congregation of upRising (formerly MCC Austin) elected Rev. Karen Thompson as Sr. Pastor. In this role she holds responsibility for planning and conducting worship, serves as head of staff, and leads the Board of Directors as its Moderator. A graduate of Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Rev. Karen began her journey to ordination as a Presbyterian. However, the Presbyterian Church’s refusal to ordain openly gay pastors at that time, combined with Rev. Karen’s growing desire to work in and with the LGBTQ faith community, led her to ordination in MCC. Rev. Karen’s hope is that the people who find their way to upRising will experience the transformative power of God’s unconditional love, will find a spiritual home, will worship and serve and grow in their own spiritual journeys, and will in turn invite others to join us. She loves cycling, quilting, reading, and writing. Her life is blessed with three children, their three partners, and three grandchildren.








The Pastor’s Blog
If You Don’t Read This, I Will Regret It Later
When I was 18, I worked in the summers on the make-ready crew for a builder. I was the one who scraped all the paint and plaster off of walls, cleaned out the bathtubs where [...]
After Today, Rev. Thompson Goes Away
In this age of information at our fingertips, it seems nothing should ever surprise us. And yet it does. So this is my attempt to help more of you not be surprised. (And those of [...]
Trans Folk — I See You
Robert Holden is an author and motivational speaker whose work combines psychology and spirituality. He often opens his events by asking participants to learn and share with each other a two-part greeting that is spoken [...]
Faith and Integrity in a Time of Anti-Trans Actions
It’s been a “when it rains, it pours” kind of few weeks, beginning with Greg Abbott‘s directive to the Director of Child Protective Services giving his opinion that gender-affirming treatment for trans kids is abusive. [...]
The Presidential Debate, a Crisis of Faith, and Communion
I watched the Presidential debate on Tuesday night. Why did I watch? Because I think it’s my duty to be informed -- to try to see what I’ve missed before. (To be honest, I [...]
Hope in the New Normal
In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins explains a phenomenon referred to as the Stockdale Paradox. Admiral Jim Stockdale was the highest-ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the [...]
Rising Above Racism – August 5
When I was in seminary I took a course on feminist theology. One question that came up early and often for my classmates and me was “Do you consider yourself a feminist?” The question placed [...]
For the Love of God and Neighbors…
“I’m so weary of the ‘call out’ culture. We need a call forth culture instead. Calling forth the best in people. Calling forth compassion, gratitude, empathy. Calling forth justice. Calling forth beauty, goodness, wonder. [...]
Board of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors of upRising are elected by the congregation during the annual congregational meeting, and they serve a two year term.
- Board members are charged with the following responsibilities:
- Ensuring adequate financial resources for upRising to pursue its mission and vision
- Ensuring effective management of the church’s funds and other assets
- Ensuring sound risk management policies
- Participating in selecting the candidate to be elected by the congregation as Sr. Pastor when that is necessary
- Supporting and advising the Sr. Pastor and providing constructive feedback






Send your questions and comments for the Board to office@uprisingaustin.org and they will be forwarded to the Board.
Lay Delegates
Lay Delegates are the official representatives of the local congregation to the General Conference of Metropolitan Community Churches. Their primary responsibility is to attend and represent the congregation at the General Conference by voting, by gathering information about the denomination to take back to the congregation, and by sharing the views of the congregation with the denominational leadership as appropriate. In between General Conferences, Lay Delegates serve as the communication link between the local congregation and the denomination. They are elected by the congregation at the annual congregational meeting and they serve a three-year term.
2022 Lay Delegates


