Bicentennial Activist Panel

Please join us for our Activist Panel on Sunday, October 20, 2024, 12:30pm in the St Mary's Church Sanctuary, 3916 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

St Mary's Episcopal Church, Hamilton Village, has a long-standing and robust history of activism.

Our panelists will share their stories of faith and activism at St Mary's, across the issues of Race, LGBTQ+, and Poverty.

Refreshments will be served.

As an RN and NP, The Rev. Deacon Barbara Tobin had been serving people in hospitals and hospices almost all of her life. But not until she started serving people in their homes and boarding homes in poverty stricken areas of Philadelphia did she see the sin of our society’s inequities. She realized that her Baptismal covenant of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and serving God in all people was not fulfilled until she strived “for justice and peace among all people.”

The Rev. James H. "Jim" Littrell’s journey began in 1967 as a seminary student at the Philadelphia Divinity School, where he first engaged with St. Mary’s Church during a time of significant social change, including the Civil Rights and anti-war movements. Under the leadership of Rev. John Scott and Bishop Robert L. DeWitt, St. Mary’s became a hub for activism, fostering Jim's exploration of his sexual identity and connections with the emerging Queer faith community.

After his ordination, Jim founded Voyage House, a ministry for homeless youth, which eventually developed into an alternative high school. He also served in various roles, including community organizer and college chaplain. In 1977, as he came out as openly gay, he became the first Director of the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, further intertwining his ministry with LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Jim's work shifted towards HIV/AIDS ministry, where he played a pivotal role in several organizations, including founding ActionAIDS and establishing St. Mary’s Respite for children of mothers with HIV. After 15 years in this field, seeking respite from burnout, he returned to St. Mary’s, first as a part-time priest, then as a full-time rector, revitalizing the parish and fostering partnerships with local nonprofits.

He served as rector for 15 years before retiring in 2012, continuing to engage with the community through interim ministries and consulting. Throughout his life, Jim maintained deep connections with St. Mary’s and its community, embodying a commitment to faith, social justice, and inclusivity.

David Fair joined the staff of St. Mary’s in 1976, as Parish Administrator to Rector Rev. John Scott. A community activist while at St. Mary’s, Fair helped to start the Phila. Lesbian and Gay Task Force, and also led two “Gay Cultural Festivals” in 1978 and 1979. After leaving St. Mary’s in 1980, Fair worked as Secretary-Treasurer of the local hospital workers union; was appointed by Mayor Goode to establish the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (1987); established a drop-in center for homeless people with AIDS (1991), and since 1996 has led several organizations seeking to prevent child abuse and provide direct care and behavioral health services to children and families in Philadelphia. He also served as a Sr. V.P. at United Way and is currently Executive Director of Turning Points for Children, a family service organization based in West Philadelphia.

Host or Publisher St. Mary's at Penn