LInC Leaders Awarded Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees
The Lavender Interfaith Collective is celebrating a moment of profound joy, gratitude, and recognition as two of our founding leaders—Rev. Dr. Elder Camarion D. Anderson‑Harvey and Rev. Dr. Michael Schuenemeyer—have each been awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees by two distinguished seminaries. These honors affirm what our communities have long known: their ministries have transformed lives, reshaped institutions, and expanded the moral imagination of faith-rooted justice movements across the country.
Rev. Dr. Elder Camarion D. Anderson‑Harvey
Doctor of Divinity, Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary has conferred its honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon Rev. Dr. Elder Camarion D. Anderson‑Harvey, recognizing her as a national faith leader whose ministry embodies courage, compassion, and liberation. A visionary organizer and a fierce advocate for the dignity of LGBTQ+ people—especially Black trans women—Dr. Anderson‑Harvey has built bridges across traditions, movements, and communities with a rare combination of prophetic clarity and pastoral tenderness.
Her leadership has shaped LInC from its earliest days, grounding our work in a theology of expansive welcome and a commitment to collective flourishing. This recognition from CTS honors not only her personal journey and ministry, but also the countless lives she has touched through her preaching, teaching, advocacy, and public witness.
Rev. Dr. Michael Schuenemeyer
Doctor of Divinity, Eden Theological Seminary – St. Louis
Eden Theological Seminary has awarded its 2026 honorary Doctor of Divinity degree to Rev. Dr. Michael Schuenemeyer, Co‑Convener of LInC and longtime pastor, organizer, and national faith‑rooted leader. Eden’s recognition lifts up a lifetime of ministry marked by unwavering dedication to dignity, justice, and the transformative power of faith in action.
Dr. Schuenemeyer’s leadership has shaped national movements for LGBTQ+ inclusion, HIV and AIDS justice, and interfaith solidarity. His work has strengthened congregations, equipped leaders, and inspired communities to embody a deeper, more courageous love. As a pastor, organizer, and visionary strategist, he has helped build the very infrastructure that allows movements like LInC to thrive.
This honor from Eden affirms his decades of service and the enduring impact of his ministry on the church and the world.
A Collective Celebration
These two degrees—bestowed by two respected seminaries—represent more than individual achievement. They are a celebration of the movement itself: a movement rooted in liberation, interfaith partnership, and the sacred worth of LGBTQ+ people. Dr. Anderson‑Harvey and Dr. Schuenemeyer have helped shape LInC’s identity, deepen its commitments, and expand its reach. Their leadership continues to inspire our work for justice, healing, and collective freedom.
We give thanks for their witness, their courage, and the joy of seeing their ministries honored in this way. Their achievements strengthen our shared resolve to build a world where every person’s dignity is affirmed and every community is free.
LInC celebrates them with pride, gratitude, and abundant hope for all that is yet to come.
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