Meet our guest:

Rev Dr. Sarah Halverson Cano (’99, Religious Studies and English Literature), is currently serving as pastor of Irvine United Congregational Church. Halverson is a progressive social justice leader in Orange County, active in numerous causes. She has served on the boards of the Southern California ACLU, Progressive Christians Uniting, and The Center for Progressive Christianity, and Justice (she chaired that latter for nearly a decade). For her work with the LGBTQ+ community, low-wage workers, immigrants, and interfaith groups she has been honored by the Orange County Labor Federation, the LA chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations, and the Orange County Human Relations Committee.  She was also selected as the 2020 Distinguished Alumni by the Claremont School of Theology. She is a successful female leader in a traditionally male occupation. As she notes in one op-ed: “I’ve been called a witch, told I work for Satan, and that I’m luring my flock away from the true teachings. As female pastor sexist comments are not unfamiliar, they are jabs that stings, but nothing new. As an advocate for LGBT rights, Black Lives Matter, or my support of Muslims and varied faith traditions I have garnered criticism and mocking. I’ve learned to grow thick skin after years of working for justice in this county.”