November 13th: Rev. Ignacio Castuera--Sexuality and Spirituality (Lexington)

(Courtesy of Virginia Blum)

On Sunday afternoon, November 13, Rev. Ignacio Castuera, a United Methodist minister and the national chaplain for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, will be in Lexington to address issues of faith and sexuality in an address entitled "Sexuality and Spirituality." Rev. Castuera will speak at 2 pm at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, and a question-and-answer period will follow.

Rev. Castuera has worked for the past 25 years, addressing sexuality issues from his position as a church pastor. He came to the position of PPFA chaplain while serving as Senior Pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in the Watts community of Los Angeles. He holds degrees from Compton College; California State University, Long Beach; and a Doctor of Religion degree from the Claremont School of Theology.

Rev.Castuera has served churches in Mexico, Hawaii, and California. In 1980, he became the first Latino District Superintendent of the Los Angeles District of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Castuera has participated in ecumenical and interfaith organizations throughout his ministry and has been a staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, participating in clinic defense and serving on the Board of Directors.

Rev. Castuera has authored many articles in professional journals and newspapers. In 1992, he edited Dreams on Fire, Embers of Hope, a collection of sermons preached in Los Angeles after that year's riots. The book was one of the top ten religious books of that year.