The peace that passes understanding
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses suicide, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you’re not alone. Help is available:
• Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au
Susan grew up in a close-knit Community of Christ family but spent her twenties in silent internal conflict about her sexuality, unable to name or share what she was experiencing. At 30, after years of prayer and struggle, she reached a breaking point at a church camp in 1993 where she surrendered the fight and received what she describes as profound peace. She came out to her parents, was ordained as an elder in 1995, and when church leaders asked what could be done for the LGBTQIA+ community, she helped start a small coming-out group that became the Open Door. Over 25 years, that group has grown into a thriving community offering support groups, social events, and a visible bridge between faith and rainbow identity. Today she continues to minister alongside her wife Lynn, holding space for people navigating faith, identity, and belonging.
Susan Palmer is a primary school teacher and pastor of the Open Door Community of Christ in Cranebrook, Western Sydney, where she has served for over 25 years. She is married to Lynn, also a minister, and together they have built an affirming faith community centred on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, support groups, and creative connection through the Rainbow Hub.
In this Pride In Stories conversation with John Dwyer, Susan shares the story behind the moments below.
🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION:
• Internalised homophobia from silence is as damaging as external rejection, and surrender brought peace where fighting brought exhaustion.
🕒 CHAPTERS:
00:00 Content warning and opening philosophy
01:07 Introduction to Susan Palmer and the Open Door
05:18 Growing up in faith, questioning identity in silence
08:15 The spiritual calling and internal conflict begins
11:27 The exhaustion of living a double life
14:44 Coming out to parents, being ordained as elder
17:05 Starting the Open Door community in 1999
22:45 The Open Door as bridge between faith and LGBTQIA+ community
25:38 Responding to rising conservatism and hate with hope
32:28 Meeting Lynn and ministry partnership
35:30 Rainbow Hub programs and community activities
39:47 Closing message and how to connect
🎧 If this story moved you, follow Kintsugi Heroes in your podcast app so you never miss an episode.
📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Open Door Community of Christ: opendoorcommunityofchrist.com
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Welcome.
We’re glad you found your way here.
Kintsugi Heroes was created from a simple belief: every person has a story worth sharing, and sometimes the story we need to hear arrives exactly when we need it most.
Our name comes from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold. Rather than hiding the cracks, they are honoured as part of the object’s history. We believe people are much the same. The experiences that challenge us, break us, shape us, and help us grow are often the very things that connect us to one another.
This channel is home to honest conversations about resilience, hope, grief, recovery, courage, love, and what it means to keep moving forward when life doesn’t go to plan.
Here you’ll find six podcast series, each sharing stories through a different lens:
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• Animals & Us, hosted by Natalie Stockdale
• Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace, hosted by Simone Allan and Maryan Bova
• From There to Here, hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd
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Show notes by Kintsugi Stu…