Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson, DMin, (she/her/hers) is a former candidate for Congressional District 21 in Central Texas. She grew up in the St. Louis area, one of five children of blue collar workers. Her parents were raised in rural southern Missouri and trips to her grandparents' farms were formative. They taught her that the value of each person was not in their economic status, but in the way they cared for one another. Mary has pursued careers as an educator in mathematics and as a pastor of a small vibrant congregation as the means in which to live out those values.

 

In the past year Mary has undertaken new challenges. She began serving as the director of a new LGBTQI+ nonprofit, ChrysalisQ.org, a resource and support organization for LGBTQI+ families. She is also serving on the board of trustees of Chicago Theological Seminary, a seminary rooted in social justice, and the advisory board of Religions Texas, a non-profit designed to share the deep and rich religious diversity in the state of Texas.

 

Mary received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Brite Divinity School at TCU in June 2020. Her area of research is in trauma and moral injury related to childhood sexual abuse. Other areas of interest include faith concerns and political issues related to the LBTQI+ community, conversations exploring the relationship between science and faith, and the dynamic of public theology and social justice.

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Mary is a diehard St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan and a fan of Dr Pepper. She shares her home with her spouse, Betty, and their standard poodle, Louie. She is also the proud parent of two daughters and a ridiculously happy grandmother of six grandchildren.