Irene Schwyn

Irène Schwyn (1968–2024) was a Swiss Reformed pastor, feminist theologian, and LGBTQ Christian activist who played a significant role in advancing LGBTQ inclusion within Swiss churches and across Europe. She combined parish ministry with theological leadership, advocacy, mentoring, and organizational work, becoming an important figure in queer Christian organizing in Switzerland and internationally.

Born in 1968, Schwyn grew up in the Klettgau region of the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen. She studied Protestant theology at the Universities of Basel and St. Andrews and continued her theological education at the Universities of Bern, Fribourg, and Münster. Throughout her life, she retained her distinctive Klettgau dialect, which colleagues remembered as an important part of her identity.

During the 1990s, Schwyn became involved in the emerging movement for LGBTQ Christians in Switzerland. She helped organize early conferences for lesbians in churches and was among those working to create affirming spaces for queer Christians within Swiss Protestantism. In 2000, she was one of the founders of CooL (Christian Organisation of Lesbians), an organization that provided community and support for lesbian Christians in Switzerland. She also contributed to organizing Pride worship services in Zurich and became known for her commitment to feminist theology, justice, and inclusion.

On 1 April 2004, Schwyn began serving as pastor of the Swiss Reformed congregation in Walchwil, Canton Zug, where she remained for nearly twenty years. Alongside her pastoral ministry, she served on numerous theological committees and church bodies. From 2019, she served on the Church Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zug as a delegate of the pastors' conference. Colleagues remembered her as a thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable theologian who brought theological insight to church discussions with humility and care.

Schwyn was also a longstanding member of the European Forum of LGBTI Christian Groups. Through her involvement with the European Forum, Schwyn supported initiatives that strengthened connections between LGBTQ Christians across Europe. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Secretary of the European Forum Board, contributing to the development of the network and its international work.

Schwyn played a central role in organizing European Forum conferences held in Switzerland. She helped host the 2013 European Forum conference in her own parish in Walchwil and later led the local organizing committee for the 2022 conference in Zurich, using a sabbatical period to help prepare for the gathering. Those who worked with her remembered her careful preparation, theological grounding, hospitality, and ability to combine clarity with warmth.

Within the Swiss churches, Schwyn became a trusted source of support and advice for queer people working in church contexts. She was known for her commitment to making churches more inclusive and for recognizing the intersections between different forms of marginalization. Her activism brought together pastoral care, feminist theology, and a vision of Christianity centered on justice and belonging.

“I never had to worry whether my sexual orientation was wrong in G*d’s eyes – I knew it wasn’t. The only question I had whether the church as an institution would share this view.” From an interview with Rainbow Pilgrims of Faith, 2022.

In late August 2023, Schwyn was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Despite the seriousness of her illness, she continued to engage with her community and drew strength from her faith and relationships. She died on 25 October 2024 at the age of 56.

Irène Schwyn is remembered as a pioneering figure in Swiss LGBTQ Christian history whose work helped create greater visibility, connection, and support for LGBTQ Christians in Switzerland and across Europe. Through her pastoral ministry, theological reflection, and movement-building, she contributed to a more inclusive understanding of faith and church.

(This biographical statement was written by Dr Rachael Stockdale from the sources below as well as memories from knowing Irène personally.)

Biography Date: August 2026

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