"Pastor Phillippa Phaneuf of the North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, New York, took the last ten minutes of the November 23 worship service to help her congregation understand what her transition will mean for them. "I am inviting you to join me in a season of creative transformation for myself," she said, "and, I think, for all of us.""
"She explained that she already has the support of the United Methodist Church (UMC), the district superintendent, the bishop, and even the scripture itself. "Did you know that there are eight different Hebrew words for different gender types?" she said, re-emphasizing, "In the ancient Hebrew they recognized at least eight different gender types." She explained to listeners that the pure joy she has felt since beginning hormone replacement therapy three months ago couldn't possibly be something of which God disapproves."
"Would you listen to that doctor? If you felt God's Holy Spirit surrounding you in ways that you haven't felt in years, would you have a sense that that might be something that God was okay with? She acknowledged to her congregants that it's okay to feel nervous or shocked. "Because really what it comes down to is awareness," she said. "So let's just be aware and recognize the fact that there can often be, in these kinds of situations, the fear of the unknown.""
Pastor Phillippa Phaneuf of North Chili United Methodist Church publicly announced her transition during a November 23 worship service and invited the congregation to join a season of creative transformation. She stated that she has support from the United Methodist Church leadership, the district superintendent, the bishop, and scripture. She noted ancient Hebrew recognition of multiple gender types and described the deep joy experienced since beginning hormone replacement therapy three months earlier. She asked congregants to consider medical and spiritual affirmation, acknowledged possible nervousness or shock, emphasized awareness rather than fear, and began explaining what would and would not change.
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