I've seen the lists of welcoming and affirming congregations but since the LGB part of LGBT is much more prominent I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for finding a congregation/spiritual leader who is knowledgeable about the T part. When I see a congregation listed as welcoming I go to their website to see if they say anything about how welcoming LGBT individuals. A number of times I find nothing on their sites to indicate how LGBT people are welcome. That makes me wonder if being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out.
I'm a Christian and I'm looking for an opportunity to talk with a pastor/minister about being trans. I don't view it as a sin but I've never had a spiritual perspective on being transgender. I'm in New Jersey so if anyone has someone they can recommend in this area I would welcome the suggestion.
Becky
I have no direct experience, but I have heard that "welcoming" doesn't necessarily mean what you might hope. Depending on the denomination and congregation, welcoming might mean that you can join, but you have to try to "pray the gay away".
"Affirming" tends to mean something more positive.
I hope you are able to find a suitable congregation.
My own take is that God made me trans, and that He doesn't make mistakes.
Thanks, KathyLauren. I agree that this is how I was made by God and it's not a mistake. I'm not quite sure why I was made this way, but that's #1 on my list of questions if I get to ask them on the other side.
Becky,
Look into Unitarian. My partner was a founding member of the church near us. Last year they hosted a Trans Day of Remembrance. It is a church that is not very dogmatic, very open to people being different.
Moni
Just a suggestion. I am not Christian, but if I were I would find an MCC church.
QuoteEven in the most inclusive church, our trans* and gender non-conforming siblings struggle to find a place both to be ministered to and in which to embody the priesthood of all believers. Metropolitan Community Churches has heard this need and, through MCC Transgender Ministries, is offering this program to enhance the ministry experiences of faith communities to and with trans* and gender non-conforming people.
This program offers the local church an opportunity to better welcome trans* and gender non-conforming individuals in the local worshiping and ministry community by guiding the formation and/or enhancement of ministries already alive in the faith community.
https://www.mccchurch.org/ministries/transgender/transformative-church-program/ (https://www.mccchurch.org/ministries/transgender/transformative-church-program/)
Hi Becky - It May depend very much on where you are located too. In the Denver area there are a couple of churches that are totally accepting of trans people. One of those, a spin-off of the first, is co-led by a trans pastor. Prior to coming out, she was a national leader in a major US denomination. I expect that there are similar churches in major metro areas, but as I live overseas, am not familiar with the available options in other cities.
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Quote from: BeckyCNJ on December 16, 2018, 05:26:47 PM
I've seen the lists of welcoming and affirming congregations but since the LGB part of LGBT is much more prominent I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for finding a congregation/spiritual leader who is knowledgeable about the T part. When I see a congregation listed as welcoming I go to their website to see if they say anything about how welcoming LGBT individuals. A number of times I find nothing on their sites to indicate how LGBT people are welcome. That makes me wonder if being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out.
I'm a Christian and I'm looking for an opportunity to talk with a pastor/minister about being trans. I don't view it as a sin but I've never had a spiritual perspective on being transgender. I'm in New Jersey so if anyone has someone they can recommend in this area I would welcome the suggestion.
Becky
My niece is a Methodist pastor and she is one of my best supporters, she actually used my case for a sermon to preach understanding and tolerance to her parishioners. Methodists are generally more progressive in their Christianity. You might check some Methodist churches out in the area you live.
Quote from: BeckyCNJ on December 16, 2018, 05:26:47 PM
I've seen the lists of welcoming and affirming congregations but since the LGB part of LGBT is much more prominent I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for finding a congregation/spiritual leader who is knowledgeable about the T part. When I see a congregation listed as welcoming I go to their website to see if they say anything about how welcoming LGBT individuals. ... That makes me wonder if being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out.
...
Becky
I guess that often being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out. As many other positive attributes such groups often claim to represent stellar supremely turn out to be little more than some form they filled in, looking for words that sound good... [emoji23] this is all too often the case, I'd say. Theory and practice all too often turn out to be entirely different things. Wishful thinking.
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Quote from: chrisalex on January 06, 2019, 05:04:43 PM
I guess that often being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out. As many other positive attributes such groups often claim to represent stellar supremely turn out to be little more than some form they filled in, looking for words that sound good... [emoji23] this is all too often the case, I'd say. Theory and practice all too often turn out to be entirely different things. Wishful thinking.
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This si so true. One of my friends is a member of the local Methodist church, and after she found out, how well my pastor niece is supporting me, she decided to ask her pastor ho she would welcome me to her church. The answer was pretty inconclusive, and ended up more or less saying that the congregation would have to be asked!
I am living in southern Florida, the waiting room t heaven, and most who are waiting here, are staunch Trump supporters (as could be see in the last election), and one could easily guess what the congregation would say about this. The official Methodist church is very inclusive, but the individual pastors need to have the guts to get that message through to their parish members!
Quote from: BeckyCNJ on December 16, 2018, 05:26:47 PM
I've seen the lists of welcoming and affirming congregations but since the LGB part of LGBT is much more prominent I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for finding a congregation/spiritual leader who is knowledgeable about the T part. When I see a congregation listed as welcoming I go to their website to see if they say anything about how welcoming LGBT individuals. A number of times I find nothing on their sites to indicate how LGBT people are welcome. That makes me wonder if being "welcoming" is little more than some form they filled out.
I'm a Christian and I'm looking for an opportunity to talk with a pastor/minister about being trans. I don't view it as a sin but I've never had a spiritual perspective on being transgender. I'm in New Jersey so if anyone has someone they can recommend in this area I would welcome the suggestion.
Becky
Becky,
I'm a Christian, and God calls me Rachel in dreams and so forth. So, I really don't see the need to talk to some minister about it since most are so close-minded about anything in my experience. God set me on my path to accepting myself for who I am. God considers me female even though the body is male and that's all that matters to me. It made me love him in ways I can't describe. I'd love to find a church where I'd be accepted. But, I've had so many bad experiences in churches as it is, why waste my time?