Outed By My Pastor

[Shana-chan]

Uhh, don't leave us hanging Gina, what else happened? The suspense!

[Gina Taylor]

Uhh, don't leave us hanging Gina, what else happened? The suspense!

Really wasn't too much said between us. She just hoped that there'd be no hard feelings between us. She told me that the Pastor had let her read the letter that I had sent to him, since I had mentioned her in the letter. Just wanted to clear some things up with him like who gave me permission to use the ladies room. But in closing, she had said that she didn't understand why I needed to dress like a woman.

[Shana-chan]

Really wasn't too much said between us. She just hoped that there'd be no hard feelings between us. She told me that the Pastor had let her read the letter that I had sent to him, since I had mentioned her in the letter. Just wanted to clear some things up with him like who gave me permission to use the ladies room. But in closing, she had said that she didn't understand why I needed to dress like a woman.

I see, sorry to hear that last part though.

[Rachel]

Gina, you are not dressing like as woman. You are dressing as a woman. But she does not understand the difference.

Hugs, and again you handled yourself with decorum and grace.

[gennee]

Gina, I'm sorry about what happened in your church. There's still so much homophobia and transphobia in a place where one should feel secure and accepted. I did a study on Deuteronomy 22:5 a number of years ago. I shared that this prohibition for a particular reason at a particular time in history to a particular people. Going down further some of the other prohibitions (eating shellfish, mixed fibers in clothing) doesn't hold today. At times I wonder how many churchgoers REALLY study their bible.

It's also states in 2 Timothy that show ourselves approved. That means changing some beliefs and and ideas that may be erroneous and damaging to others and the individual. This has damaged many relationships and hurt the faith of some.

[Gina Taylor]

Gina, you are not dressing like as woman. You are dressing as a woman. But she does not understand the difference.

Hugs, and again you handled yourself with decorum and grace.

Very well put Cynthia, and that's exactly what I'm gonna be telling people. I'll be correcting them left and right until they fully understand! And thank you for the sweet compliment.   I'm also a lady and I would have handled it no other way.

Gina, I'm sorry about what happened in your church. There's still so much homophobia and transphobia in a place where one should feel secure and accepted. I did a study on Deuteronomy 22:5 a number of years ago. I shared that this prohibition for a particular reason at a particular time in history to a particular people. Going down further some of the other prohibitions (eating shellfish, mixed fibers in clothing) doesn't hold today. At times I wonder how many churchgoers REALLY study their bible.

It's also states in 2 Timothy that show ourselves approved. That means changing some beliefs and and ideas that may be erroneous and damaging to others and the individual. This has damaged many relationships and hurt the faith of some.

Thanks for the kewl insight Gennee. I'll bet 10 to 1 that most church goers just skim through their bibles without really understanding a word from it. Hypocrites is what I call those types of people!

[Jill F]

Very well put Cynthia, and that's exactly what I'm gonna be telling people. I'll be correcting them left and right until they fully understand! And thank you for the sweet compliment.   I'm also a lady and I would have handled it no other way.

Thanks for the kewl insight Gennee. I'll bet 10 to 1 that most church goers just skim through their bibles without really understanding a word from it. Hypocrites is what I call those types of people!

There's a Jill-ism for that-

Hypochristian.   

I never understood people who only seem to follow select parts of the Old Testament while completely disregarding others.   I mean, we don't stone people anymore, right?

[Shana-chan]

I mean, we don't stone people anymore, right?

Actually, I'm sure in certain parts of the word, we still do and then some..

[JohannaJohn]

Right, Shana.  Some cultures and some members of some religions in some parts of the world -- mainly probably in Asia and Africa -- and not to denigrate those cultures BUT to point out some of them regarding "stoning" as morally correct.

There are some places in these parts of the world that still advocate physically cutting off the clitoris of genetic girls when they are pre-puberty.  This seems absolutely barbaric to me.  Apparently this is still done fairly frequently in some parts of the world.

It would be physically unsafe to be transgender in many parts of the world.

I mean, since my nipples are starting to develop, this might merit me a death penalty in some regions of some countries.  Because of some misguided crazy belief that because I want breasts I am "going against God and deserve to be stoned to death."

[Gina Taylor]

There's a Jill-ism for that-

Hypochristian.   

I never understood people who only seem to follow select parts of the Old Testament while completely disregarding others.   I mean, we don't stone people anymore, right?

Since we're on this subject, I checked into it, and stoning is still a legal form of judicial punishment in Iraq, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Northern Nigeria, Aceh in Indonesia, and Pakistan. Just glad that we still have some freedom here in the USA! 

[Jill F]

Since we're on this subject, I checked into it, and stoning is still a legal form of judicial punishment in Iraq, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Northern Nigeria, Aceh in Indonesia, and Pakistan. Just glad that we still have some freedom here in the USA! 

I was vaguely referring to people in the West where there is a Christian majority, but wow.  Scary.   I guess we know exactly who took all the "fun" out of "fundamentalism" now.   

Hey, why not have us some good old-fashioned witch hunts just to show them all up?  Oh well, we do still have those rattlesnake handler churches...

[Gina Taylor]

I was vaguely referring to people in the West where there is a Christian majority, but wow.  Scary.   I guess we know exactly who took all the "fun" out of "fundamentalism" now.   

Hey, why not have us some good old-fashioned witch hunts just to show them all up?  Oh well, we do still have those rattlesnake handler churches...

Sorry. Thought you were talking around the world. A good old-fashioned witch hunt sounds like an excellent idea!

[ErinWDK]

Sorry. Thought you were talking around the world. A good old-fashioned witch hunt sounds like an excellent idea!

Um...  I understand this is humor - but "witch hunts" really lack in humor.  The real "trial" there is to tie the person up and throw them in deep water.  If they drown they were innocent and not a witch.  If somehow they live through it they are guilty and a far, far, worse fate awaits them.

As trans* we are a minority - one with very LITTLE political clout - so we are at risk for being treated this way if the lunatic fringe gains more control.  And the recent SBC resolution about trans* comes a good bit closer to pointing that way than I am comfortable with.  All sorts of folk have taken the "fun" out of fundamentalism...


Erin

[mac1]

I have met some pastors who are not very ethical or righteous. My current pastor fits that description.

[Jill F]

I have met some pastors who are not very ethical or righteous. My current pastor fits that description.

My next door neighbor when I was growing up was a pastor who got drunk every night, beat his wife occasionally, and was a complete tightwad who always claimed he had no money to feed and clothe his kids but always managed to drive a brand new sports car while living in a fairly affluent area of Santa Barbara, CA.

I've met other clergy who actually walked the walk. 

[Gina Taylor]

My next door neighbor when I was growing up was a pastor who got drunk every night, beat his wife occasionally, and was a complete tightwad who always claimed he had no money to feed and clothe his kids but always managed to drive a brand new sports car while living in a fairly affluent area of Santa Barbara, CA.

I've met other clergy who actually walked the walk.

And they call themselves righteous people of God. Pleaseeeee. I've seen homeless people being more righteous then these people!