Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Post removed per request.

Welcome to Susans'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Community_Church (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Community_Church)

The above is a good link to start off with.

Also the Episcopal Church is open towards the LGBT community.

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Post Merge: July 03, 2009, 06:59:46 PM

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https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,35027.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,35027.0.html)

The above is a board thread that discusses  Trans and Christianity Books.

I'm not a christian and I don't subscribe to the idea of a creator god, however, the way I see it..
If we assume that there is one creator god who is perfect and all loving in his entirety then.. the test wouldn't be "how much suffering can you take?" but "how far will you go to be happy?", as far as I'm concerned at least.
what that means inside my head is...
God then made us this way for a reason, and god supports us in our pursuit of true happiness even if a sex-change is involved.

Hi Anima, :icon_wave:

Welcome to our little family. Over 2700 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister. :icon_hug:

And be sure to check out

• Site Terms of Service and rules to live by  (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)
  
• Standard Terms and Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)
  
• Post Ranks  (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
  

And this should be fun!  ;D  I am Pagan, Wiccan if you prefer.  And my first piece of advise is to put everything that you have been taught on the back shelf and begin again.  Forget your God?  No way.  But remember that everything you have been taught is by men.  If your God gives you strength then embrace your personal beliefs.  But forget what you have been lied to about the book.


Janet

QuoteSo why can't it be like that with everyone else?

Because God did not make religion or churches.

Hi,

   I believe that it may take a little effort on your part to seek them out, but there just has to be other Christians similar to you somewhere nearby.

   For long distance fellowship, I think you'll find that there are definately others in online groups. This site has some christian members.  There's a board for spirituality here.

   All I can say is keep the faith and know that you will find the ones you seek.


Peace,

Rebis

Merry meet, Sister.

I was a Shaman is a past life for my tribe.

Welcome.  And Blessed be.

Janet

I can't pass up plugging my favorite: www.lcna.org (http://www.lcna.org)

I am a believer in the Christian God (and spent all my life until a few years ago in the Southern Baptist denomination) so I'm very familiar with a lot of these issues and trying to work out your identity within a Christian worldview.

But I don't really have a lot of time tonight so I'm just posting to say yes, I'm out here...and I'll get back to this thread when I have more time.

My advice would be to stop trying to second-guess yourself on behalf of "god".  Make you're own mind up about what is right for you.

Quote from: Lisbeth on July 03, 2009, 11:04:33 PM
I can't pass up plugging my favorite: www.lcna.org (http://www.lcna.org)

Lisbeth, many thanks for that link.

Anima... I was wondering where your from when I posted my first reply. Best of luck to you in Norway... stay warm!!
BTW... at 15 posts you can create a profile, post pics and IM other members.

Mich'.

.

I may be confused but a persons gender and religious convictions are seperate matters. Be who you want to be and God (she) will still love you. God is all loving and all forgiving I was told. Welcome dear.Hugs,Genevieve

I still want to know what Janet is pointing at to her right and why that grin. She knows something I don't and I'm curious.

Quote from: Anima on July 03, 2009, 06:41:51 PM
I feel that I can't just walk into a church and say to anyone that one of my biggest problems in life is that I am a guy and feel like I am a woman. Maybe 0.01% of the people would have something reasonable and non-judgmental to say, so obviously I would never take the risk of being honest and instead I would say that I'm depressed, like I say to most people.

One of the incidental problems of organized religion - and it's a function of human nature, not religion itself but the two together often produce some bad juju when mixed...anyway, the problem is one of expectations and facades. For all the (true) rhetoric about love your neighbor and grace...the human weakness is to elevate yourself be lessening others (true within and without organized religion.

The result of this is that very very few risk being truely authentic with each other (though it's talked about all the time). Most everyone wears a mask which lives up to the expectations.

What this means for you is this - the folks you are worried about being judgmental and stuff? THOSE folks are hiding something behind the mask too. Whatever they say in reaction to you, you have done something that would be a good example for them - you took off the mask.

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But is it ever mentioned in the bible that people should not feel like they feel they are something they physically is not? As far as I know God likes people that are honest. So why can't it be like that with everyone else?

(From a Biblical perspective:) because human beings are weak, failing, error prone creatures. It is, in the end, why we need a Savior and a God. One of the things that a lot more years and a little more wisdom has shown me is that other people need just as much grace as we do.

They just don't always know it.

I know maybe it doesn't work for everyone but the place I came to is a place where I'm taking off the mask. If I'm going to be judged, let me be judged for what I really am.

IMO, unless you have something you simply dare not lose, honesty is always best. Maybe even then.

Quote
Anyway. I just wanted to write something to see if there is other christians that feel the same really. Not sure if I could write something more clever. Obviously not  :P

I definitely relate. I spent 20 years trying to adhere to the doctrine (of men I know believe) that what I felt was evil and perverted and that I could be delivered or healed if I just "got right" - I did everything within my abilities to be right and begged for that healing and it never came.

The thing is, all along that path I had to wear a mask. Present the right facade to those people around me who would have, at the very best, have pitied me for my weakness.

I don't blame them. they are products of the only worldview they have ever known. But it is what it is. To quote Jack "they can't handle the truth"

So yes, be assured, you are so not alone.

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Post Merge: July 04, 2009, 03:47:50 PM

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Quote from: heatherrose on July 04, 2009, 04:48:13 AM

I was going to go off on a tangent and rant
about the "Pointy Headed Sheeple" that claim
to be "Christians" and how they....

"I Am" is greater than my vitriolic ranting.
No matter what any say, she loves her creation and
will always accept his children as they come to him.

That's what grace is all about. At least, it's the only way the Biblical God makes any sense to me.

But I have to remind myself that just as I'd like the pointy-headed crowd to show me grace, I need to show them grace as well.

I think Anima just wants to meet and make friends with other trans-christians, or, Christian Transpeople. I don't believe they wish to debate the validity of christian beliefs.

Anima,

First of all, welcome to Susan's.  As has been said above, you are definitely not alone.  And yes, there are definitely churches where you should feel welcome and where the people do not check their brains at the church doorway. 

But I sense this is not just about church.  I do agree that honesty in relationships is what we should strive for, especially in church.   No, it is not fair that some have to be crusaders in order to get that accomplished, but that is life.  I know that the times when I can go and worship totally as myself, there is such a level of freedom that I am on a spiritual high afterwards.  Honey, find that place for yourself.  You deserve it.

One more word of caution, though I applaud the responses here, it can get pretty rough.  As soon as you mention your faith, some will hijack the thread into a Christian bashing.  Do not let that happen to you.  This is about you, and what you sincerely believe.   People are insecure, both inside and outside the church.  As such, they are always trying to make you just like themselves.  This is so very wrong.   You are who you are, a beautiful creation of God.  Read Psalm 139.  You are priceless.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are accepted and loved.  If others do not believe this, they have a problem, not you.

I wish you the very best.  Let us know how it goes and how we can help.

Peace,
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi

Quote from: heatherrose on July 04, 2009, 09:23:27 PM

Uh.... debate?

I consider myself to be a trans~shudder~female Christian.

I wasn't speaking of anyone in particular. I just kind of sensed that there might be something coming.  I just want to remind people that this isn't a thread for debate. For some reason, a lot of people will begin a debate when there isn't one to be had.

Kristi said what I meant better than I did.

Quote from: Genevieve Swann on July 04, 2009, 02:57:22 PM
I may be confused but a persons gender and religious convictions are seperate matters.

I really cannot agree with that, hon. Who you are as a person, including gender, is integral to who you are spiritually. My identity as a woman is part of my spiritual well-being.

QuoteMy identity as a woman is part of my spiritual well-being

But your spirit is only part of your body and religion is a man made organization to control the masses.

As soon as you mention your faith, some will hijack the thread into a Christian bashing. Kristi

Or religion in general.

How about a refresher course...  https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,13517.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,13517.0.html)

Number 7 seems to be the one that is most often violated.

Thanks, Michelle.

Anima, I have felt very isolated because of my feeling that I wouldn't be accepted in my church. There are certainly a lot of people that are quite conservative in their beliefs, specifically about gender roles and sexuality. But my gender has become increasingly difficult for me to hide, making me start to feel alienated from my church, despite the fact that my troubles with gender were one of the things that led me to the church in the first place.

Over the last few months I have begun to talk with some of my closer friends in my church, and I have experienced nothing but warmth, even from some whom I expected to be less accepting. I found that by coming to people in the church with confidence and humility, by making it clear that this is an issue that I am struggling with and not one I am trying to preach to anyone else about or to debate, they respond with love to my need for spiritual support. Their only concern is that some other people might treat me disrespectfully -- but then the "other" people respond the same way, concerned about someone else's reaction.

How did I find such an accepting church? Well, there's no outward sign that it is so accepting. It doesn't advertize itself as "open and affirming," and while the denomination is liberal (Episcopal), there are many conservative churches in the denomination -- and mine is certainly more conservative than the average Episcopal church. There are no other LGBT members of my parish that I know of. (There were a handful, but they left during some political strife a few years ago -- not such a good sign!) It's not a very diverse church.

And yet: there is warmth and openness and kindness and caring toward each member of the church, no matter how odd or troubled, and to non-members as well. I've been to churches that minister openly to LGBT folk, but lacked kind of warmth. I feel better at a church that isn't comfortable with LGBT folk, but has a strong sense of love and service.

I am no longer afraid or alienated at my church, but feel loved and accepted.

Quote from: lisagurl on July 05, 2009, 07:42:44 PM
But your spirit is only part of your body

Again, something I can't agree with. I cannot see your spirit as something separate from your body, which the term "only part of" implies. It is neither glued on, as most people seem to think, nor a little you in your head. It is 100% you, and your body is 100% you, and there is no way to separate body and spirit, not even in death.

I'm not a religous person and I am not going to hijack anything. I think if your belief gives you comfort and hope then that is a marvelous thing. It must be very difficult to be religous and know that bigotted or uneducated people in that belief will not accept you.

I always thought that the base of any religon was to accept others as one wants to be accepted. I have that as at the end of my posts.
I was told it was a quote from a Jewish Prophet some 4000 yrs ago. It was repeated in the Bible. It is central to the Moslem faith. It's ignored by most.

Cindy