This is a link to an LGBT resource for the UMC -- http://www.umaffirm.org/  Good luck with your pastor.  I am and Episcopalian, and two and a half years ago I came out to my priest, and then our lay council (vestry) and last Sunday celebrated my two years of being fully out and part of the congregation I had attended for 20 years as male, now as female. 

Congratulations Vicky! Stand proud! I hope to make the same kind of testament in a few years as well. I really don't fear that the congregations going to fear me, it's just that I'm giving my pastor a heads up about what's going on. I'm sure that the first time that I walk in, people may look at me and they may ask questions, and I'll be ready for them, but as I said before I will not be walking in in some outlandish outfit that's going to draw any un-needed attention to myself. I've always been a conservative woman who just likes to blend in.

Gina,

Just a suggestion,try to find out what your pastor or denomination believes about people born intersexed.
The churches I have been in have either been very conservative or fundamentalists. (The three more fundamentalists churches have been along the lines of Baptists,CMA's and Assemblies. I got a lot of grief from those within those churches,even though at the time I was nothing about it.)

When I first came into Susan's I was panicking about talking to the pastors in the church I am at now. At the moment I am LCMS. All of the pastors in my church have been really great. (I have four pastors,as it is a fairly big church) The head pastor actually went and found for me the churches policy on how they deal with this. Within that policy they do agree there are those who are born intersexed. My church does allow for corrective medical procedures for that.

Three of the pastors,we have spent a lot time talking. I did ask those three to read one of the threads I started and they
did and we have discussed it,because i did want their impute. One of the pastors has become one of my best friends. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised by it. It was not what I had thought would happen.

I am more convinced that it the church and pastor does agree that there is a physical reality to it,it makes a world of difference in how they see it.

I finally had a chance to speak with my pastor tonight and he told me that he sees no problem with it, but he did told me that some people of the congregation might take offense to it, so I just have to be careful.

congrats!

Quote from: Malachite on October 19, 2013, 07:39:29 PM
congrats!

Thanks Malachite. This is such a load off my shoulders now.

I know it must have been.  I was hoping your pastor wouldn't condemn you.  I'd say that's a true blessing!

Quote from: Malachite on October 19, 2013, 08:00:53 PM
I know it must have been.  I was hoping your pastor wouldn't condemn you.  I'd say that's a true blessing!

Yeah, our pastor is a very nice and open minded person, and it really was a blessing.

Quote from: Eva Marie on October 06, 2013, 01:49:57 AM
As far as your friend goes - ask him what verses back up his assertion that what you are doing is wrong  even Pat Robertson was quoted recently as saying that being transgender is not a sin.

Eva Marie you make an excellent point. And thanks for including that video!

Gina good luck on your journey! I know how important a home church is and I think you planning to stay in yours as you transition is awesome.

Quote from: Shaina on October 20, 2013, 03:40:11 AM
Eva Marie you make an excellent point. And thanks for including that video!

Gina good luck on your journey! I know how important a home church is and I think you planning to stay in yours as you transition is awesome.

Thank you Shaina. I've been with my church for the past 20 years, been through 3 pastors and I've seen my church grow, but more importantly with what I've been through my faith in God is so strong that he embodies me all the time. Back when I was 17 I realized that I was a re-born Christian, and that's something that never leaves you. Last night the sermon really touched me. Our pastor read from John 4:1-42, and I understood that God has known about my life past, present and future, so I have nothing to fear with Him and His judgment. 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on October 20, 2013, 08:22:49 AM
Last night the sermon really touched me. Our pastor read from John 4:1-42, and I understood that God has known about my life past, present and future, so I have nothing to fear with Him and His judgment. 

Oh that's beautiful Gina. Honestly I'm moved.

You may be lucky to have your church but never doubt your church is lucky to have you! 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on October 19, 2013, 07:23:45 PM
I finally had a chance to speak with my pastor tonight and he told me that he sees no problem with it, but he did tell me that some people of the congregation might take offense to it, so I just have to be careful.

Awesome!!!  I'm so happy for you 

As far as the the people that might have an issue with it - just be yourself and let them see that transgender people pose no threat to them; that we are just trying to go about our lives the same as them and that we need a place to worship too. You might also have a few verses of applicable scripture at hand if someone wants to argue with you about how you are. Romans 3:23, Matthew 7:3-5, John 3:16, 1 Tim 2:6, Heb 2:9 all come to my mind.

Quote from: Shaina on October 20, 2013, 08:41:33 AM
Oh that's beautiful Gina. Honestly I'm moved.

You may be lucky to have your church but never doubt your church is lucky to have you! 

Thanks Shaina. I am very lucky to have my church and they are very lucky to have me! 

Apparently a lot of the congregation was touched and moved by ther sermon as well.

Quote from: Eva Marie on October 20, 2013, 08:57:13 AM
Awesome!!!  I'm so happy for you 

As far as the the people that might have an issue with it - just be yourself and let them see that transgender people pose no threat to them; that we are just trying to go about our lives the same as them and that we need a place to worship too. You might also have a few verses of applicable scripture at hand if someone wants to argue with you about how you are. Romans 3:23, Matthew 7:3-5, John 3:16, 1 Tim 2:6, Heb 2:9 all come to my mind.

Thanks Eva. I will keep this in mind if I run into anyone that has anything against me, and I will keep those bible verses in mind as well. 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on October 19, 2013, 07:23:45 PM
I finally had a chance to speak with my pastor tonight and he told me that he sees no problem with it, but he did told me that some people of the congregation might take offense to it, so I just have to be careful.

This is wonderful news! Congratulations!

Being able to approach the Altar openly and fully as your true self will be one of the most spiritual and fulfilling moments of your life.  I ended up crying openly the days I came out full time at my church, (I had been the lay intercessor that day) and my first Sunday back after my SRS (when I was the Old Testament lector) and a week ago when I attended my first women's guild social function.  You will get busy and will want to.  I really feel happy for you. You have been at your church the same length of time I was as male, and if you were loved, it will stay that way, even more so because you can show that love back more truthfully.

Quote from: Vicky on October 21, 2013, 12:38:35 AM
Being able to approach the Altar openly and fully as your true self will be one of the most spiritual and fulfilling moments of your life.  I ended up crying openly the days I came out full time at my church, (I had been the lay intercessor that day) and my first Sunday back after my SRS (when I was the Old Testament lector) and a week ago when I attended my first women's guild social function.  You will get busy and will want to.  I really feel happy for you. You have been at your church the same length of time I was as male, and if you were loved, it will stay that way, even more so because you can show that love back more truthfully.

Very well said Vicky. There really hasn't been too much of a chnage in our congregation, and I do alternate to which service I go to, so it really doesn't matter, but everyone knows me either way, and all I have for my church is love for God's people.

It's uplifting for me to discover all y'all Christian TS women! Good to be here.
-another Gina

I was in a very Bible Believing church for over 30 years.  The reaction from the leader of that church was "You wore a dress!  Get out and never come back".

I eventually found another church, joined it as male, then transitioned.  They already have at least two gay elders and the minister is vigorously pro-LGBTQ.  By now I'm on the list for Bible Reading, for Stewarding, and for making the coffee after morning service.

I had a very difficult time with my church (the Mormons). I was excommunicated and publicly humiliated i my neighborhood, congregation, and at work. I had to leave Utah. Churches are much more accepting now in general. If you have faith, there is always a place you can find home. Don't ever get discouraged if you are ever ostracized for what you believe. There are as many churches as there are scripture numbers and they all believe things just a bit differently.