The Story of a Transgender Pastor

Mainline churches are struggling to deal with gay and lesbian clergy. It is a debate that's not likely to let up any time soon. Added to that debate is the question of transgendered persons, those persons who have chosen through surgery to alter their gender. It is a somewhat different, but still related question as the first.

The United Methodist Church is involved in a case relating to just this issue. As reported today by Stephanie Simon in the LA Times, the Rev. Drew Phoenix, formerly the Rev. Ann Gordon, is standing before the UMC judicial committee, which is examining his fitness to continue his appointment as pastor of a small Baltimore area congregation. Making this issue even more interesting -- at least politically -- is that the chair of the committee dealing with Phoenix's case is Dr. James Holsinger, George Bush's nominee for Surgeon General. Holsinger's approval is in question because of papers written for the church that stand against homosexuality.

Rev. Phoenix is popular with his congregation, which is starting to grow, but it's the denomination not the congregation that must decide his fate.

The article is interesting and raises further questions about who we are as church and how gender and sexuality relate to it. To read the article click here.