Pastor Comes Out As Transgender During Church Service: “I’m Not Becoming a Woman, I’m Giving Up Pretending to Be a Man”

Reverend Phillip Phaneuf, a pastor at North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, recently shared some big news. During a Sunday service on November 23rd, the 51-year-old announced plans to transition into a woman and shared that she identifies as asexual.Delivering her message from the pulpit, Phaneuf bravely declared, “So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning.” She affirmed her transgender identity to the congregation, explaining, “The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man.” She acknowledged it’s a process and might be a surprise for some.

Phaneuf also openly shared, “I’m in the category of what they call asexual.” She explained that this has been her truth for a long time, meaning her life doesn’t involve looking for romance.

She’s already three months into hormone replacement therapy. Her new name will be Phillippa, and she prefers she/her pronouns.

Is This Commonly Accepted?

So, how does this sit within the church? For most mainline Protestant denominations, including the United Methodist Church, a transgender pastor isn’t usually an automatic issue. There’s no official rule preventing transgender clergy.

Of course, individual congregations might have their own feelings. But institutionally, we’re not talking about an immediate “you’re fired” situation. While some pews might definitely be shaken, it’s all within the UMC’s allowances.

Phillippa also shared a raw, personal detail during her sermon. She revealed that her parents do not support her decision and even asked her to announce this publicly to the congregation.

Despite this, Phillippa is clearly committed to living authentically in her truth.