Phillip Phaneuf, a Methodist pastor in New York, has stunned his congregation by announcing plans to transition to a woman.
During the Sunday service on November 23, the 51-year-old revealed what he described as a “creative transformation”.
Addressing the congregation at North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester while wearing a rainbow stole, he explained that while he had never sought to make his personal life a focus of his ministry, some developments inevitably become part of that journey.
He said his transition is not about becoming a woman but “giving up pretending to be a man”.
“I did not get into ministry to talk about myself or my personal life, but sometimes things happen in a pastor’s personal life that will inevitably find their way into ministry. So I am inviting you to join me in a season of creative transformation for myself, and, I believe, for all of us,” he said.
“I get to announce with joy that I am transitioning. I am affirming and telling all of you that I am transgender. The best way to put this is that I am not becoming a woman, I am giving up pretending to be a man.”
Phaneuf outlined the practical changes his congregation might notice, including a potential shift in his voice, adopting she/her pronouns, and a new full name.
He also shared that this journey could position their church as a safer haven for others who have felt marginalised. He disclosed that his parents do not support his decision, having “chosen their convictions and beliefs over supporting their child.”
“What will change? Thank God you never chose me as your pastor based on my appearance. None of you judged me, and that was never part of the process of me becoming your pastor — not my face, my body, my hair, or my clothes,” he added.
“At the end of the day, we know clothes are just fibres; they don’t carry anatomy with them. So when we say something is ‘girls’ clothes’ or ‘boys’ clothes,’ well, they don’t come with a reproductive system.
“So what will change? My voice might go a tad higher. Pronouns, she/her, but I’m not going to be the pronoun police, because I don’t think anyone here would misgender me out of malice. This is a process, a transition.
“What will change? My full name. I’m taking Fiona’s middle name so that we have that in common.
“What may change is that we might become known within the community as an even safer space for people who have felt marginalised.
“Are my parents okay with this? Absolutely not. They texted me this morning and asked me to tell you all that they do not support me, and that they have chosen their convictions and beliefs over supporting their child.
“I’m in the category of what they call asexual. I’ve been that way since we’ve all been together.”
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