Trans pastor says she’s ‘surrounded by loving kindness’ after coming out to New York congregation
“The affirmations have been amazing,” Methodist Rev. Dr. Phillippa Phaneuf told The Advocate in an interview.
December 4, 2025
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united methodist church
Upstate New York Methodist minister comes out as transgender to congregation during Sunday service
"I’m affirming and saying to all of you that I am transgender, and so the best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man," Rev. Dr. Phillippa Phaneuf told her congregation in a powerful speech.
December 3, 2025
Meet the lesbian minister whose church clapped back at Texas's ban on rainbow crosswalks
Volunteers at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas have painted the steps in rainbow colors as a sign of welcome to all.
November 11, 2025
A Methodist pastor was defrocked 20 years ago for being gay. She's finally been reinstated
Beth Stroud said her "whole life would have been different" had she not been removed from her position in the church.
May 22, 2024
United Methodist Church ends 40-year ban on LGBTQ+ clergy
The church has long been divided into factions over its stance on homosexuality and gay clergy and even weighed splitting into two separate churches over the issue.
May 1, 2024
Why is the United Methodist Church meeting over LGBTQ+ rights?
Delegates at the church's General Conference are likely to vote to rescind anti-LGBTQ+ policies, but it's not a done deal.
April 26, 2024
Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia
Rev. Andi Woodworth was the first out trans pastor to lead the Georgia House in prayer — and believes she helped turn back some anti-trans legislation.
April 25, 2024
One-Fifth of United Methodist U.S. Congregations Leaving Over LGBTQ+ Issues
Most of those leaving are conservative, as it's expected the church will soon adopt more LGBTQ-affirming policies.
July 7, 2023