Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Transgender Pastor
Drew Phoenix, pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in Baltimore, was named Ann Gordon until last fall. That's because until then Phoenix was a woman. The pastor switched genders "in order to reflect my true gender identity and to honor my spiritual transformation and relationship with God," according to a quote from the Church Report's story. It's unclear exactly what's going on physically with Phoenix, but CBS's story says he has "received medical treatment to become a man."
St. John's voted to reappoint Phoenix as their pastor, and Bishop John R. Schol approved the decision last week. But Methodist clergy in the Baltimore area have called for the Judicial Council, kind of the Supreme Court for the denomination, to rule on it when they meet in October.
Other groups in Methodist circles are calling for a new ruling on transgender pastors by the General Conference, an international Methodist body, when they meet next year. Currently Methodist law bans sexually active gay pastors but doesn't say anything about the transgender issue.
This is going to be a tough issue to articulate, but I hope the Judicial Council and the General Conference step up to the plate and tackle this situation with a well-though out, balanced response explaining why there's no way a Christian church can accept a transgender pastor. Obviously it seems like that would be an obvious conclusion based on their stance on homosexuality, but this is a touchy topic. Hopefully they will give us something we all can reference.
INTERACT: How should the Methodist Church respond to this situation? What would you say?
St. John's voted to reappoint Phoenix as their pastor, and Bishop John R. Schol approved the decision last week. But Methodist clergy in the Baltimore area have called for the Judicial Council, kind of the Supreme Court for the denomination, to rule on it when they meet in October.
Other groups in Methodist circles are calling for a new ruling on transgender pastors by the General Conference, an international Methodist body, when they meet next year. Currently Methodist law bans sexually active gay pastors but doesn't say anything about the transgender issue.
This is going to be a tough issue to articulate, but I hope the Judicial Council and the General Conference step up to the plate and tackle this situation with a well-though out, balanced response explaining why there's no way a Christian church can accept a transgender pastor. Obviously it seems like that would be an obvious conclusion based on their stance on homosexuality, but this is a touchy topic. Hopefully they will give us something we all can reference.
INTERACT: How should the Methodist Church respond to this situation? What would you say?
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Yikes.
I've blogged about this nascent issue on my own weblog (see the link at the end if interested). Churches simply aren't prepared for this. And the mainline churches who gave up the struggle on ordaining homosexual ministers will probably have to roll over on the issue if they're going to be consistent in their rejection of orthodox Biblical values.
While the Bible does not directly speak to sexual dysphoria or sexual identity issues, I believe there is a Biblical foundation for rejecting the claims of the transgendered proponents.
The creation account clearly depicts the inception of two sexes: male and female -- not some admixture of the two. And as God created man in his image, clearly expressed gender identity is very likely a part of that imago deo. Any confusion regarding one's innate gender would, therefore, be a result of the Fall, sin, and its many effects. To surrender to the dysphoria and adopt a new sexual identity does not clarify the chaos, rather, it cements it.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that our identity in Christ is not tied to our "meat space" identity. He encouraged the Corinthian believers not to waste their energy in changing their social or psychological circumstances:
"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ... Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him." (See 1 Corinthians 7)
I'm sympathetic to circumstances where gender dysphoria arise from true hermaphroditism (having both male and female sexual characteristics) or where sexual genitalia are opposite one's genetic endowments. In such circumstances, I feel that correcting the physical malady as much as possible is permissible. However, I am not yet convinced that there is a justifiable and Biblically acceptable rationale for changing one's physical gender for the sake of psychological harmony. Otherwise, I believe acting out a sexuality or gender that is at odds with one’s innate physical genitalia creates a self-contradictory gender image -- and this does violence to the "image of God" within.
Our denominations will have to wake up to this issue, like it or not. I've called for my own Fellowship to respond to this -- years ago, and it hasn't happened yet. But the trend is inexorable and we must respond now.
Regards,
Rich
BlogRodent
[Blog Post: "How to get arrested at Central Bible College. Plus: The Unremarked Transgendered Issue"]
I've blogged about this nascent issue on my own weblog (see the link at the end if interested). Churches simply aren't prepared for this. And the mainline churches who gave up the struggle on ordaining homosexual ministers will probably have to roll over on the issue if they're going to be consistent in their rejection of orthodox Biblical values.
While the Bible does not directly speak to sexual dysphoria or sexual identity issues, I believe there is a Biblical foundation for rejecting the claims of the transgendered proponents.
The creation account clearly depicts the inception of two sexes: male and female -- not some admixture of the two. And as God created man in his image, clearly expressed gender identity is very likely a part of that imago deo. Any confusion regarding one's innate gender would, therefore, be a result of the Fall, sin, and its many effects. To surrender to the dysphoria and adopt a new sexual identity does not clarify the chaos, rather, it cements it.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that our identity in Christ is not tied to our "meat space" identity. He encouraged the Corinthian believers not to waste their energy in changing their social or psychological circumstances:
"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ... Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him." (See 1 Corinthians 7)
I'm sympathetic to circumstances where gender dysphoria arise from true hermaphroditism (having both male and female sexual characteristics) or where sexual genitalia are opposite one's genetic endowments. In such circumstances, I feel that correcting the physical malady as much as possible is permissible. However, I am not yet convinced that there is a justifiable and Biblically acceptable rationale for changing one's physical gender for the sake of psychological harmony. Otherwise, I believe acting out a sexuality or gender that is at odds with one’s innate physical genitalia creates a self-contradictory gender image -- and this does violence to the "image of God" within.
Our denominations will have to wake up to this issue, like it or not. I've called for my own Fellowship to respond to this -- years ago, and it hasn't happened yet. But the trend is inexorable and we must respond now.
Regards,
Rich
BlogRodent
[Blog Post: "How to get arrested at Central Bible College. Plus: The Unremarked Transgendered Issue"]
As a Christian pastor I find this transgender issue appalling. If a person want to change their sexual identity and then act as if God is pleased with it, doesn't sit well with me. God made genders: male and female, period. Why flount this in the name of religion?
I think it is time for the church to stand up for what is holy, pure,godly, and call sin, what it is, an abomination before God. God calls us to a changed life not a changed gender.
B. Baskin
I think it is time for the church to stand up for what is holy, pure,godly, and call sin, what it is, an abomination before God. God calls us to a changed life not a changed gender.
B. Baskin
Frankly folks...
We are created Malr or Female NOT Gay - Transgendered or other questionable lifestyles.
BE WHAT GOD MADE YOU!
DONOT live in confusion & give heed to satanic lies about your gender confusion!
We are created Malr or Female NOT Gay - Transgendered or other questionable lifestyles.
BE WHAT GOD MADE YOU!
DONOT live in confusion & give heed to satanic lies about your gender confusion!
The "God don't make no mmistakes" argument doesn't work in dealing with this issue.
We know that all creation groans in pain due to how sin and the Fall twisted everything in this world and universe.
No, God never did create a mistake, but we've been steadily uncreating his perfection since the Fall. We now have all manner of disease, death and calamity to struggle with because of that singular submission to sin.
Enough children are born with severe deformities that to say "God doesn't make mistakes" is like saying it's not sin that cause evil, but God himself.
In the end, it doesn't matter, to me, whether there is a "gay gene" or a physiological cause for transsexualism. We are, all of us, expected to adhere to God's standards and maintain a holy lifestyle even if our brains are wired differently.
Regards,
Rich
BlogRodent
We know that all creation groans in pain due to how sin and the Fall twisted everything in this world and universe.
No, God never did create a mistake, but we've been steadily uncreating his perfection since the Fall. We now have all manner of disease, death and calamity to struggle with because of that singular submission to sin.
Enough children are born with severe deformities that to say "God doesn't make mistakes" is like saying it's not sin that cause evil, but God himself.
In the end, it doesn't matter, to me, whether there is a "gay gene" or a physiological cause for transsexualism. We are, all of us, expected to adhere to God's standards and maintain a holy lifestyle even if our brains are wired differently.
Regards,
Rich
BlogRodent
What happened to Holy Ghost conviction? We should be so tuned in to God that our concience should let us know right from wrong!
The "remain as you were called", does not pertain to the gender of a believer. Its being used totally out of context, as most verses are to bring about judgmentalism on others, it was referring to the previous discussion about which Paul was addressing marriage and divorce and how you continue in your walk with God. Geesh! Be as GOD wants you to be in any gender. We are alive and used by Him, not ourselves. Leave others alone. Let them "be" as they believe they are called to be. Stay clear of division and strife amongst believers. This truly is the hatred Christ died to rid believers and the world of.
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