A pastor in Rochester, New York, publicly came out as transgender during a moving sermon that left her congregation in stunned silence before many rose to offer support. Phillippa Phaneuf of North Chili United Methodist Church used the final portion of the November 23 service to share that she has begun her transition and is now living as her true self.
Phaneuf told the congregation that she started hormone therapy three months ago and has experienced a sense of peace she had spent years searching for. She described the moment as one of honesty and spiritual clarity, adding that she could no longer continue living in a role that never fit. She told the congregation, “I am not becoming a woman. I am giving up pretending to be a man.”
Her announcement came at a time when the United Methodist Church has been undergoing a historic shift. In 2024 the denomination removed its long-standing ban on LGBTQ clergy. The policy change opened the door for ministers like Phaneuf to serve without fear of institutional punishment and has encouraged many congregations to embrace a broader understanding of inclusion.
During her sermon, Phaneuf reassured parishioners that while her appearance, voice, and pronouns will change, the core of who she is remains unchanged. She emphasized that her faith, her teaching style, her commitment to ministry, and her personality are still the same. She also shared the humor and vulnerability that her congregation is familiar with, noting her ADHD brain is not going anywhere.
Phaneuf told the church that she hopes her journey will make their community more welcoming to people who have struggled to find safety in religious spaces. She expressed gratitude for the congregation and said she could not have reached this moment without the support she has already felt from them.
She also acknowledged that some people, including members of her family, are still struggling with her transition. Phaneuf asked for patience and compassion for those who may need time, while expressing confidence that the peace and clarity she has found will speak for itself.
For many in the congregation, the sermon was a moment of profound trust. Phaneuf’s coming out was not only a personal milestone but also an invitation for the community to grow in understanding and compassion.
Her message reflected a hope shared by many transgender people in faith communities: that living honestly can deepen connection, strengthen spiritual life, and create space for others who have long felt unseen.
