Will traditional denominations ever accept trans?

[Guest thevaliantx]

I have been to universal denomination - type churches, and trans and gays were welcome there; however I am not supportive of the gay lifestyle (I know this may hurt the feelings of some here but that is not my intention). It may have something to do with my upbringing in a conservative Christian atmosphere, and the scripture does say that man shall not lie with man, etc. What I am wondering is whether denominations like Baptist and Pentecostal will ever treat trans folks as the gender they identify with. (ducks)

[VickySGV]

UMMMM --- I doubt that the ultra conservative and Fundamentalists are going to get it within our lifetimes. The problem is that they have created the Bible in the image they want to have it. The scripture you cite on "man lying with man" really says that "an Israelite priest shall not have sex with a consecrated male", but the term male that is used there also includes animal sacrifices and non Jewish clergymen. (ie priests of "pagan" or the Sumerian religions that were nearby neighbors.) This revelation is since the Niagra Conventions that defined Fundamentalism back in the early 1900's by interpretation of documents or writings from other cultures living side by side the Old Testament Jewish people. The Greek translation of the earliest manuscripts did not give the full flavor of the original language, which by the time of "The Seventy" who made the Greek translation of Sumerian (pre Hebrew) scrolls written without vowels and punctuation where those were critical to the meaning of the texts -- you get the drift.

This is not an attack at you or your beliefs but is the sort of little fact that creeps in to mess with the minds of those who do not accept the fact that the world is moving forward at a terrible clip of discovery about itself and its past.

I am fully out in a denomination that accepts me, and includes me in its lay ministry, and if I felt called, even in to its highest clergy offices as of July 2012.

[Guest Motormouth18]

Well, for the most part, my southern Baptist church has. (See my response to your question about the church that I go to for more details). They basically said that this is who I am, and that they'll love me regardless. I haven't asked people to stop using female pronouns in real life yet because there's a few people who I know will go ballistic if they find out. In my small county of 6,000 people rumors/ news travels fast. I am gay. Any of my church members who have a Facebook page can easily see that. I am attracted guys only. I think that females are pretty, but as far as a (sexual) and long term relationship goes, I only want a guy. I'm not ashamed of it. It's a part of me.I think that God knows that. My pastor and his wife are on the fence about the gay issue. They're totally against the gay "lifestyle"( it's not a lifestyle. Being gay doesn't define how you live). On the other hand, they honor Jesus' biggest commandment of love.

As a whole, I'm not really sure. Hate is taught beginning at a young age, and is ingrained ( no offense intended, but that is how I view your stance on being gay). They teach their kids to hate what is different from them.

Vicky's words about the bible being misinterpreted/ mistranslated basically sums up part of the reason why I don't put alot of faith in the bible. The other reason is all of the books that were deemed unworthy or blasphemy by the Catholic church several years after Christ's crucifixion. Those books had been accepted by some/most Christians for a few centuries and then all of a sudden, they're not accurate and are untrue. Bullcrap, in my opinion.

Pardon any errors. It's 5 am and I can't sleep.

[Guest Jubei]

Grew up in baptists family and partly because of work and personal views on how the bible has been translated over 2000 years, I do not go to church anymore. Plus so many Christians groups have tend to go political and fundamental over the years which turns me off as well. If was to go back I doubt I would be welcome.

[gennee]

I attend a church that is affirming and accepting of TGLB people. There are people of different ages, political beliefs, races, and socioeconomic statuses.I came out as transgender in June, 2012 and I have been received with open arms. Many churches are beginning to look at their stances regarding TGLB rights and acceptance in their congregations.

Another point is that gay is not a lifestyle. It's a part of who the person is. People don't choose to be gay, lesbian, or transgender. It's a part of their core nature. Contrary to what is preached in a lot of pulpits, God has a plan for their lives. Perception, at times, gets in the way in that you have to be a certain way in order for God to use them. Look at the apostles! They weren't noble or have royal pedigree but God used them mightily. God has used many different kinds of people to fulfill his mission.

[Guest ashleynikole]

I actually found the two articles listed here to be very informing. http://www.gaychristian.net/greatdebate.php

This is an area that (IMO) will never be resolved in the church (or at least not in my lifetime), and honestly I think they "enemy" wants it that way. We can't love on each other if he keeps us divided on something and makes us believe it's a life or death matter. I do find it ironic that the first denominations to really embrace LGBT people were the more traditional denominations (episcopal, lutheran, methodist, etc.), even if it did cause somewhat of a split.

[Guest thevaliantx]

This is something I want to learn more about. No, I don't mean locking lips with a man. If I am asking my wife to try and be open minded about my being transgender then ..... When I say lifestyle what I'm thinking two flaming guys pushing their behavior onto the congregation. I actually saw this happen in a church near Harvard University in Cambridge MA, of all place, and this is where i have a difficult time nit being repulsed by behavior that much of the population thinks is no different than transgenders. I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say here, and I feel incredibly judgemental and hypocritical right about now

[VickySGV]

I must admit that as open minded as I have become (note "become") public displays of affection or PDA's as my Navy officer son refers to them do get on my nerves, be it straight, gay, lesbian, or Trans* when they go into actual sexual foreplay. A heterosexual (of maybe bisexual) cis male sliding his hand down a heterosexual (or maybe bisexual) cis female's backbone and inside the waist band of her skinny jeans, causes grandma here to get a real sour look on her face and a desire to play a garden hose on the pair. The same goes for a couple that is male or a couple that is female, or a threesome that is, who the heck knows. Sex is nobody's business but the <insert number> <insert sexuality(s)> <insert gender expression> people involved!!

I am happy to say that as my circle of Gay and Lesbian friends and acquaintances has grown, even they share my feelings in general, especially in a church setting. They can touch, and smile at each other in ways that are tender and affirming, but not outright lustful, since lust is not on their minds at the time, only the happiness and thankfulness for companionship and partnership that can be a symbol of God's love to our broken world is present in their space in those moments.

In my denomination, there is a brief part of the service where hand shakes, and even hugs, and maybe a quick kiss on the cheek can happen tastefully and in limits between the church goers. The moment is after confession and absolution where we have asked for forgiveness of those things that keep us from loving our fellow people, appropriately the custom is referred to as Passing The Peace. Yes, a gay, and most hetero couples do kiss on the lips between themselves, and I can smile at that. In another church I attend from time to time there is a MtF and her Cis female wife, and as before a quick lip to lip peck, or special smile between them, also makes me smile too. Hand holding in line up to the Communion rail took me a while to get used to when it was male and male gender, but it was my training that other than father and young son, males did not hold hands that was behind that, and which I could and did shed. Maybe my hormones contributed to some of my being able to put aside some of my trained in distaste. I don't know or care.

In my birth family , you did not hug a member of the opposite gender, or even your own, if you did not have lust on your mind. Today, with that misconception cleared up, I am very open to both giving and receiving hugs, and yes, even a kiss on the cheek from a the gay members of my churches, and the same from females, lesbian or straight (women do that to each other ),

In knowing myself, and losing my fear of who and what I was, and tossing out the singular focus of lust and getting it apart from closeness to people whom I can and do love and share LOVE with, life is much more enjoyable and so I can truly say --

The Peace of The Lord be always with YOU.

[Guest thevaliantx]

I wish I could find a church around here (Central / Northern Kentucky) that is both about the WORD OF GOD and about LOVING ONE ANOTHER (without prejudice or pushing behaviors on one another). I dream of the day when there are males and females, but no one judges one female against another, and vice versa.