Seeking Transgender Justice
As a gay/queer United Methodist clergy, I seek to be in solidarity with the whole LGBTQ community. I recognize that I need to be more mindful and supportive of transgender and gender non-conforming persons. I need to learn more and continually address my cisgender privilege and assumptions. Just because The UMC doesn't address trans people by name in the Book of Discipline does not mean there are not mean there are no efforts to discriminate against our transgender siblings. There are many! We must be in solidarity and struggle against any form of harm and oppression toward them. Recently, our strong contingent of RUMs in Texas joined an interfaith group advocating for transgender justice as a dangerous bathroom bill loomed over the Texas House last month. Watch the video here.
Our August update is focused on transgender justice, featuring resources for our communities to learn and connect with organizations that work and advocate with the transgender community. Please share this with your pastors and members.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 510-717-4894
izzy@rmnetwork.org
Trans-Forming the Church
This 10 video series builds on personal experience, scripture and theology, and gender theory to empower you to deepen your understanding of God's call on all of us to trans-form the church. This resource features the Rev. Liam Hooper, RMN's Transgender Community Organizer. I encourage you to use these videos in your Bible study groups and Sunday School classes.
Click here for the online videos.
Rev. Hooper and RMN offers a variety of witness opportunities including:
Trans Education and Support
RMN's website has a rich resource page for various topics including trans education and support.
Rev. Hooper and RMN offers a variety of witness opportunities including:
- Educational workshops/training in regard to basic information, issues, theological considerations, and practical processes for accommodation and inclusion of transgender persons in life of the church.
- Workshops specifically for transgender persons in regard to practices and processes for spiritual reconciliation, spiritual growth and development; skills and practices for coping with transition, “coming out” and disclosure, and coping with daily life in general
- Training for developing peer-led/small group spiritual reconciliation/direction, support groups for couples/individuals, study groups, and/or mentoring
- Leadership development for community leaders in regard to effective advocacy and service initiatives
- Leadership development for effective blending of story-telling with public education regarding Trans 101-based training, community conversations, etc.
- Workshops that explore Biblical stories in the context of gender and sexual ways of being so we can expand our understanding of what it means to be human beings in faithful relationship to God, our Creator, and to God’s vast and diverse continuum of people.
Trans Education and Support
RMN's website has a rich resource page for various topics including trans education and support.
Click here for our resource page.
Find resources here
Featured Book: Life Beyond My Body
I met the author, Lei Ming, at Pine UMC in San Francisco CA this summer and became good friends. I highly recommend this book. Born in a rural Chinese village and identified as a girl at birth, Lei Ming (who also goes by Ray), is barely cared for during his childhood. Often lonely, terrified and abused, he learns early to fend for himself and look within for answers, but there he discovers a paradox that threatens to undo him. Although he does not yet know the word “transsexual,” at 16, Ming sets out on a secret mission to find relief. Life Beyond My Body tells the true story of his quest to find answers in a society that is closed-mouthed about men like Ming.
Along the way, Ming finds solace and judgement in the Christian church, loves and loses a woman, begins his physical transition using black market testosterone, is jailed over his identity, and arranges for top surgery without blowing his cover. But ultimately, understanding the true meaning of being a man will require reckoning with God.
Buy the book from Amazon
Contact the author - Lei Ming
Find resources here
Featured Book: Life Beyond My Body
Along the way, Ming finds solace and judgement in the Christian church, loves and loses a woman, begins his physical transition using black market testosterone, is jailed over his identity, and arranges for top surgery without blowing his cover. But ultimately, understanding the true meaning of being a man will require reckoning with God.
Buy the book from Amazon
Contact the author - Lei Ming
Connect with Transgender Advocacy Groups
I encourage you and your congregations to connect with local and national organizations that advocate with the transgender community. RMN has an extension ministry group called United Methodist Alliance for Transgender Inclusion (UMATI). Check out their Facebook page here.
Here is a list of some of these groups:
Connect with your local Reconciling team
Contact your state or conference's Reconciling team leaders below to know how you can participate in local activities and witness.
Alaska: Art Carpenter and Tia Hollowood
Desert Southwest: Rev. Kimberly Scott
California-Nevada: Beth Snyder
California-Pacific: Jason Takagi
Pacific Northwest: Rev. Sharon Moe
Oregon-Idaho: Deborah Maria
Rocky Mountain: Pastor Jaime Nieves
Yellowstone: Mary Maheras
Hawai'i: Darlene Rodrigues
Connect with your conference Reconciling teams on Facebook - "like" their page!
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Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
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Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
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