According to a report by The Cable on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, a Methodist pastor in New York, Phillip Phaneuf, left his congregation surprised after publicly announcing that he is beginning a gender transition. The disclosure came during a Sunday service on November 23 at North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, where the 51-year-old explained that he was entering a new phase of personal and spiritual transformation.
Wearing a rainbow stole as he addressed worshippers, Phaneuf said he had long avoided making his private life part of his ministry but noted that some personal developments inevitably shape a pastor’s journey. He described the transition not as an attempt to “change into a woman” but as a decision to stop “performing the role of a man,” a role he said never aligned with who he truly is.
Phaneuf told the congregation that this transition marks a “season of creative transformation,” one that he hopes will extend beyond his own life and influence the church community as well. “I am announcing with joy that I am transgender,” he said, adding that stepping into authenticity was an act of relief and honesty.
Explaining what church members might notice over time, Phaneuf said his voice may shift, he will begin using she/her pronouns, and he will adopt a new full name. He emphasised that these changes do not alter the core of his pastoral responsibilities or the relationship he has built with the congregation.
He also expressed hope that the church’s response could make it an even more welcoming space for individuals who feel excluded or unsafe elsewhere. According to him, embracing this change openly could help others see the church as a supportive environment.
Phaneuf shared that his family, particularly his parents, do not support his decision. He said they had reaffirmed their objections shortly before the service, choosing their beliefs over acceptance of his gender identity. Despite this, he stressed that his journey is about truth and inner peace rather than external approval.
Addressing anticipated questions, Phaneuf noted that clothing and appearance have no inherent gender and that he does not expect anyone in the church to misuse pronouns deliberately. He emphasised that the process will unfold gradually, acknowledging that transitions require patience and understanding.
He also mentioned that he identifies as asexual, a detail he said he has lived with throughout his ministry.
Phaneuf concluded by thanking the congregation for their openness, expressing confidence that the community would continue to respond with compassion as he moves into this next chapter of his life.
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