I Went Back to Church

Disclaimer

I just want to start by saying, I am not going to try to convince or dissuade you of anything. I’m not going to give a witness. I’m not going to shout “AMEN!,” ask for money or want to know where you stand on the subject. Faith and religion are very personal things and I leave it to everyone to make their own decisions. What I am going to share is what I discovered as I went searching for a church.

My formative years

I was raised in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in my hometown of Shelby, Ohio. (There’s more than one flavor of Lutheranism, if you didn’t know.) I was baptized, took three years of Catechism studies, was an acolyte (altar boy) and sang in the choir. I met my first wife and the mother of my son there. I was really invested. I ran off to sea at the age 19 and never went back to that church or any other, for that matter. It was the 1960s and ‘70s and I was looking for adventure, hiding my true self and savoring the angst of those early years.

Now look at me

Jumping ahead, here I am a 60-something trans woman. I haven’t regularly attended over the past 40+ years, but I found myself missing a spiritual connection. I didn’t get hit with a lightning bolt or have a miracle happen, and I never saw anyone’s face in any of the thousands of pieces of toast I’ve ever eaten. I just missed it. So I went looking for a place where my partner and I would be welcome, be safe, and could be part of a congregation. I checked out the Unity Church, Unitarian Universalists and the Metropolitan Community Church. I knew these would be safe bets. I was welcomed, felt accepted and safe, but didn’t feel a real connection. I MUST STATE that it was me and not anything deficient with these churches.

I tried the old church

I wrote to the church in which I grew up, told them who I was, gave them my history in the church and that I was a transwoman. I never got a reply. I contacted a local Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod with the same information and never heard a reply. I even attempted to contact the church headquarters. I never got a reply. Needless to say, I scratched them from the list.

Let’s try the other Lutherans

I found in my hometown two other Lutheran Churches who are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). I wrote the local pastor and within less than 24 hours, I received a reply telling me that my partner and I would be welcome at their church. They also stated they were a Reconciling in Christ congregation and  strive to be open and welcoming to everyone. While waiting for this reply, I also wrote the home office for the ELCA. (I’m impatient.) I received a reply in a few days and, again, was welcomed. The gentlemen who wrote told me that since 1995, the ELCA has a policy welcoming all members of the LGBT community. I attended, was overwhelmed by the welcome from the congregation, staff and clergy and have enjoyed going back. Please visit the ELCA online.

I soon learned within the ELCA, there is a group called TransLutherans. TransLutherans is a group of transgender people of faith who identity with Lutheran as their faith community. They advocate for all trans* people and their allies in the Lutheran Church and they do welcome us. The ELCA currently have two ordained transgender clergy and more are currently studying to be pastors. You can get more information no the TransLutherans online.

That’s all folks

I’ve found my spiritual home and wanted to let you know what I found. Not being sour grapes, I also wanted to report where I was rejected and how, in the end, it all turned out well. I’m a happy trans woman and I’m blessed.

Tags: church, featured, Metropolitan Community Church, religion, Transgender, Unitarian Church, Unity Church

Category: Transgender Body & Soul, Transgender Opinion