Conversation w/ Rev. Kenneth Wheeler

The Clergy Emergency League

presents

Pastoring in and with the Transgender Community: Guidance for Clergy and Congregations

Date: May 10, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Eastern

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Attacks against the rights of transgender individuals are rising across the U.S. Fueled by misunderstandings and mischaracterizations about human sexuality, transphobia and hatred can lead to bullying and violence.  Currently there is proposed legislation in some states that seeks to criminalize parents who support their transgender children.  As well, homicides rates for transwomen are higher than for other populations.

What are challenges and gifts that the transgender community brings to the church?  How are congregations responding (or not) to threats against their transgender siblings?  What are ways to reclaim Scripture for the inclusiveness of all genders?  How can pastors and congregations support transgender youth and adults?

Our panelists will respond to these questions and more to provide guidance for clergy as they minister to and with transgender individuals as well as their family, friends, and communities.

Panelists:

Rev. Barbara Peronteau (she/her) A native of Pennsylvania, Barbara has roots in San Rafael, CA, and the Philadelphia area. She was baptized and confirmed Lutheran. Having earned her BA from Lynchburg College, and an M.Div. from Union Presbyterian Seminary, she was ordained at Old First Church, United Church of Christ in Philadelphia and went on to serve UCC churches in Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. Barbara completed her CPE program and is a certified Intentional Interim Minister. Recently, Barbara served an ELCA congregation in San Leandro, CA as an Intentional Interim, and a UCC congregation in Kensington, CA as their bridge pastor. Barbara enjoys baseball, movies, reading, walks along the Bay, and her Mustang. Along with her spouse, The Rev. Dr. Susan Strouse, an ELCA pastor, and their cat, Miley, Barbara now calls Berkeley her home.  

Rev. Louis Mitchell (he/him) is a pioneering "intentional man." An activist for over three decades, his focus is the fight for health and healing, self-determination, and respect, focusing on mental wellness, recovery, and disability access.  He believes in the restorative power of truth telling in the voices of those whose stories are often told about them rather than with them.  Later this month, he will begin serving as Pastor of Rincon UCC in Tucson, AZ. He is a co-founder, former Executive Director and current Board Member of Transfaith and Operations Director.  Rev. Mitchell was profiled in the documentaries Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen (2008, Zeigler & Lora), Gender Journeys: More than a Pronoun (2016, Luke Allen) and More than T (2017, Silas Howard). Rev. Mitchell has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2017 International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award from the Imperial Court of Western Massachusetts and the 2015 Claire Skiffington Vanguard Award from the Transgender Law Center for his long-time advocacy for the disenfranchised.

Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill (he/him) is a Partner at The Management Center, coaching clients in the progressive sector to articulate and act on their vision for a more just world. Prior to joining TMC, Alex served as the executive director of More Light Presbyterians for over eight years. There, he empowered faith leaders to welcome LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC neighbors into worship communities and to advocate for justice in their broader communities. Alex has: worked to elect LGBTQIA+ leaders; advocated for reproductive justice; and won state, national, and denominational legislation affirming and protecting the rights and dignities of queer and trans people. Alex is a white, queer, transgender man, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A, and certified coach through the International Coaching Federation. Alex lives in Asheville, NC, where he can be found kayaking with his dog Spike, hiking in the mountains, and planning adventures with his spouse.

Co-moderators:

Rev. Dr. Leah Schade (she/her) is co-founder of the Clergy Emergency League, a network of more than 2,600 pastors throughout the U.S. who provide support, accountability, resources, and networking for clergy to prophetically minister in their congregations and the public square.  She is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky.  An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for more than twenty years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She has pastored three Pennsylvania congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts. Leah has authored five books and is conducting a longitudinal research study about ministry, preaching, and social issues that has surveyed nearly 3,000 clergy and 1,000 laity since 2017. In December 2021, Dr. Schade was elected 2nd Vice President of the Academy of Homiletics, a three-year position that will culminate with serving as President of the Academy in 2024.  

Slats Toole (they/them) is a musician, writer, educator, preacher, and theater director/sound designer based in Minneapolis, MN. They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a Master of Divinity and Certificate in Theology, Women and Gender from Princeton Theological Seminary.  Slats’ Lenten poetry series has been compiled in the collection Queering Lent, and their work has also been published in places such as “History of Hymns,” Call to Worship, Sacramental Life, The Presbyterian Outlook, and the recent anthology This Present Former Glory. They have been a featured guest artist with A Sanctified Art and are the resident sound designer for The In[heir]itance Project. Slats has led workshops on expansive language and queer theology (with a particular emphasis on gender identity) throughout the United States and Canada.  Slats’ work centers around creating space in the church where all are welcomed, embraced, and loved.