Pastor explains sex-change to conference


United Methodist News Service
A transsexual pastor has shared his story with other members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference in the hopes of promoting a broader discussion about sex identity.
The Rev. Drew Phoenix—formerly the Rev. Ann Gordon—spoke at both a closed clergy session and a general plenary session May 24 during the annual conference meeting in Washington. He is pastor of St. John’s UMC, Baltimore.
Phoenix said he had been undergoing medical procedures for the transition from female to male during the past year.
In his statement to the plenary session, the 48-year-old pastor explained that “last fall, after a lifelong spiritual journey, and years of prayer and discernment, I decided to change my name from Ann Gordon to Drew Phoenix to reflect my true gender identity and to honor my spiritual transformation and relationship with God.”
By sharing his story, Phoenix said he hoped conference participants would “commit ourselves to becoming educated about the complexity of gender and gender identity and open ourselves to those in our congregations who identify as transgender.”
Phoenix informed his bishop, John Schol, and his congregation about his decision to undergo the transition.
Schol said he, the conference cabinet and the congregation approached the matter seriously and prayerfully. The Book of Discipline has no specific policies regarding sexual reassignment.
Both Phoenix and St. John’s staff-parish committee requested that the pastor be reappointed to the church as part of the normal appointment cycle, which begins July 1. That request will be granted, the bishop said.
Phoenix isn’t the first transsexual clergy member in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. In 2002, the Rev. Rebecca A. Steen decided to leave the denomination after controversy over her desire to return to active ministry after sexual reassignment.
She had sought voluntary leave in 1999. Before that, Steen, who was then the Rev. Richard A. Zamostny, had served churches in three Maryland communities during a 17-year career.