I grew up going to Catholic School, occasionally attending Baptist Church Sunday School that one of my Grandmothers taught and eventually landed in an Evangelical church that my Mom had found and absolutely loved at the time. She was eventually hurt in a Church split where half the church left due to poor leadership.
I started going back to the Evangelical church after brief stints in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. Years and years into that I finally came out as Transgender (which I was later than usual in understanding about myself) and was subsequently rejected by the Evangelical Pastor who I’d trusted and volunteered with and for for almost a decade who told me in no uncertain terms that “all Transgender people are pedophiles & rapists” but I was welcome to stay in the church as long as I didn’t tell anyone or expect to be treated with any kind of respect.
I basically left before they could kick me out. It hurt like Hell and I’m pretty sure at this point that it’s always going to piss me off on some level if I spend any time thinking about it. I mean he still gets his picture in the local newspaper far too regularly due to all the “wonderful work that he and his church are doing for the underprivileged in the community.” But I know the truth and I’m not the only one.
Haven’t been to any church since and I have no plans to return.
Ergh, I’m sorry that happened to you. That pastor hasn’t got the first inkling of how to treat people according to the teachings of his faith’s founder. Jesus is just shaking his head, I swear.
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There ARE trans-friendly congregations out there, and my sense is that they’re growing in number and strength all the time. No one could blame you if you never darkened the door of a church again ever. If you should ever want to, however, the right congregation is out there, waiting. Luckily, even location doesn’t matter anymore—in terms of finding the right fit— as a lot of churches hold services and other events online as well as in-person.
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We’re in New Hampshire and have folks as far away as Florida participating online.
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Distance makes it hard to sing in the choir though, lol.
Evangelical Christian by birth and fear of hell, baptised Baptist, then I had sex and wanted to keep having it so became a closet agnostic/theist, and now I loosely believe in a higher/universal power and practice some pagan rituals but don't fw organised religion. I do quote the Bible a lot but mostly to get the Christian right to shit their pants.
Following a "break" from age 17-51 (yes!) I'm following a deeply explored version of my childhood faith.
I grew up going to Catholic School, occasionally attending Baptist Church Sunday School that one of my Grandmothers taught and eventually landed in an Evangelical church that my Mom had found and absolutely loved at the time. She was eventually hurt in a Church split where half the church left due to poor leadership.
I started going back to the Evangelical church after brief stints in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. Years and years into that I finally came out as Transgender (which I was later than usual in understanding about myself) and was subsequently rejected by the Evangelical Pastor who I’d trusted and volunteered with and for for almost a decade who told me in no uncertain terms that “all Transgender people are pedophiles & rapists” but I was welcome to stay in the church as long as I didn’t tell anyone or expect to be treated with any kind of respect.
I basically left before they could kick me out. It hurt like Hell and I’m pretty sure at this point that it’s always going to piss me off on some level if I spend any time thinking about it. I mean he still gets his picture in the local newspaper far too regularly due to all the “wonderful work that he and his church are doing for the underprivileged in the community.” But I know the truth and I’m not the only one.
Haven’t been to any church since and I have no plans to return.
Ergh, I’m sorry that happened to you. That pastor hasn’t got the first inkling of how to treat people according to the teachings of his faith’s founder. Jesus is just shaking his head, I swear.
.
There ARE trans-friendly congregations out there, and my sense is that they’re growing in number and strength all the time. No one could blame you if you never darkened the door of a church again ever. If you should ever want to, however, the right congregation is out there, waiting. Luckily, even location doesn’t matter anymore—in terms of finding the right fit— as a lot of churches hold services and other events online as well as in-person.
.
We’re in New Hampshire and have folks as far away as Florida participating online.
.
Distance makes it hard to sing in the choir though, lol.
Evangelical Christian by birth and fear of hell, baptised Baptist, then I had sex and wanted to keep having it so became a closet agnostic/theist, and now I loosely believe in a higher/universal power and practice some pagan rituals but don't fw organised religion. I do quote the Bible a lot but mostly to get the Christian right to shit their pants.
Oooh, I like you. We have much in common 🤣
Raised Catholic; left at 16; still recovering at the age of 66.
Found Unitarian Universalism at 41 and realized it was a great fit.
I am a spiritual person, definitely not religious. Nature is my church; kindness is my god.
Raised Catholic. Left at age 22.
Raised children Methodist. age 30-45.
Remarried. No longer attend church 45-75. Still spiritual with a lot of ingrained beliefs.
Devout Evangelical Christian growing up. Became an agnostic and then an atheist in my 30s.