Pastor Stuns Congregation, Announces Gender Transition: “I’m Giving Up Pretending to Be a Man”

A pastor in New York left her congregation stunned after publicly revealing during Sunday service that she is transitioning and will now go by she/her pronouns.

Reverend Phil Phaneuf, 51, addressed the members of North Chili United Methodist Church (UMC) and disclosed that she has quietly been undergoing a gender transition. Wearing a rainbow stole as she spoke, Phaneuf shared that she felt it was time to openly affirm her identity.

“I get to announce with joy that I am transitioning. I am affirming and saying to all of you that I am transgender,” she said. “The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man.”

Phaneuf told the congregation that her new name will be Phillippa Faye Phaneuf, though she will continue using “Reverend Phil” in her pastoral role. She also assured listeners that she will not be “the pronoun police,” expressing confidence that any misgendering would be accidental rather than malicious.

The longtime pastor explained that the only changes her church should expect are physical ones, noting that she has already been undergoing hormone replacement therapy for about three months.

Despite the announcement, Phaneuf emphasised that her devotion to Jesus Christ and her commitment to ministry remain unchanged.