The Pastor Who Defies the Christian Right to Go Left: A Missouri Shocker

“I’m a Christian who believes in trans rights,” she declared, unapologetically loud in her stance. “And I’m going to make sure legislators hear from Christians who are not spewing hate.”

O’FALLON, MISSOURI — In a stunning twist that has left both believers and critics gasping, a local pastor is shaking up the political and religious landscape with an announcement that could upend long-held assumptions about Christianity and politics. The Rev. Shumway, a United Church of Christ pastor and outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, is running for a state representative seat with one bold mission: to challenge the Christian right.

Rev. Shumway, who has a history of advocating for marginalized groups, made headlines in 2021 when she took in 17-year-old Phoenix Lemke, a teen who had been ostracized by his family for coming out as queer. Lemke, who has since come out as transgender, describes the experience of living with Shumway as “transformative.” “With Shumway, I could do what I want, be who I want, and kiss who I want without being called a slur,” Lemke told Yahoo News. This life-changing experience culminated last year in Lemke’s legal name change, a symbolic victory in his journey toward self-acceptance.

For many Christians, such a radical stance from a pastor comes as a shock. Shumway is unapologetic about her belief in LGBTQ+ rights, declaring, “The Christian right has not had a challenge from the Christian left, and we need to join together and make some noise.” As a member of the United Church of Christ, a progressive Protestant denomination known for its liberal stance on issues of gender and sexuality, Shumway is positioning herself as the face of a Christian movement that embraces diversity, equality, and inclusivity.

Her bid for political office, however, is not without fierce opposition. Missouri remains a battleground state for LGBTQ+ rights. In August 2023, the state passed the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which bars minors from receiving gender-affirming hormonal treatment. Conservative Christian groups, like Concerned Women for America, have rallied in support of the act, condemning gender-affirming care as “unlawful experimenting on Missouri’s children.”

Yet, in the midst of these controversies, Rev. Shumway stands firm. “I’m a Christian who believes in trans rights,” she declared, unapologetically loud in her stance. “And I’m going to make sure legislators hear from Christians who are not spewing hate.”

Shumway’s campaign is not only a defiance of Missouri’s conservative stronghold but a direct challenge to the evangelical narrative that has long dominated political discussions on faith and morality. Her very existence on the ballot forces a reckoning—can Christianity, often weaponized against the LGBTQ+ community, be a beacon for inclusivity and love instead?

As the political tides shift, Missouri may soon witness a revolution not just of policy, but of faith itself. A Christian pastor, standing with trans rights, running against the tide of the Christian right, raises an unsettling question: What does it mean to be Christian in America today?

Rev. Shumway’s message is clear: it’s time to find out.