“I’m Giving Up Pretending”: Pastor Stuns Congregation, Announces Gender Transition From the Pulpit

In an unprecedented and deeply personal Sunday sermon that has sent shockwaves through both religious and secular communities, Rev. Phillip Phaneuf, the 51-year-old pastor of North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, New York, announced a profound personal journey to the congregation. Standing at the pulpit wearing a rainbow stole, Phaneuf revealed plans to transition into a woman, stating, “The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man.” In the same address, the pastor disclosed identifying as asexual, explaining a lifelong absence of romantic or sexual attraction, and confirmed that hormone replacement therapy had already begun. The announcement, made on November 23rd, reframes a lifetime of ministry under a new, authentic identity—soon to be known as Phillippa.

The pastor’s revelation, delivered with a mix of joy and solemnity, exposes a stark divide between institutional support and personal family rejection. Phaneuf told Fox News Digital that the United Methodist Church bishop, the local church leadership, and its theology fully support the transition, ensuring pastoral duties will continue uninterrupted. “What will stay the same is my deepening love for all of you,” Phaneuf assured the congregation, which has reportedly responded with overwhelming affirmation. However, in a moment of raw vulnerability during the sermon, the pastor was compelled to share a painful counterpoint: “They asked me to tell you all that they do not support me,” Phaneuf said of the pastor’s own parents, highlighting the profound personal cost of such a public declaration of truth.

This landmark moment occurs within a pivotal year for the United Methodist Church, which in 2024 reversed long-standing rules condemning LGBTQ+ identities, now affirming human sexuality as a “sacred gift” for all persons. Phaneuf’s transition from a position of spiritual leadership is more than a personal story; it is a live-fire test of this new doctrine, challenging congregations worldwide to practice the radical inclusion they preach. As Phillippa begins this very public journey—with changes in appearance, voice, and name underway—the event forces a national conversation on the evolving intersection of faith, identity, and authenticity in modern America, proving that the most powerful sermons are not always found in scripture, but in the courage to live one’s truth.