Key points
- The pastor announces gender transition during a Sunday service. The congregation hears the news with quiet shock and support.
- Phaneuf says she has begun hormone treatment three months ago. She promises her faith and ministry work will not change.
- The pastor will use a new name but remain Reverend Phil. Church leaders say they were informed and offered pastoral support.
Reverend Phil Phaneuf told her North Chili United Methodist Church congregation she is transgender and is transitioning, saying she was “giving up pretending to be a man.” She spoke from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow stole and said the change follows a long personal process.
Phaneuf said she will adopt the name Phillippa Faye Phaneuf while continuing to be called Reverend Phil and will use she/her pronouns going forward. Church elders and the wider Methodist leadership were told beforehand and offered support.
Announcement and reaction
Phaneuf told worshippers the transition is already under way and noted she started hormone therapy three months earlier. She said the physical changes will come gradually and that she expects adjustments in voice hair and appearance.
The pastor added she now identifies as asexual and does not expect changes to her ministry duties or pastoral commitments. Several congregants told local reporters they felt moved and willing to walk with her through this journey.
Context and wider coverage
The announcement has drawn national attention and coverage from multiple outlets reporting the November 23 service. The news arrives amid wider public debate about gender identity in faith spaces and denomination policy shifts.
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Phaneuf said she does not plan to police pronoun use and she does not believe misgendering will happen out of malice. She also said her parents have struggled to accept the announcement and that the change may surprise some people.
What the church says
North Chili UMC leaders confirmed they were informed before the sermon and that they will continue to support Phaneuf in her role. The denomination’s leaders have emphasised pastoral care and inclusion for all clergy in recent years.
The pastor urged the congregation to focus on shared faith and continued service rather than on outward change. She said her commitment to Jesus Christ and to pastoral care will remain unchanged.
Why it matters
Public coming-out moments from clergy raise questions about faith inclusive practices and pastoral care across church communities. Phaneuf’s announcement is likely to prompt more public conversations about how congregations respond to gender identity.
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