Posts tagged church
Blessed are the Trans Kids: One Transgender Woman’s Reflections on the Beatitudes

This post is an adapted version of a sermon I shared at Paradox Church in Redlands, California, on April 30, 2022. The video recording can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/jLKL5yOWHjY or on Paradox Church’s website.

I shared a similar version to a largely Seventh-day Adventist audience for Adventist Today’s Sabbath Seminar. (Access the video recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKtvlpv_7Qw)

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Coming Out of the Closet 🏳️‍⚧️

I am a transgender woman. This fact is related to my resignation from the church. I have “known” it for a long time, but only recently put all the pieces together to the point that I fully KNOW and accept it. Paige and I are staying together. The kids know are doing fine. All of our family knows and has been supportive. My name is Esther, pronouns she/her/hers, and my kids call me “Mapa”. My faith is stronger than it has ever been and has been integral in choosing to proceed with transition. I am scared, angry, brave, grateful, and absolutely full of joy. I am going back to school to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. Please consider educating yourself if I’m the only (or one of very few) trans person you think you know. I cherish your friendship and support.

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Ego

Over the past couple weeks or so, my Facebook news feed has been buzzing with articles, objections, and reflections on a proposal brought forward by a few denominational leaders in my Adventist tribe. The following are many strands of thought, some of which are no doubt incoherent, on the present situation.

A chop-shop summary of the proposal voted at Annual Council this week is as follows: the general conference of th...

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