The senior minister at the United Methodist Church of North Chili, a small UMC denomination in Rochester, New York, shocked his congregation last week by announcing that he is “transgender” in the middle of a service.
Footage obtained by Christian new site Protestia shows Rev. Dr. Phil Phaneuf, 51, announcing during a November 23 service that he was transgender and had already begun taking hormone replacement therapy. “I’m not becoming a woman. I’m giving up pretending to be a man,” he declared.
The bulk of the so-called pastor’s monologue focused on affirming his own feelings. “Are my parents okay with this? Absolutely not. They texted me this morning and they asked for me to tell you all that they do not support me and that they have chosen their convictions and their beliefs over supporting their child,” he said.
“So rarely, rarely do I… I did not get into ministry to talk about myself or my personal life, but sometimes there are things that happen in a pastor’s personal life that is going to find its way out into ministry,” Phaneuf went on. “And so I am inviting you to join me in a season of creative transformation for myself. And I think for all of us, imagine. So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning. I’m affirming and saying to all of you that I am transgender.”
Phaneuf also listed the “changes” that would be taking place as a result of his decision.
“So what will change? My voice. It might go a tad higher. Pronouns, she, her. But I’m not gonna be pronoun police, okay? Because I don’t think that anybody will misgender or mispronoun out of malice. This is a process, it’s a transition. What will change is my full name. I’m taking on for me Fiona’s middle name so that we have that in common. What may change is that we might become known within the community as an even safer space for people who have felt marginalized.”
UMC pastor shocks his congregation by announcing during the sermon that he’s transgender and will be ‘transitioning’ to a woman.
“My parents texted me this morning and they asked for me to TELL YOU all that they DO NOT support me.” pic.twitter.com/HD2s87pPLi
— Protestia (@Protestia) December 2, 2025
In a Facebook post, Phaneuf further celebrated his announcement and stated that the decision was supported by the church.
“Today is a brand new day! And I have the immense joy to share that I’ve publicly announced that I am a transgender woman and am in the process of transitioning. God’s Creative Transformation is abundant in steadfast love through this,” he wrote.
“I am deeply thankful for the friends, fellow clergy friends, the district and the conference, and the church members for their affirmation and support! This news is surprising to some and confirmation for others. Please be kind in your responses… not just to this one, but to everyone’s posts in this social media sphere.”
The United Methodist Church supports, including among its clergy, following significant policy changes at its 2024 General Conference. Key updates include the removal of all “discriminatory language” from the Book of Discipline (the church’s governing document), such as the prior statement that “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching” and bans on ordaining “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.”
The church also promotes “Queer Theory” resources for its clergy and commitment to “befriending and caring for all persons, including LGBTQ persons,” with clergy having discretion to perform same-sex marriages and churches encouraged to be “sanctuaries” for transgender individuals.
