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Title: Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams" Post by: Mark on March 14, 2011, 12:06:04 pm Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams"
Rev. Malcolm Himschoot knows about profound transformation. Born female, Himschoot chose as a young adult to become male, despite fears he would be lonely, unemployable and cast aside by other Christians. He made the decision, when 21, that he wouldn't take his own life. To Himschoot, living meant making a leap of faith into gender transition. He is now the married father of 3-year-old twins and the new pastor of a mainline, albeit liberal, Protestant church in Douglas County. "I have a life beyond my wildest dreams," the 33-year-old Himschoot said. Parker United Church of Christ installed Himschoot as its spiritual leader this evening in the Mainstreet Center Auditorium. "On this day we celebrate God doing a new thing," said Pam Thompson, a church founder. "So let us come together in boldness and genuine humility." The church, founded three years ago, declared itself the county's first Open and Affirming church, or ONA, and it quickly put its money where its proclaimed values were by hiring Himschoot when it was ready for a full-time pastor. In this progressive denomination's parlance, the Parker UCC is a "Whole Earth, Just Peace, God is Still Speaking" congregation. Parker UCC's motto is: "We welcome everyone who welcomes everyone else." The congregation numbers about 60 and is steadily growing - almost outgrowing Parker's 99-year-old Ruth Chapel, where the church rents worship space. (http://endtimescurrentevents.freeforums.org/download/file.php?icon=2187.gif) (http://endtimescurrentevents.freeforums.org/images/smilies/MoreInfo.png) (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17608273) if you really want to.... Title: Re: Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams" Post by: Christian40 on March 14, 2011, 12:44:56 pm :o Um i think that i will stay away from the more info button here. Truly disgraceful. :(
Title: Re: Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams" Post by: Kilika on March 15, 2011, 05:37:27 am "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan." Revelation 2:9 (KJB)
Title: Re: Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams" Post by: PeanutGallery on March 15, 2011, 09:32:53 am Quote ..but the national church claims all are welcoming to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. At first I thought maybe medical reasons; not!Himschoot hopes his church will be a beacon, not a lightning rod. "It's unsettling to some when people don't fit the template. But there are no templates that work for all people." Himschoot said. "There are a lot of really good paths to go down. Jesus didn't fit the template of his day." Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. I wonder why God said it twice? Title: Re: Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams" Post by: Kilika on March 15, 2011, 01:23:48 pm Maybe it's along the same lines as being a "...twofold more the child of hell...". God uses numbers in scripture for very specific reasons I believe, so yes I believe there is a reason for being two. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Matthew 23:15 (KJB) |