A pastor in upstate New York publicly announced a gender transition during a Nov. 23 Sunday service, telling the congregation that pastoral duties will continue unchanged despite the personal update.

Rev. Phillip Phaneuf of North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester informed church members that the transition process has already begun and that the 51-year-old now identifies as asexual, as reported by The New York Post.

United Methodist Church pastor who announced he was transitioning to become a ‘woman’ during a sermon shows off his new ‘feminine’ look.

Rev. Phillip Phaneuf, of North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester has revealed he is now going by the name Phillippa and using… pic.twitter.com/aFrXyUaAyQ

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) December 3, 2025

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Phaneuf delivered the announcement from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow stole. “So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning,” Phaneuf told the congregation.

“I’m affirming to all of you that I am transgender. The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man. This is a process, and it may be shocking for some as to what this all means.”

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Phaneuf went on to say that the pastor now identifies as asexual. “I’m in the category of what they call asexual,” Phaneuf said.

“I’ve been that way since we’ve all been together, in that I am not living my life in a way that involves looking for romance.”

The pastor said a name change to Phillippa is forthcoming and requested the use of she/her pronouns.

Phaneuf confirmed that hormone replacement therapy has been underway for three months and that changes in appearance, voice, and hair are expected as part of the process.

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, Phaneuf said the details of the transition are accurate and added that the congregation has responded positively.

“Since coming out to my congregation, they have been overwhelmingly affirming!” Phaneuf said.

Phaneuf also said that the transition has the support of the bishop, church, and theology. According to Phaneuf, the bishop was consulted before the announcement and pastoral responsibilities will not change.

“What will stay the same is my deepening love for all of you,” Phaneuf told congregants.

Phaneuf noted during the sermon that the pastor’s parents do not support the decision. “They asked me to tell you all that they do not support me,” Phaneuf said. “They asked me to tell you this.”

A North Carolina Methodist church was shocked when its 51-year-old lead pastor told the congregation he is transitioning to become a woman.

During his November 23, 2025, sermon, Phaneuf, 51, shocked congregants by announcing that he was transgender and had already begun taking… pic.twitter.com/zkFVW8wLSt

— Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) December 2, 2025

The announcement comes after the United Methodist Church updated its position last year, reversing rules that condemned LGBTQ+ identities.

According to the denomination’s official website, the church now affirms human sexuality “as a sacred gift” applicable to “all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The UMC also states, “The United Methodist Church commits to befriending and caring for all persons, including LGBTQ persons in our churches and communities.”

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