FoxNews.com reports: “A Methodist pastor in New York revealed last week plans to transition into a woman and said the 51-year-old now identifies as asexual.

Rev. Phillip Phaneuf, of North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, made the announcement during a Nov. 23 Sunday service. The personal update was delivered from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow stole.

‘So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning,’ Phaneuf said. ‘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.’…

Phaneuf said the name will be changed to Phillippa, and the preferred pronouns are she/her. Hormone replacement therapy has been underway for the past three months, Phaneuf confirmed, and changes to appearance, voice and hair are expected…

Last year, the United Methodist Church reversed rules that condemned LGBTQ+ identities in the community, according to its official website. The UMC now affirms human sexuality ‘as a sacred gift’ and says this ‘applies to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,’ according to its official website…”