Linda Herzer
Rev. Linda Herzer has served congregations in New York and Atlanta. However, when she joined the staff of a church where 10% of the congregation was transgender, she knew she had much to learn. Consequently, Linda read, studied, attended gender variant support groups and listened to her congregant’s stories. She is now an active ally and has written a soon to be published book on what the Bible says in support of the transgender experience.
In 2015 Linda co-founded Transformation Journeys, a transgender diversity training firm. Through Transformation Journeys Linda and her co-founder, transwoman Gabrielle Claiborne, educate people about the gender variant experience. They do this through corporate trainings custom designed to meet their clients’ needs and through personal and spiritual growth workshops and presentations in which they share Gabrielle’s transgender journey to illustrate their points. Linda is the mother of an adult daughter and lives in Atlanta.
Trans Panel or Creating Trans Friendly Churches
Where is the American church with the transgender experience? Are there trans individuals who identify as Christian? What are the basics about transgender people that congregations need to know to be trans welcoming? Are there good resources for quickly and easily helping congregants learn these basics? What does the Bible say about gender variance? What are practical steps a congregation can take to create a trans friendly church? Learn the answer to these questions and more from our expert panel, while also hearing some of their personal stories. The panel of four includes a transgender priest, a progressive Evangelical transgender pastor, a transwoman who is a lifelong church lay leader, and a cisgender minister who is an active ally. By the end of the workshop, you will know the next steps to take to become a transgender friendly church.