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In from the Wilderness: Sherman: She-r-man
The stories of transgender people reach back to the beginnings of recorded history. At this particular point in time the psychiatric, medical, and secular worlds are beginning to appreciate the authenticity of Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, and Queer people. Sadly, many Christian churches and denominations continue to oppress and vilify the LGTBQ community. This is the story of a transgender man who has been an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1984 and has quietly served his congregations for twenty-eight years before sharing his story and spiritual journey with his congregation, denomination, and the world. This is the story of a Transgender man, a Christian, an ordained minister, a loving husband and father-a human being. It is his challenge to his denomination and to all Christians and spiritual seekers to consider the truth of gender identity and sexual orientation as God given gifts, to be celebrated and embraced among all other gifts.
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 30, 2017
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I picked it up for a reading program. It is short and concise book about an ordained minister who kept his sexual identity hidden. He served the church as a man for almost three decades before announcing publicly that he was born female.
He writes that he knew from an early age that he didn't feel like a girl. He explains some of what he went through to change from female to male. Mostly, it shows that he was able to be spiritual and be an active member of the church and community regardless of his gender identity.
David Weekley talks about the difficulty of keeping his secret and later the fear of disclosing his secret. Still, I cannot imagine living with such a large secret. This book made me think about how closed the church and society as a whole are. It made me realize that we are more accepting of LBTBQ people now that when he made the transition but we have so much farther to go.
He writes that he knew from an early age that he didn't feel like a girl. He explains some of what he went through to change from female to male. Mostly, it shows that he was able to be spiritual and be an active member of the church and community regardless of his gender identity.
David Weekley talks about the difficulty of keeping his secret and later the fear of disclosing his secret. Still, I cannot imagine living with such a large secret. This book made me think about how closed the church and society as a whole are. It made me realize that we are more accepting of LBTBQ people now that when he made the transition but we have so much farther to go.
October 30, 2017
I read this book as part of my United Methodist Women's reading program.
Bravo to those who choose books for this program for selecting a book dealing with a major issue in not only the Methodist church, but in all religious organizations.
Bravo to the author, who is a transgender United Methodist minister, for being brave enough to reveal his truth while not denying his calling!
While the author did not reveal a great deal about what it was like to grow up as a transgender person, he did reveal just enough of some of his struggles as an adolescent and teen...giving insight into some of the inner conflict and personal turmoil transgender people face due to the views of our society.
This book certainly helps the reader to better understand and empathize with those persons having to struggle with our society's (and church's) lack of acceptance of LGBTQ people.
Bravo to those who choose books for this program for selecting a book dealing with a major issue in not only the Methodist church, but in all religious organizations.
Bravo to the author, who is a transgender United Methodist minister, for being brave enough to reveal his truth while not denying his calling!
While the author did not reveal a great deal about what it was like to grow up as a transgender person, he did reveal just enough of some of his struggles as an adolescent and teen...giving insight into some of the inner conflict and personal turmoil transgender people face due to the views of our society.
This book certainly helps the reader to better understand and empathize with those persons having to struggle with our society's (and church's) lack of acceptance of LGBTQ people.
June 29, 2013
David Weekly's autobiography, In From the Wilderness, is a short but fascinating book. David recounts his earliest understanding of gender difference - that when he went to school, people insisted he was a girl, despite him knowing he was a boy - and the life that then followed. The reader follows him through college, transition, marriage, divorce, marriage again, parenthood, and, of course his calling to be a pastor in the United Methodist Church.
The book is full of deeply thought-provoking information, but it's also written as if the author is holding people at a distance, telling, rather than showing, that he was upset or lost or uncertain. Perhaps this is because the issues at hand are too painful to recall in that kind of depth; perhaps, too, the practice of writing a sermon every week for years at a time has led to a particular narrative voice.
Still, at the heart of the book is the testimony of a man who has weathered enormous emotional, physical, and cultural obstacles to becoming his authentic self. I hope his work within the UMC continues to bear fruit, and that the church opens its doors (and heart) to everyone who'd like to be included.
The book is full of deeply thought-provoking information, but it's also written as if the author is holding people at a distance, telling, rather than showing, that he was upset or lost or uncertain. Perhaps this is because the issues at hand are too painful to recall in that kind of depth; perhaps, too, the practice of writing a sermon every week for years at a time has led to a particular narrative voice.
Still, at the heart of the book is the testimony of a man who has weathered enormous emotional, physical, and cultural obstacles to becoming his authentic self. I hope his work within the UMC continues to bear fruit, and that the church opens its doors (and heart) to everyone who'd like to be included.
May 21, 2011
David has written tenderly about his personal story, a journey that has taken and continues to take courage and strength of character. Recommended reading for all, as David writes "...when it is not safe to talk about everything, it soon becomes unsafe to talk about anything".
February 17, 2015
Interesting book. So many are unaware of the pressures and problems of transgenders. Another book for discussion in our social justice. I read this for our church circle. I probably would never have read it otherwise.
March 6, 2011
David is a former pastor of mine, and I count him and Deborah among my friends.
It is MY opinion that David WAS a super pastor, and it is my opinion that he IS a super pastor.
It is MY opinion that David WAS a super pastor, and it is my opinion that he IS a super pastor.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews