Some Responses to Media Coverage

A number of articles have followed a wrong thread in an early AP article which suggested that I was showing up as a woman on SAU's campus in 2005. Other than my long nails and modest make-up, I have not been on SAU's campus as me. At their insistence I have cross-dressed (bearing false witness) and appeared as John.

I was surprised and deeply disappointed in Rev. Ramundo's omniscient declaration (2/13 article in the Jackson Citizen Patriot) on behalf of the entire church concerning my "sin", especially since he knows better. I met with Rev. Ramundo to discuss some earlier false gossip about me that was attributed to him. He apologized and indicated that he was "misquoted". He never called my need to follow the prescribed medical treatment for my medical diagnosis a sin. In fact, he was suprised when I told him that the Free Methodist Book of Discipline (which despite Rev. Ramundo's proclamations is the official voice of the church) talked about gender identity issues. In section A/331.5 it calls gender identity issues an "ethical dilemma: along with such things as "allocation of finite resources, organ transplantation, end-of-life concerns". Nowhere does the Free Methodist Book of Discipline identify my medical diagnosis or treatment as sin. Rev. Ramundo knew all of this, but decided to portray his own prejudice as the teaching of the church. For shame.

I need to correct Spring Arbor University's characterization of me as having escalated the situation. I did file an EEO complaint, but that came after the university suggested that wearing a university T-shirt to the store or golfing with SAU friends could be considered contract violations; an escalation will beyond the already clearly illegal conditions of my contract. To date, the university has still refused to identify the "Biblical principles" I have supposedly violated. I remain in full support of SAU's statement of faith.

Finally, Pastor Leo Cummings' letter to the editor (Jackson Citizen Patriot 2/13) is helpful. A rational, loving dialogue on the Bible and medical science might be helpful. It would have saved the life of Galileo, helped avoid slavery, and saved the lives of many women in Salem. Is our view of the authority of the Bible so fragile that we must react defensively to scientific truths that question our long-held beliefs? I don't think the Bible will be proven wrong, but our beliefs about what the Bible teaches have many times been shown to be in error. Most churches are now willing to acknowledge that the Bible doesn't teach that the earth is flat. Some may still be debating the fact.