Trans/Forming Church in The Asia Pacific Region: Narratives of Hospitable Ecclesiology by Philippine and Tongan Transgender Women

Abstract

Transgender Christians in the Asia Pacific often experience conditional acceptance or blatant rejection from their churches and faith communities. Confronting such inhospitality, this article proposes a hospitable ecclesiology or an attitude of doing and becoming church that welcomes all human beings by recognising, listening to, understanding and including their lived complexities. Thus, ‘trans/forming church’ gestures towards an active affirmation and deployment of the lived experiences and insights of transgender people in ecclesiological construction. In theologising the testimonies of Philippine and Tongan trans women, I propose that the project of trans/forming church in order to foster a hospitable ecclesiology for gender-diverse people can draw on their emphases on unconditional inclusion, relying on God and the scriptures for ethical trajectories, and participatory community ministry.

Keywords: ecclesiology, hospitality, Philippines, Tonga, transgender