Welcoming the Transgender Community: A Panel Discussion

The Rev. Erica Saunders is one of the first openly trans women ordained to ministry in Baptist life. She currently serves as the pastor of Peace Community Church in Oberlin, Ohio. Originally from North Carolina, she holds the Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University and a bachelor’s in French, Spanish, and philosophy from Queens University of Charlotte. Her passions include the study of Christian origins, preaching, and corny puns.

The Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson currently serves as the interim minister of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in New Bedford, MA, a keynote speaker, workshop leader, social justice advocate and the moderator of A Transgender Community for All found at www.revdrdonnie.org.

She is an ordained minister (her credentials are recognized by the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches, USA), educator, counselor, keynote speaker, workshop leader and social activist. She received her Bachelor degree in Business Education from Barrington College in Barrington, RI, a Masters in Religious Studies from Providence College in Providence, RI, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, PA as well as a number of other graduate courses in business and religious studies.

Dr. Anderson lives in Providence, RI. At age 69 she came out of the closet, sharing with her family and the world that she is a transgender woman. Anderson shared, “For years my fantasy was to preach openly in a pink clergy shirt, fully expressing the fact that I am a woman. That fantasy is now my REALITY. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community that has known historic and current exclusion and outright hatred and discrimination by many societal structures – including the church — it is wonderful to simply live out Jesus’ gospel of inclusion on a daily basis, face to face and heart to heart.” Anderson continues, “everyone needs to know that they are loved by God, but many are told that they have to make the false choice between being who they authentically are OR being a person of faith. That choice is not only false, it is in direct contradiction to Biblical teaching and Jesus’ own example of God’s inclusive love for all persons.” Anderson enjoys the opportunity to present conversations on the intersection of transgender and faith. She is also active in social justice issues in the areas of race, poverty and gender.

In Rhode Island, Dr. Anderson serves as the Co-Chair of the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias, a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, Board member of SAGE RI and other community groups.

She is a board member of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and one of the co-convenors of the Jewish/Christian Dialogue sponsored by the National Council of Synagogues and the National Council of Churches. Formerly, Dr. Anderson served as Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC) and the Rhode Island Bible Society.