Help Us Tell A New Story
Why it is important to help trans and gender expansive folks TODAY
I know, I know, I owe ya’ll a spill the tea and I promise something is brewing and yes it has to do with bridge building. Lately, however, there have just been too many disturbing things happening. I’m not talking about Trump winning the election or whatever the hot topic currently is at hand. I’m talking about the real life implications that trans and gender expansive folks face today.
So today I want to talk about Transmission Ministry Collective (TMC) a little bit more. What we actually do, and why it’s important to help. As you may or may not know, I am the Director of Operations for TMC. Full transparency, I’m going to ask for money - a lot of money so we can continue doing our work. So if you already know you want to donate, please do so here:
Who is TMC
As the only organization with a national reach specifically by and for transgender people in Christian contexts, TMC has grown significantly since its founding by Austen Hartke in 2020. Today, our community comprises more than 500 gender-expansive folks, primarily in North America, with members representing at least eight other countries. Our vision centers on cultivating the full spectrum of trans flourishing while building toward a world where all are made free. We focus on connecting and empowering trans and gender-expansive people within Christian contexts to explore gender and spirituality, share holistic care, and develop as leaders, while educating and inspiring change in broader faith communities. Our work revolves around four core pillars: community, holistic care, leadership, and education.
What Do We Do?
Our community engagement has flourished throughout 2023, with 182 support groups covering a wide range of needs. We host general support groups twice weekly, alongside specialized groups for Trans People of Color, Nonbinary and Gender-Expansive individuals, Transgenerations (focusing on trans folks in middle and elder stages of life), Trans People in Ministry, and those exploring their gender identity for the first time. Beyond these structured meetings, we maintain a vibrant 24/7 moderated online community on Discord and organize in-person community building opportunities through meetups and storytelling events.
Our commitment to holistic care manifests through our community-administered mutual aid fund and spiritual counseling services provided by qualified professionals contracted with TMC. We're also deeply invested in leadership development, running a dedicated Leadership Cohort program that equips trans and gender-expansive people to confidently step into leadership roles in faith-based contexts.
On the education front, our Church Partnership Program provides comprehensive support and learning opportunities for church leaders and congregations through recorded content, virtual trainings, and in-person talks and events. We maintain an extensive resource library at transmissionministry.com/resources, with dedicated sections for trans folks, family members, and ministry professionals.
Why Is This Important Now?
The urgency of our work has never been more apparent. Trans people face unprecedented challenges, with our newly elected government advancing a specific and violent anti-trans agenda. The scope of anti-trans legislation has reached alarming levels, breaking records for five consecutive years. In 2024 alone, 665 anti-trans bills have been considered in 43 states, with 45 already passed into law.
Those navigating their trans identities within Christian communities face particular vulnerability. Christianity has become one of the primary ethical and rhetorical frameworks used to justify anti-trans violence and bigotry. Many of our members have experienced rejection from religious communities or lost the support of family and friends in choosing to live as their authentic selves. These experiences often lead to financial or housing insecurity, accompanied by a range of physical, mental, and spiritual health challenges. In this critical moment, Christians bear a particular responsibility to stand in vocal and material solidarity with their trans siblings.
How Can You Help
There are many ways you can help. While I'm asking y'all to donate to TMC today, there are other valuable ways to contribute as well.
Donate
The easiest way to contribute to safer faith spaces nationwide and across the globe is to help us expand our reach. Every dollar invested in TMC goes directly toward expanding our reach, capacity, and programs. No amount is too small – a recurring donation of $5/month would make a huge difference, especially if all my subscribers participated.
This month we’re trying to get $12,000 through our End of Year Fundraiser so please consider donating today.
Become a church partner:
I know some of you who read my newsletter are church leaders, pastors, or elders. We've just finished running our beta for an online community of church leaders. This community will feature monthly workshops, classes on becoming a more inclusive church (taught by people who are living it), and a space for church partners to share resources with each other.
While donating and taking classes are important steps, becoming a mentor church takes your support to the next level – especially if you've already implemented safe policies and can guide other congregations.
Our church partnership programs come in several tiers, and the pricing structure will be published in early January. If you already know you'd like to be part of our church partnership program, please reply to this email, and I'll pass your contact information to my team. You'll be the first to know about the pricing tiers.
Spread the word:
If you can't spare money at the moment, we completely understand – ESPECIALLY if you're trans or gender expansive yourself. Whatever your reason, please don't give beyond your means or take away resources from yourself. You have to put your own oxygen mask on first!
However, there are many ways to support our work that don't require money, and that's simply spreading the word. The biggest obstacle in any activism is getting buy-in, and by far the most effective way to achieve this is sharing stories with people around you. Talk with a relative who's on the fence, reconnect with that long-lost friend who's becoming more extreme in their views, or simply share trans and gender expansive stories online.
Follow and engage with us on Instagram (@transmissionministry and @michevanessen). Don't just follow for numbers – engage with our content and share our reels and posts with your community. Your engagement makes a surprising impact, and lack of engagement can actually hurt our online presence, as the algorithm will determine our content isn't engagement-worthy and won't show it to others.
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Show up in your local community, whether it's being present at school board meetings, emailing your local representatives, or getting involved in politics. Our stories need to be shared with and heard by the people making decisions that have real-life impact.