First trans-identified member of Congress claims to be a Presbyterian elder, ordained by Universal Life Church

Michie · Apr 22, 2026

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., who was born Tim and became the first trans-identifying member of Congress last year, said in a recent interview that he is an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, which offers ordinations by mail.

At the end of an interview last week with "Amanda's Mild Takes," McBride revealed his ordination after reflecting on the "rarefied air" of the U.S. House of Representatives. He expressed hope that Congress can continue to deliver progress as previous generations did on important issues.

When asked if he had ever considered a second vocation as a preacher, McBride laughed, saying, "I am an ordained elder in the Presbyterian church."

"I'm also ordained in the Universal Life Church, so I can do weddings for both of those reasons. But I also can perform communion," McBride stated.

"That probably makes some right-wingers' heads explode."

Continued below.

First trans-identified member of Congress claims to be a Presbyterian elder, ordained by Universal Life Church

Rep Sarah McBride, D-Del , who was born Tim and became the first transgender-identifying member of Congress last year, revealed in a recent interview that he is an elder in the Presbyterian Church U

www.christianpost.com

PloverWing · Apr 22, 2026

The headline, "claims to be a Presbyterian elder", is odd. Is there any reason to believe that Representative McBride is not a Presbyterian elder?

Michie · Apr 22, 2026

I did not read anything indicating people disbelieved it.

2PhiloVoid · Apr 22, 2026

Michie said:
Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., who was born Tim and became the first trans-identifying member of Congress last year, said in a recent interview that he is an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, which offers ordinations by mail.

At the end of an interview last week with "Amanda's Mild Takes," McBride revealed his ordination after reflecting on the "rarefied air" of the U.S. House of Representatives. He expressed hope that Congress can continue to deliver progress as previous generations did on important issues.

When asked if he had ever considered a second vocation as a preacher, McBride laughed, saying, "I am an ordained elder in the Presbyterian church."

"I'm also ordained in the Universal Life Church, so I can do weddings for both of those reasons. But I also can perform communion," McBride stated.

"That probably makes some right-wingers' heads explode."

Continued below.

First trans-identified member of Congress claims to be a Presbyterian elder, ordained by Universal Life Church

Rep Sarah McBride, D-Del , who was born Tim and became the first transgender-identifying member of Congress last year, revealed in a recent interview that he is an elder in the Presbyterian Church U

www.christianpost.com

I'm not surprised. It is the Presbyterian Church (USA) that Mcbride belongs to, which is the liberal branch, rather than that of the Presbyterian Church (PCA), which is the conservative branch.

Like most denominations lately, they've had various splits between conservative groups and liberal groups.

Chaplain Jim · Apr 22, 2026

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness."

RileyG · Apr 22, 2026

PloverWing said:
The headline, "claims to be a Presbyterian elder", is odd. Is there any reason to believe that Representative McBride is not a Presbyterian elder?

McBride is.

Chaplain Jim · Apr 22, 2026

RileyG said:
McBride is.

True that.

RileyG · Apr 22, 2026

2PhiloVoid said:
I'm not surprised. It is the Presbyterian Church (USA) that Mcbride belongs to, which is the liberal branch, rather than that of the Presbyterian Church (PCA), which is the conservative branch.

Like most denominations lately, they've had various splits between conservative groups and liberal groups.

I think the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is the most conservative branch there is here in the United States.

RileyG · Apr 22, 2026

Chaplain Jim said:
True that.

Interesting enough, McBride was married to their spouse by the gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson. 4 days after the wedding, Andy Cray, McBride's spouse, died from oral cancer.

PloverWing · Apr 22, 2026

RileyG said:
McBride is.

Then perhaps a better headline would be "First trans-identified member of Congress is a Presbyterian elder".

Chaplain Jim · Apr 22, 2026

RileyG said:
Interesting enough, McBride was married to their spouse by the gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson. 4 days after the wedding, Andy Cray, McBride's spouse, died from oral cancer.

Interesting.

Ellesmere · Apr 22, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT - Mosaic Laws - punish

Leviticus 20:10 (NIV):
10) "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death"

NEW TESTAMENT - John 8:4-11 Matthew 7:1-5
*****************************************************************

John 8: (NIV)
4) said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5) In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6) They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him .....
7) When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there
10)Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11) “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.
***********************************************************************
Jesus is providing us with a message whereby mercy and forgiveness have been elevated to replace the austere Mosaic Laws of the Old Testament!

Jesus could have thrown the first stone because only he is without sin - but instead he chose not to implement the Mosaic laws and neither punished nor condemned her, encouraging

Jesus' words and deeds stand in marked contrast to the scribes and Pharisees were not without sin, failed to show compassion and were quite prepared to condemn her to be stoned to death!

Fast forward to the 21st C where little has changed - many Christians are quick to scan the Bible for verses that support the condemnation homosexuals lesbian and transsexuals, as if one'kl
s sexual orientation is a conscious choice!

To my knowledge, God has not delegated the authority for us to pass judgement on others, including their sexual orientation!

According to Matthew 7:1-5 passing judgement on others comes full circle whereby we are actually passing judgement on ourselves!

it could also be argued that the hypocritical act of judging others (brothers), should it prevent them from seeking salvation, may actually constitute a far greater sin (the plank) than whatever the offense (the speck), real or imagined, that's being condemned!

Matthew 7:1-5
*************************************************************************1) “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4) How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Lukaris · Apr 22, 2026

The Sermon on the Mount clearly changes how people are to be treated from the time of Moses. Indeed it is good to read Leviticus 18, 19, & 20 & then the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6, & 7. We also need to read (for ex.) Matthew 15:1-20 in which the Lord warns us of the same basic sins that are detailed in the Law of Moses.

St. Paul is consistent with the understanding of the law & the Sermon on the Mount in Romans 1 ( especially Romans 1:18-32). The consistency of the Lord’s commandments are seen in Matthew 19:16-19 within the larger parable in Matthew 19:16-30. Romans 13:8-10 shows the consistent commandments of the Lord from the overall of Romans 13:1-14.

FireDragon76 · Apr 23, 2026

As usual, Christian Post never rises above peddling contempt in the name of curating outrage. Truly, they have earned their reward.

hedrick · Apr 23, 2026

RileyG said:
McBride is.

Note that most long-time active members eventually end up being ordained as Elder. The ordination is permanent, although serving actively on the Session (the ruling body of a local church) has a 3 or 6 year term.

RileyG · Apr 23, 2026

hedrick said:
Note that most long-time active members eventually end up being ordained as Elder. The ordination is permanent, although serving actively on the Session (the ruling body of a local church) has a 3 or 6 year term.

Interesting! They can do communion by themselves? Marry other couples?

FireDragon76 · Apr 23, 2026

RileyG said:
Interesting! They can do communion by themselves? Marry other couples?

Reformed, unlike Lutheran or Catholic theology, doesn't recognize sacraments as licit or even necessarily efficacious outside the covenantal community. There are no private baptisms or private masses in the Reformed tradition.

The Universal Life Church is a separate religious group that's more of an internet phenomenon than a traditional religious group - they provide "ordination" and some basic resources but they mostly exist as an internet phenomenon for self-styled religious entrepreneurs. Maybe it's personally meaningful for Congresswoman McBride, but by the groups own admission, their ordination doesn't confer the status of being clergy or having any special privileges or duties within a religious community.

PloverWing · Apr 23, 2026

FireDragon76 said:
The Universal Life Church is a separate religious group that's more of an internet phenomenon than a traditional religious group - they provide "ordination" and some basic resources but they mostly exist as an internet phenomenon for self-styled religious entrepreneurs. Maybe it's personally meaningful for Congresswoman McBride, but by the groups own admission, their ordination doesn't confer the status of being clergy or having any special privileges or duties within a religious community.

I know one or two people who are "ordained" in the Universal Life Church, and their "ordination" is so that they could preside at the wedding of a friend or family member. From the article, it sounds like that's the case with Representative McBride as well.

Vermont, where my daughter got married, has the sensible policy that you don't need a clergy member (or judge) to preside at the wedding. As long as the paperwork is properly filled out and signed, they don't care who presides. I like that policy; it avoids the need to go through fake ordination if you want to have Grandma or Uncle Bob preside at the wedding.

RileyG · Apr 24, 2026

FireDragon76 said:
Reformed, unlike Lutheran or Catholic theology, doesn't recognize sacraments as licit or even necessarily efficacious outside the covenantal community. There are no private baptisms or private masses in the Reformed tradition.

The Universal Life Church is a separate religious group that's more of an internet phenomenon than a traditional religious group - they provide "ordination" and some basic resources but they mostly exist as an internet phenomenon for self-styled religious entrepreneurs. Maybe it's personally meaningful for Congresswoman McBride, but by the groups own admission, their ordination doesn't confer the status of being clergy or having any special privileges or duties within a religious community.

Baptisms in the Reformed and Presbyterian denominations are always public?

I’m actually “ordained” by the ULC. I think it’s hilarious because it took me less than 3 minutes.

RileyG · Apr 24, 2026

PloverWing said:
I know one or two people who are "ordained" in the Universal Life Church, and their "ordination" is so that they could preside at the wedding of a friend or family member. From the article, it sounds like that's the case with Representative McBride as well.

Vermont, where my daughter got married, has the sensible policy that you don't need a clergy member (or judge) to preside at the wedding. As long as the paperwork is properly filled out and signed, they don't care who presides. I like that policy; it avoids the need to go through fake ordination if you want to have Grandma or Uncle Bob preside at the wedding.

Someone once commented on Reddit they had their cat get “ordained” by ULC, and still get emails every year congratulating her on her ordination. LOL

First trans-identified member of Congress claims to be a Presbyterian elder, ordained by Universal Life Church

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