South Carolina Presbyterian Church Calls Transgender Pastor

North Anderson Community Church Presbyterian, a small congregation in Anderson, South Carolina, has appointed the Rev. Laura Bethany Buchleiter as its stated supply pastor. The church, which typically sees 20 to 30 attendees for Sunday services, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Buchleiter previously gained national attention in 2021 as the first transgender person ordained by a congregation affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In past interviews, Buchleiter has described his transition as a reflection of God’s creativity and has spoken about his intersex condition. He has also discussed his personal journey regarding gender identity and sexual orientation, noting that his choice of the name 'Bethany' was inspired by the biblical account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, which he views as a parallel to his own transition.