She's My Dad: A Father’s Transition and a Son’s Redemption

Jonathan S. Williams was three months into pastoring a new evangelical church plant when his father confessed a secret: he was transgender. His father Paul a prominent evangelical pastor soon became Paula and Jonathans life and ministry went into a tailspin. Feeling betrayed by his mentor and confidante and scared that his church would lose funding and support if Paulas secret was exposed Jonathan sunk into depression and alcoholism.Shes My Dad explores Jonathans long and winding journey toward reconciliation forgiveness and acceptance of his father as well as his churchs journey to become one of the few fully LGBTQ-inclusive evangelical churches in America. Jonathan and Paula offer insight and encouragement for those with transgender family members empathizing with the feelings of loss and trauma and understanding that even being LGBTQ-affirming doesnt mean the transition of a family member will be easy. Jonathan writes of his familys continuing evolution the meaning of remaining loyal to ones father even when she is no longer a man the ongoing theological evolution surrounding transgender rights and advocacy in the church and the unflinching self-scrutiny of a pastor who lost his God only to find God again in his fathers transition.