WJC12 Session 3 - Religious and Spiritual Struggles Among Transgender and Gender-nonconforming Adults

Description:

Overview:
As more persons identify as transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC), it is vital for health care chaplains to be aware of some of the unique religious and spiritual (RS) struggles faced by members of this community. This session will highlight findings from a research study that surveyed TGNC adults about their “RS beliefs, experiences with religion, and gender-identity-related factors that make such struggles more likely.” Approximately half of the respondents reported being rejected by religious communities with a majority (58%) leaving traditional monotheistic religions, particularly Christianity. Some respondents chose personal spiritual paths or earth-based religions. Factors contributing to RS struggle in TGNC adults will be emphasized. Chaplains attending this session will have a better understanding of the role of RS in gender identity and the ways chaplains can be instruments of healing for TGNC experiencing RS struggles.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the ways in which religious communities have contributed to spiritual pain and RS struggles in TGNC adults
• To understand the RS struggles related to gender identity experienced by TGNC adults
• For chaplains to gain research literacy by exploring how surveys are a useful instrument for comprehending the RS struggles of TGNC adults

Reading:
Exline, J. J., Przeworski, A., Peterson, E. K., Turnamian, M. R., Stauner, N. & Uzdavines, A., (2021). Religious and spiritual struggles among transgender and gender-nonconforming adults, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13(3), 276–286. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000404

Presenters:
Cate Michelle Desjardins MDiv MPH BCC, is the Executive Director of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship and convener of the Pediatrics Spiritual Care Research Network. She previously served for five years in various roles at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Her research interests include the role of religion in surrogate decision-making and in coping with caregiving for children with complex medical needs. She completed the Transforming Chaplaincy Research Fellowship in 2019.

Rev. Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW is a spiritual care researcher and instructor with Transforming Chaplaincy. She previously served for four years as the Sr. Researcher for Mission Integration for Ascension. She is a qualitative researcher utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology and mixed methods. She has published several articles on spirituality, chaplaincy, and spiritual care during the pandemic. She has presented several workshops and intensives at the annual APC conference, for NACC and the North American Association of Christians in Social Work.

How It Works:
When you purchase this recording, you will receive a link to access the recording. There will also be a link to access in the My Downloads and Links section of your APC profile.