"We Will Know a Tree by its Fruits"

In episode 10, we sit down with community member Zoe Jaspers to talk about the very real intersection in his life between Christian faith and being transgender (someone whose gender is different than the gender they were assumed to be at birth). 

Just as a trans-Atlantic journey crosses the Atlantic Ocean, the trans-gender journey crosses gender (from that assigned at birth). How can we navigate understanding in these waters with grace and curiosity instead of judgment and fear?

With incredible depth and clarity, Zoe tells us the story of how he walked into the Christian faith and how it became the safe and supportive community that allowed him to explore his faithful journey through gender.  

Zoe shows us what it means to be curious, even with fear, and move forward anyway. He shares...

• what it means to have lived as a woman but to never feel at home in his body as such.
• the difference between performing gender norms versus knowing with authenticity who you are.
• how femininity continues to play a role in his life as a man and how he embodies both.
• how he intentionally approached his medical transition and how hormone treatment has brought him clarity and peace of body, mind, and spirit. 

Zoe walks us through multiple pathways to understanding: in terms of Christian scripture and theology, as well as simply through his lived experience. He unpacks concepts around co-creation, resurrection, “knowing a tree by its fruits,” and more.

If there is someone out there who can humbly be in service to connecting the people inside the trans experience and those outside of it--it is Zoe Jaspers.

Please join us friends and neighbors, as we cross this bridge with compassion and understanding —together.

Bio: Zoe Jaspers (he/they) serves as a Christian minister in the Wenatchee Valley, focused especially at the intersection of justice history, contemplative spirituality, and collective liberation. Outside of their work in direct ministry, Zoe loves reading on topics of all sorts (recent topics of note include speleology and mycology), learning various fibercrafts like knitting and embroidery, sipping iced coffee at the farmer’s market, and befriending all cats.

Resources:

1. Sunnyslope Church: https://www.sunnyslopechurch.org/

2. Interfaith Justice Coalition: [email protected]