CHARLES CITY, Iowa - When Michael Usher became Renee Usher 10 years ago, she and her spouse of 40 years, Mayetta Usher, worked through what it meant to continue their marriage. They agreed to remain a couple, but the relationship with their faith community proved more difficult.
When local Disciples recently learned of the challenges the couple faced with another congregation in town, Bob Durrwachter, the trustee chair at First Christian Church, Charles City, picked up the phone. He called to ask the couple if they would like to attend the congregation’s Sunday worship and an adult Bible study group that evening.
The couple showed up for worship, then they entered enthusiastically into the Bible study’s discussion of Romans 14, which counsels against judging one another.
Theological issues were one thing, practicalities another. Renee, 61, who underwent a legal name and gender change 10 years ago, has not had surgery. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Renee, 61, said the Veterans Administration hospital in Iowa City decided not to approve the procedure because it was "experimental and risky."
Renee had one question for the women at the Bible study: would they mind if Renee used the women's restroom? The issue has been a sore spot at other public places.
"Not a problem," Renee was told.
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