"There's something ugly in the air." U.S. Mennonite pastor wants to leave for Canada to protect trans child

It’s not only American university professors, scientists, researchers, doctors and nurses who are contemplating moving to Canada because of the political situation in the United States. Clergy are, too. 

That includes “James” (not his real name), a Mennonite pastor in the eastern U.S. 

James is one of a number of American pastors reaching out to Canadian denominations, asking about job openings in Canada. To date, over 50 clergy have reached out to progressive groups like the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the United Church of Canada.  

James and his wife have two children—one at college and the other in high school and still at home. They are not thinking about leaving because of their church; that is a positive experience.

“There’s a richness about the church, with the members living out their faith,” he said. “Members are supportive, encouraging, generous and kind.”

For James, it’s because of his youngest child who is trans. 

“I keep thinking about what the world looks like for my child with this new administration,” he said. “All those anti-trans messages. There’s something ugly in the air. People at the highest level of leadership in this country are saying such cruel and dismissive things about people like my child.”

The state the family lives in has good laws to protect LGBTQ+ and trans people. But that could change, he said, adding the way some people in the Trump administration speak about trans people might allow others to say and do awful things to people like his child.

And that is his main concern. “I want they to have a flourishing future,” he said, adding “they don’t feel safe in the U.S. It sounds like Canada would be a better place.”

Since Canadian immigration law has a provision to enable religious workers to more easily immigrate to that country, this makes a move easier for James, who is in conversation with Mennonite Church Canada leaders, including Michael Pahl, executive minister for Mennonite Church Manitoba.

“Since Donald Trump's election last November, we have seen an increase in interest from pastors in the U.S. looking to move to Manitoba,” Pahl said.

For Jeff Friesen, who directs leadership ministries for MC Manitoba, calls from people like James and others indicate some clergy in the U.S. reacting to the political and cultural shift in that country.

“Since January, we have had conversations with American Mennonite church leaders who have pretty consistently shared with us their anxiety about what is happening in the U.S.,” he said.

As for James, right now the family has not made firm plans to leave.

“We ask ourselves if it is worth it to uproot and go,” he said. But then he thinks of how fraught things feel for his child and how unsafe they feel. “Then we know we should go,” he said.