New Journey Lutheran, The Fountains United Methodist, and ONE Community will sponsor a conversation with transgender individuals and their families at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, at New Journey Lutheran Church.

The event has been a year in the planning stage and was prompted by letters to the editor in The Fountain Hills Times.

Ashton Skinner, transgender and millennial outreach coordinator for ONE Community, will facilitate the program.

“With all the fear-mongering going on (sadly, much of it under the guise of Christian piety), it’s all the more important for us to hear the stories and struggles of our transgender neighbors,” said Rev. David Felten of The Fountains.

New Journey Lutheran’s pastor, Rev. Adele Resmer, added that “Sunday’s discussion will offer the opportunity to get to know transgender people as they tell of their experiences in families, at work, in the church and in the broader community.”

New Journey Lutheran recently received the official designation of a congregation that is “Reconciled in Christ.”

The designation means that the congregation’s public statements and ministry are intentionally open and affirming of all people, including members of the LGBTQ community.

The Fountains also is a “Reconciling Church.” ONE Community is a member-based coalition of socially responsible businesses, organizations, and individuals who support and promote diversity, inclusion, and equality for all Arizonans.

Community members, especially those navigating the complex reality of supporting transgender family members, friends or co-workers, are invited to attend.

New Journey Lutheran is located at 16748 E. Parkview Ave.