Mx. Chris Paige
Co-founder
Transfaith board member 2007-2017
Serving as Operations Director
Chris Paige is an OtherWise-identified organizer, educator and author, who was founding executive director of the Transfaith, but now serves as operations director. Chris brings a long history of working with national religious leaders around issues of justice and social transformation, as well as an eclectic and multi-faceted personal background to Transfaith.
Some key accomplishments include:
Founding Transfaith Online in 1999 -- for years, Transfaith has been one of the best-known and most-used internet resources on transgender spirituality. The interactivity of the Transfaith Network was launched in 2009.
From 1999 to 2003, Chris served as publisher of The Other Side, and helped shape the magazine's May-June 2001 issue on transgender concerns. Their “OtherWise” article from that ground-breaking issue is cited in key works like Pat Conover’s Transgender Good News and Justin Tanis’s Transgendered: Ministry, Theology, and Communities of Faith (2003).
Developing a multi-faith spirituality track of programming at the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference (now called Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference) beginning with the 2009 event. Chris served as the 2010 Activities Chair and 2011 Conference Chair. PTWC remains the largest transgender-specific conference in the world.
Founding co-convener of the UCC GenderFold Action Alliance, as well as co-founder of Trans Still Speaking in the United Church of Christ.
Serving as a founding member of the TransSaints ministry of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Received a 2010 Achievement Award from FTM International.
Awarded a 2011 "patron of humanity" medal by Philadelphia Metropolitan Community Church, during their 40th Anniversary celebration
Selected as an inaugural Arcus LGBT Leadership Initiative (ALLI) Fellow in 2013
Recognized as a part of the 2014 edition of the Trans 100
Profiled in the LGBT Religious Archives Network gallery
Earned a Bachelor's degree with a triple major (Math, Computer Science, and Religion) from Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary Washington) in Fredericksburg, VA
Additional influences include:
Baptized in a Christian Reformed Church in Lansing, Michigan, in 1971, Chris was confirmed in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Chris was ordained an elder at Tabernacle United Church (PCUSA and UCC) in West Philadelphia, PA, but is now a member and treasurer at Living Water United Church of Christ in Philadephia, PA. Chris became involved in United Methodist networks during their marriage.
Chris was on the staff of the award-winning progressive, ecumenical Christian magazine, The Other Side, from 1994 to 2003. During this formative period, Chris was immersed in dynamic conversations with progressive evangelical perspectives, Quaker testimonies, the witness of Catholic Workers, and influences from the Mennonite and Brethren traditions.
While frequently immersed in Christian community, Chris identifies as both an Animist and a Witness to the Resurrection. They have been deeply influenced by multi-faith organizing, relationships with indigenous leaders, as well as practices in Aikido and Tai Chi Chih.
Chris is grateful for anti-racist mentoring through the Doing Our Own Work seminars led by the Rev. Dr. Melanie Morrison and is an advocate for culturally competent, trauma-sensitive community engagement. Life as a foster and adoptive parent has only deepened and expanded that commitment.
Blessed by a supportive family, through birth and adoption. Chris co-parents a delightful and brilliant teenager.
More about Transfaith
