Delaware Representative Makes Surprising Claims About Church Leadership Roles

Faith Facts

• Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., born Tim McBride, claims to hold elder status in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and ordination through the Universal Life Church
• The Universal Life Church offers ordinations by mail without traditional theological training or denominational accountability
• The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has faced ongoing internal division over biblical teachings on sexuality and gender

A Delaware representative has revealed holding positions in two religious organizations, raising questions about ordination standards and theological accountability in American denominations.

Rep. Sarah McBride, who was born Tim McBride and became the first transgender-identifying member of Congress in 2024, disclosed in a recent interview holding the position of elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Additionally, McBride claims ordination as a minister through the Universal Life Church, an organization known for providing ordinations through mail-order processes without requiring traditional theological education or doctrinal examination.

The revelation highlights ongoing tensions within mainline Protestant denominations regarding biblical authority and traditional Christian teaching. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), one of the more theologically progressive mainline denominations, has experienced significant membership decline in recent decades amid disputes over scriptural interpretation and moral standards.

The Universal Life Church, founded in 1959, operates on a philosophy of “do what is right” and offers instant ordinations online to anyone regardless of religious background or beliefs. The organization explicitly states that it has no specific creed or doctrine, standing in stark contrast to historic Christian denominations that require theological training, doctrinal examination, and accountability to church leadership before ordaining ministers.

Traditional Christian denominations typically require elders and ordained ministers to affirm biblical teachings and undergo extensive theological training. The standards for church leadership outlined in Scripture emphasize moral character, sound doctrine, and faithfulness to biblical truth.

Conservative Christians have expressed concern about the erosion of biblical standards in mainline denominations, viewing such developments as departures from historic Christian orthodoxy and biblical authority. Many traditional believers argue that authentic church leadership must be rooted in Scripture and accountable to clearly defined doctrinal standards rather than contemporary cultural pressures.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has lost more than half its membership since the 1980s, with many congregations leaving to join more theologically conservative Presbyterian denominations that maintain traditional biblical positions on marriage, sexuality, and gender.

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