Plymouth, Minn. ? A 27-year-old pastor who is openly transgendered will begin a two-year appointment as an outreach minister at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis.

The Rev. Malcolm Himschoot is one of only a few openly transgendered clergy in the United States. Plymouth Congregational is an independent liberal church with 1,800 members.

“It speaks to us of the self-insight and courage that he has, but it was not the driver in our decision,” said the Rev. James Gertmenian, Plymouth’s senior minister. “He impressed us with the depth of his own spiritual vision.”

For the past year, Himschoot has been associate pastor at Denver Inner City Parish, where he worked with students, seniors and ex-prisoners.