BALTIMORE—The United Methodist church’s highest judicial body has ruled that a transgender pastor can keep his congregation in Baltimore’s Charles Village neighborhood.

The Rev. Drew Phoenix, formerly the Rev. Ann Gordon, was reassigned in April to St. John’s United Methodist Church, but local clergy appealed the move.

The Judicial Council issued a ruling Oct. 30 that “a clergyperson’s good standing cannot be terminated without administrative or judicial action having occurred and all fair process being accorded.”

The Methodists’ Book of Discipline prohibits non-celibate gays and lesbians from serving as clergy but makes no comment about transgender people. Neither does the council’s decision address “whether gender change is a chargeable offense or violates minimum standards” of United Methodism.

The Judicial Council “ruled that the Baltimore-Washington Conference is operating within the laws of the church,” Bishop John R. Schol said. “I’m pleased that the conference continues to abide by the discipline.”

Phoenix said he was delighted.

“To me, it’s a historic day in the life of our denomination, and I think the Judicial Council decision is a very important first step in opening the doors of our churches to the transgender community,” he told The (Baltimore) Sun.