Bishops display an appalling lack of leadership in affirming transgenderism

Jan 26, 2018 by

from Christian Concern:

Earlier this week, the House of Bishops announced that they would not prepare liturgy to mark a person’s ‘gender transition’ for the Church of England. The bishops claimed that an existing service could be adapted to serve this purpose and announced that they would prepare guidance on how to do so.

The bishops have since released an update on ‘Welcoming Transgender People’. Far from kicking the issue into the long grass, the statement makes it clearer than ever that the Church of England has fully capitulated to the transgender ideology sweeping through our society.

The bishops emphasise point 3 of their statement by putting the following statement in bold:

“The House of Bishops welcomes and encourages the unconditional affirmation of trans people, equally with all people, within the Church, the body of Christ, and rejoices in the diversity of that one body, into which all Christians have been baptized by one Spirit.”

Previous statements on sexuality and transgenderism have been notable for their lack of clarity – able, at a push, to be interpreted and hidden behind by all sides of the Church. But in this case, the bishops have made their position abundantly clear – that trans people, in their view, should be treated as belonging to their self-declared gender and not according to their biological sex at birth.

It is frankly staggering to read that pro-LGBT activists in the Church are disappointed by the bishops’ position.

I cannot imagine how much more clearly the bishops could have communicated that the Church is entirely at ease with uncritically accepting someone’s self-declared gender. Let me address the wording in more detail:

“The House of Bishops welcomes and encourages the unconditional affirmation of trans people”

Affirmation of what about trans people? The bishops aren’t explicit on the point. Are they encouraging the affirmation of trans people as human beings, with inherent dignity? No one is denying that, and if that were the only point under debate, there would be no need for controversy and division. But that is not all they are saying.

Read here

Read from the opposing view Church has ‘shot itself in the foot’ over trans liturgy by Harry Farley, Christian Today

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