Church of England considering transgender re-naming services
by Harry Farley, Christian Today:
The Church of England is examining ways to mark gender transition with the prospect of special services being considered.
The CofE’s ruling General Synod will, for the first time, debate how to welcome transgender people at its meeting in July.
Signalling an openness to the idea of new liturgy to mark gender transition, a note sent to synod members from the Church’s top civil servant, William Nye, said there was, ‘no legal or doctrinal difficulty about a baptised transgendered person re-affirming their baptismal vows’ using a different name.
It added no one could be baptised twice, meaning the option of re-baptismal services for people who had transitioned gender was not possible.
Nye said the Church already had services for people who had been through a ‘significant personal transition of one kind or another’ which could be used to mark gender change. Yet a motion will be voted on in July to introduce new church services, specifically for transgender people.
Chris Newlands, a vicar in the Blackburn Diocese who is introducing the debate told Christian Today services for gender transitions would ‘make a huge difference’ to welcoming trans people.
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