Justin Welby says Church of England clergy can ‘ignore’ transgender guidance

Jan 24, 2019 by Jill

by Michael Gryboski, Christian Post:

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tried to allay concerns about the Church of England’s rededication guidance for trans-identified members by saying in a recent interview that it’s not “a change of doctrine” and those opposed to it can “ignore it.”

Last year, the Church of England’s House of Bishops released a guidance for churches interested in marking a person’s “gender transition,” rejecting an earlier idea to create a baptism-style service.

In a lengthy interview with Premier’s Justin Brierley that was posted online Sunday, Welby was asked about the transgender baptism controversy.

Welby responded by explaining that the guidance is “not binding,” and noted that “people can take it or leave it. This is not an instruction and there is no change of doctrine.”

He added that the guidance shouldn’t be considered “a new baptism” since “you’re only baptized once,” he said, but a way for people to “affirm their identity in Christ.”

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