Statement from Bishop Andy Lines following the Church of England’s guidance on liturgies to celebrate gender transition
from GAFCON:
Yesterday, I met with leaders of AMiE (Anglican Mission in England) and Gafcon UK to discuss plans for future growth and global partnership. We gave thanks to God for the joy that is found in the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ in our unstable times.
Our meeting was timely in the light of the “Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition,” issued by the House of Bishops of the Church of England. The sacrament of baptism is designed to signify the new identity that is given to us in union with Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection, so we were dismayed that this guidance commends using the same service to “recognise liturgically a person’s gender transition.”
In doing this, the House of Bishops has denied the teaching of Jesus Christ, not least by rejecting his words, “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,” (Matt 19: 4) in favour of celebrating a self-created identity. The baptismal liturgy should never be used in a way which invites confusion between the glorious salvation found in Jesus Christ and humanly devised rites of passage. It is because our hearts go out to all those who struggle with their gender identity that we cannot commend this false gospel or walk with those who promote it.
Further Comment from AMiE and Gafcon UK:
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