Church of England bishops reject proposal for service celebrating gender transition

The Church of England bishops blocked a proposal to create a new service to celebrate an individual's gender transition and suggested that the occasion should be marked instead with the existing baptism rite.

According to Premier, Rev. Christopher Newlands from the Diocese of Blackburn had introduced a motion that aims to create specific gender transition church services. He contended that the motion was "a wonderful opportunity to create a liturgy which speaks powerfully to the particularities of trans people, and make a significant contribution to their well-being and support."

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, was one of the senior church officials who tried to convince members of the General Synod to vote for a motion asking the bishops to consider new liturgies designed specifically to welcome transgender individuals under their new name.

The idea, however, was rejected by the House of Bishops during a private meeting at Lambeth Palace last month, arguing that current liturgy used when someone decides to affirm their baptism could be adapted to mark a person's gender transition.

The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, explained that while the Church welcomed transgender individuals, clergy could simply adapt services used to affirm baptism or write unofficial versions. "Clergy always have the discretion to compose and say prayers with people as they see fit," he said.

One senior member of the Synod lamented the decision saying: "I am surprised that they have decided that new liturgies weren't necessary given the force of the arguments and the feeling of Synod. You need to be able to respond to people's life events. We do with birth and marriage and death. When you claim a new identity, that seems to me to be as powerful."

The Rev. Christina Beardsley, a transgender woman and a chaplain who attended the Synod debate, also expressed disappointment with the decision, saying many Christians will be hurt by the decision. She said that the rejection of the motion showed that the bishops "don't seem to be engaging with transgender people."

She further noted that the transgender group, the Sibyls, have prepared prayers that can be used in transgender services including a version of the Lord's prayer that begins, "Heavenly Father, heavenly Mother, Holy and blessed is your true name."

Beardsley also expressed concern about a fringe event that will he held at the Synod next month organized by conservative campaigners who say that people should accept their God-given genders.

Last July, the Synod officially approved a motion that welcomed and affirmed transgender people to the church.

Premier noted that the Church is also developing a new guidance on how the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith service will be used to mark a transgender people's transition.

The bishops are also reportedly working on a new "teaching document" aimed at resolving the long-standing debate on same-sex marriage, but it will not be ready before 2020.