UK Church now offers transgender baptisms

The New Chapel Unitarian and Free Christian in Denton has become UK's first church to offer baptisms to transgender members. The church confirmed the move at its annual general meeting last week.

Jean Clement, the church's worship leader, said that the motion was made after she met a couple who had a transgender child who she felt was shunned by the mainstream Christian churches. The church then decided to defend the child by allowing every transgender member to be baptized. The elders of the church decided to change history to help people who are in the same situation.

There are about 170 congregations in the Unitarian church community. The church meets in chapels and go house to house across the UK. On its website, they described themselves as open-minded and have a welcoming approach to faith that encourages a person's freedom. They also stated that the church doesn't discriminate on the grounds of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, and gender.

LGBT people have been known for criticizing Christian values, citing that the treatment they get from Christian churches are unlawful and discriminatory. Last month, 105 Anglicans signed a letter calling for the Church of England to repent for its treatment and approach to lesbian and gay people. The letter said that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people have been treated as a "problem to be solved" rather than as "brothers and sisters in Christ" to be embraced and celebrated.

Jean Clements told BBC in an interview that she felt saddened by the fact that this family were being shunned by many Christian churches. But, when the family came to the Unitarian church, the congregation welcomed them with open arms.

Clements also thanked the courageous girl for inspiring her to think carefully about the LGBT issues and how the church should respond. The New Chapel church said that the transgender services would be very similar to an adult baptism.