The Church of England’s governing body has just passed a motion on welcoming transgender people with special liturgical services to mark their transition.
The motion posed to the church's General Synod called for the transgender community to be “welcomed and affirmed in their parish church” and for bishops to consider “preparing nationally commended liturgical materials to mark a person's gender transition”.
Chris Newlands—the vicar of Lancaster Priory church— proposed the motion as a way of combatting transphobia.
“I hope that we can make a powerful statement to say that we believe that trans people are cherished and loved by God, who created them, and is present through all the twists and turns of their lives,” .
Speaking during the debate the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge said: "Our response needs to be loving and open and welcoming and the passing of this motion would be a very important factor in that."
The Synod voted overwhelming in favour of the motion—by 284 votes to 76.
Newland said after the meeting that he was “euphoric and exhausted”.
"I did think there were some comments which reflect some of the extreme views which we would wish to counter.
"I'm getting so many messages from trans friends around the world. Synod has changed - we have turned a corner," he .
The Church calls for an end to gay conversion therapy
The General Synod—who have been meeting this week in York—also backed calling for a ban on “unethical” gay conversion therapy.
The motion was moved by lay person Jayne Ozanne who said the practice was “harmful, dangerous and just doesn't work”.
“People may be able to alter their behaviour but they can never alter their innate desire,” she said.
"This debate is actually quite simple. Do we trust our medical health professions and academics (including many sincere godly Christians) to know what they are talking about?
"Should we listen to the voices of those we and others have unwittingly harmed? Should we learn from our mistakes, and seek to protect future generations from the sort of damage that was done to me and so many others?" Ozanne asked.
The Bishop of Liverpool said: "As the world listens to us the world needs to hear us say that LGBTI+ orientation and identity is not a crime.
"LGBTI+ orientation and identity is not a sickness. And LGBTI+ orientation and identity is not a sin."
