The Reverend Chris Newlands, a vicar of the Church of England, has
proposed that the church adopt a new ceremony to mark gender transitions in a story today from the BBC. He says that he got the idea when a recently transitioned young person approached him and inquired about being "re-baptized" to publicly commemorate such a major event in his life.
The vicar worked with Nick, the young man, to create a short but meaningful ceremony:
Surrounded by friends, the ceremony acknowledged Nick's birth name and honoured the name that his parents had given him, before acknowledging his new name, with prayers and readings.
Similar ceremonies have been performed informally but the vicar would like the church as a whole to create a liturgy which would not only note its official approval but would also serve as a guide for clergy members who are asked to officiate at such events. As Mr. Newlands puts it,
"The reality is that transgender people are a part of our community, and if the Church can help people to make that transition well, they can be full participants in the life of the Church rather than suffering irreparable damage from people who make judgements based on ignorance."
"We have to be explicit that everyone is welcome here - and that we're doing the welcome on God's behalf, and God doesn't reject, so neither should the Church."
The BBC article includes many favorable reactions from parishioners as well as criticism from one representative of the conservative evangelical wing of the Church of England.
Mr. Newlands' proposal will have to be debated by the General Synod, the governing body of the church. The Church of England is part of the worldwide Anglican church, which in the U.S. is known as the Episcopalian denomination.