They rejected the idea, concluding that liturgy currently used when someone decides to affirm their baptism could be adapted to mark a transgender person’s change.
The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Rev Graham James said: “The Church of England welcomes transgender people and wholeheartedly wishes for them to be included in the life of the Church.
“On the matter of whether a new service is needed, the House of Bishops has decided that the current service that is used to affirm baptism can be adapted.”
A motion supporting specific gender transition church services was tabled by Rev Christopher Newlands from the Diocese of Blackburn.
How clergy respond to transgenderism has been under scrutiny since the Church of England’s governing body passed a motion on “‘welcoming transgender people”.
The motion, backed by General Synod during a summit in York last July, recognised the “need for transgender people to be welcomed and affirmed in their parish church”.
New guidance on how the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith service will be used to mark a transgender person’s transition is under development.
Bishop Graham added: “Clergy always have the discretion to compose and say prayers with people as they see fit.”
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