Ceremonies should allow transgender people to renew the commitment they made during their baptism service – prior to their gender transition – the guidance released on Tuesday said.
Dr Rev Tina Beardsley, a transgender vicar who was consulted on the document, expressed hope churches would implement the guidance.
Dr Tina told Premier: “I hope that most churches will respond positively.
“Many families are affected nowadays; a family member, a friend or a work colleague has undergone a transition.”
But the formal incorporation of a gender transition service into the Church of England’s official catalogue of services drew dismay from conservative Anglicans.
Susie Leafe from the evangelical group GAFCON told Premier nine bishops on the House of Bishops’ Delegation Committee – which oversaw work to produce the document – had bypassed the Church of England’s governing body.
She explained: “The issue that we’ve got here is the repurposing of baptism liturgy; that is a major decision that the House of Bishops have made without the consultation of Synod and that doesn’t bode well for the future.”
Andrea Williams, a lay member of the Church of England’s General Synod accused the Church of continuing a “devastating trajectory towards an outright denial of God and his word”.
She continued: “There is no need for Christians to…
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