Affirmation for transgender, intersex and gender-diverse people

The Uniting Church Assembly has endorsed a proposal that seeks to affirm, welcome and honour the life and faith of transgender, intersex and gender diverse people in our Church. 

As part of the proposal, 17th Assembly members agreed “to recognise that transgender, gender diverse and intersex people are beloved by God and full members of the Body of Christ in baptism.”

The Assembly resolved to “invite congregations and councils of the Church to welcome and honour transgender, gender diverse, and intersex people, and the gifts and skills they bring to all aspects of the Church’s life, including worship, leadership, and social justice advocacy.”

In presenting the proposal, Rev Radhika Sukumar-White noted this was the first time for a national Assembly meeting to consider a resolution that seeks to support transgender, gender diverse and intersex people and that this proposal would seek to affirm their gifts. 

“As we bring this proposal to the Assembly, we are mindful that for some cultural groups, this topic is very much a taboo and not talked about. But at the same time we are acutely aware that in every cultural group there are transgender and gender diverse people and this proposal is a signal to those marginalised folks that God sees them and loves them and we see them and love them.”

"This proposal is an encouragement to fuller and more active Inclusion."

As part of the decision, the Assembly reaffirmed the recognition by the 11th Assembly in 2006, that “every person is precious and entitled to live with dignity because they are God’s children, and that each person’s life and rights need to be protected or the human community (and its reflection of God) are diminished.” 

Further, the Assembly’s Transforming Worship Circle Panel will be tasked with preparing guidelines for the use of language as well as prayers and liturgies "for use in local churches seeking to welcome and honour the life and faith of transgender, gender diverse, and intersex people”. 

The proposal was brought to the Assembly by the Sydney Presbytery. Resourcing the meeting for the proposal, Rev Dr Josephine Inkpin outlined the significance of this affirmation in the context of unprecedented legal and media focus on transgender and gender-diverse people and the unacceptable levels of distress that they face. 

She noted the significantly higher rates of suicide attempts and suicide ideation amongst young transgender and gender-diverse people.  48.1% of transgender and gender-diverse people between 14-25 reporting having attempted suicide: 15 times greater than the rate among their peers as a whole, and three times that of their gay peers.

"This proposal therefore seeks to signal that the Uniting Church sees and hears transgender and gender diverse people and offers a very different way, based on our core values of love, justice and inclusion."

The Assembly noted with concern the growing number of attacks on transgender, gender diverse and intersex people and resolved to “urge policy-makers and legislators to uphold the human rights and dignity of transgender, gender diverse, and intersex people in policies, procedures and laws.”

In discussing the proposal, members noted the good work already being done by different parts of the Church in supporting transgender, intersex, gender-diverse people, particularly in Uniting Church schools and agencies. 

The decision resolved that “recognising different cultural contexts, (to) affirm and further encourage all Uniting Church affiliated schools, colleges and agencies in their awareness and intentional support for transgender, gender diverse and intersex people.”

Seconding the proposal, Rev Heewon Chang acknowledged there are already transgender and gender-diverse people and their family members who are are active ministry agents, leaders, songwriters and liturgists in the Uniting Church. 

“This proposal is about affirming the gifts of transgender and gender-diverse people and thereby investing in our shared future,” she said. 

"It is proposed so that our Church may enable a kinder conversation than we experience in the wider world, and in some Church spaces. We all know that we have much to learn."

She described the proposal as invitation, and a "step towards deeper understanding of God’s kaleidoscopic love in our extraordinary rich diversity of life together."

A number of 17th Assembly members who identify as transgender and gender-diverse spoke in support of the proposal. 

At the end of the session, one of the President’s chaplains, Rev Kath Merrifield led the Assembly in prayer.