New Guidelines

These new guidelines come from the Church of England, they are getting on the trans bandwagon.

Church of England issues transgender advice for clergy
Guidance encourages use of chosen names but does not offer transition blessing
The Guardian
By Matthew Weaver
11 Dec 2018

The Church of England has published advice on how to welcome transgender people into the Anglican faith.

The pastoral guidance stops short of offering a new service or a specific blessing but it does advise Anglican clergy to address transgender people by their chosen name. It notes: “For a trans person to be addressed liturgically by the minister for the first time by their chosen name may be a powerful moment in the service.”

The document was approved by the House of Bishops on Monday night and will now be adopted into the church’s common worship. It encouraged clergy to be “creative and sensitive” in enabling people to mark a gender transition in “celebratory” way.

It details how elements including water and oil can be incorporated into the service. As part of the service they could also be presented with gifts, such as a Bible inscribed in their chosen name, or a certificate.
[…]
Traditionalists in the church are understood to have blocked plans for a change in the liturgy and the adoption of a new blessing for transgender people. The guidance stresses that the church teaches that the sacrament of baptism can be undertaken only once.

As a compromise, it explains how existing liturgy can be adapted to affirm those who have changed their gender. The existing right for the affirmation of baptism should be used to mark a change in gender. 

It does “welcomes and encourages the unconditional affirmation of trans people…” the vote was,

It voted by 284 to 78 in favour of bishops considering whether special liturgies “might be prepared to mark a person’s gender transition”. However, that idea was blocked by traditionalists in the church who believe gender is assigned by God and cannot be changed. The guidance does advise how churches can help transgender people mark their transition.

Some might say it doesn’t go far enough but I think that it is a good start considering not too long ago that they didn’t even recognize us and that many other religions demonize us.