The Church of England Stands up Against Transgender Bullying

Transgender Universe

The new guidance report titled “ Valuing All God’s Children” directs the church’s schools to combat all forms of bullying by stating “Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, alongside all forms of bullying, is a factor that can inhibit a pupil’s ability to feel safe as well as their foundation for learning. Church of England schools must therefore implement measures to combat it.”

“WE MUST AVOID, AT ALL COSTS, DIMINISHING THE DIGNITY OF ANY INDIVIDUAL TO A STEREOTYPE OR A PROBLEM."

It is estimated that the church currently educates over one million students.

In a forward written by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, he states, “We must avoid, at all costs, diminishing the dignity of any individual to a stereotype or a problem."

Conservative activists are condemning the new guidance. An evangelical member of the Church of England’s parliament, Andrea Minichiello Williams told the Daily Mail, ‘‘These rules are unkind, unloving and lacking in compassion. We are all against bullying, but the Church is using these guidelines to pursue an agenda that runs counter to the Church’s teaching.” This comes as conservative media outlets are reporting the guidance as if the Archbishop were advising schools to force male identified children to wear tiaras. This includes headlines from the Daily Mail itself, which read “Chruch: Let little boys wear tiaras.”

Here is the actual statement from the guidance:

“In the early years context and throughout primary school, play should be a hallmark of creative exploration. Pupils need to be able to play with the many cloaks of identity (sometimes quite literally with the dressing up box). Children should be at liberty to explore the possibilities of who they might be without judgement or derision. For example, a child may choose the tutu, princess’s tiara and heels and/or the firefighter’s helmet, tool belt and superhero cloak without expectation or comment. Childhood has a sacred space for creative self-imagining.”

The guidelines come just days after Oxford Teacher Joshua Sutcliffe was suspended for misgendering a transgender male student in his class. Calling the incident a “slipup,” Sutcliffe went on to state that he was reluctant to correctly gender the pupil as it went against his “Christian beliefs.” He also stated, "Although I did not intentionally refer to the pupil as a 'girl', I do not believe it is unreasonable to call someone a girl if they were born a girl." Sutcliffe is being represented by the same Andrea Minichiello Williams who has lashed out against the new guidance.

LGBT rights activists are praising the new changes. Human Rights Campaigner Peter Tatchell told the Guardian that the guidance was “big progress for a church that traditionally and historically has been hostile to LGBT rights”.

Comments (1)

No. 1-1

Mikaela

Nov 14, 2017

"In a forward written by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, he states, “We must avoid, at all costs, diminishing the dignity of any individual to a stereotype or a problem."

“Conservative activists are condemning the new guidance."

WOW, So Conservatives DO support hate, bullying is hate, you CAN NOT hate and call it love while being creditable. Conservatives appear UNWILLING (not unable) to respect the biblical interpretations of OTHERS that runs counter to theirs.

“‘‘These rules are unkind, unloving and lacking in compassion. We are all against bullying, but the Church is using these guidelines to pursue an agenda that runs counter to the Church’s teaching.””

There is nothing in the bible that condemns transition, there is nothing in the bible that says God will not allow the birth defect of transgenderism to occur, and since when does Christianity harm God’s children whether or not the church leaders/Conservatives believe these people are sick, living in sin, whether or not this so-called sin is by choice or illness, verses showing the love and kindness of Jesus Christ - the church (any church/ pro lgbt or not) will catch more bees with love than they with the hate and intolerance found in Conservatism.

www church of England org
09 July 2017
The General Synod of the Church of England has passed a motion on welcoming transgender people.

Members of Synod, meeting in York, supported a call for the House of Bishops to consider preparing nationally commended liturgical materials to mark a person's gender transition.

The motion also recognises the "need for transgender people to be welcomed and affirmed in their parish church".

It was moved by the Revd Christopher Newlands on behalf of the Blackburn Diocesan Synod.

Opening the debate, he said: "I hope that we can make a powerful statement to say that we believe that trans people are cherished and loved by God, who created them, and is present through all the twists and turns of their lives."

Speaking during the debate the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge said: "Our response needs to be loving and open and welcoming and the passing of this motion would be a very important factor in that."