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| Church of England votes to explore transgender services | Church of England votes to explore transgender services |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Church of England's governing body has voted to look into special services for transgender people. | The Church of England's governing body has voted to look into special services for transgender people. |
| Supporters of the services said the Church should offer a welcome to people to mark their transition. | Supporters of the services said the Church should offer a welcome to people to mark their transition. |
| Others have suggested the services would be counter to some parts of the Bible which state that humans are created as either male or female. | Others have suggested the services would be counter to some parts of the Bible which state that humans are created as either male or female. |
| The Church's four-day general synod meeting in York started on Friday. | The Church's four-day general synod meeting in York started on Friday. |
| The motion recognised the need for transgender people to be "welcomed and affirmed" in their parish church. | |
| Chris Newlands, vicar of Lancaster Priory church, posed the motion as a way of the church welcoming people who suffer from transphobia across society. | Chris Newlands, vicar of Lancaster Priory church, posed the motion as a way of the church welcoming people who suffer from transphobia across society. |
| The clergymen said he would speak on behalf of the transgender community, as there were no transgender people in the synod. | The clergymen said he would speak on behalf of the transgender community, as there were no transgender people in the synod. |
| He said: "We need to be aware of the impact that our actions - be them welcome or rejection - have on the members of the trans community. | He said: "We need to be aware of the impact that our actions - be them welcome or rejection - have on the members of the trans community. |
| "I hope that we can make a powerful statement that we believe trans people are cherished and loved by God, who created them." | "I hope that we can make a powerful statement that we believe trans people are cherished and loved by God, who created them." |
| Such a service would not be a second baptism, however, as the Church's teaching is that humans are made in the image of God - transcending gender - and baptism takes place only once. | Such a service would not be a second baptism, however, as the Church's teaching is that humans are made in the image of God - transcending gender - and baptism takes place only once. |
| The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said that "theology has to be done" by the House of Bishops, but "it can be done very quickly". | The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said that "theology has to be done" by the House of Bishops, but "it can be done very quickly". |
| An amendment to the motion asking bishops to consider the theological, pastoral and other issues around gender transition, was rejected. | An amendment to the motion asking bishops to consider the theological, pastoral and other issues around gender transition, was rejected. |
| 'Not a sin' | 'Not a sin' |
| On Saturday, the general synod backed a motion calling for a ban on so-called conversion therapy for LGBT Christians. | On Saturday, the general synod backed a motion calling for a ban on so-called conversion therapy for LGBT Christians. |
| Dr Sentamu added: "As the world listens to us, the world needs to hear us say that LGBT orientation and identity is not a crime. | Dr Sentamu added: "As the world listens to us, the world needs to hear us say that LGBT orientation and identity is not a crime. |
| "LGBT orientation and identity is not a sickness. And LGBT orientation and identity is not a sin." | "LGBT orientation and identity is not a sickness. And LGBT orientation and identity is not a sin." |
| Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Church would spend three years on a document outlining a new stance on sexuality. | Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Church would spend three years on a document outlining a new stance on sexuality. |
| Current rules ban the marriage of same-sex couples in church. | Current rules ban the marriage of same-sex couples in church. |
| Services of blessing for civil partnerships are also prohibited, but informal prayers are allowed. | Services of blessing for civil partnerships are also prohibited, but informal prayers are allowed. |