Life-changing support: National church affirms dignity of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people
United Reformed Church logo including rainbow fish design to reflect its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for everyone.
“This will provide life-changing support.”
THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (URC) has voted in support of a resolution to recognise the inherent worth of people with diverse gender identities, at the annual meeting of its governing body this month.
Two of the three ministers who brought the proposal to the URC General Assembly support local Open Table communities.
It was presented on behalf of the URC’s Equalities Committee by Revd Jo Clare-Young, one of the team which supports the Open Table Cambridge community, who explained:
‘We felt it was necessary given the current climate of increasing hostility toward trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. We needed to affirm their right to dignity and respect in the life of the church and in wider society. There is a responsibility for the church as a whole to learn more about their lived realities, to offer care and to speak out against the threats of hatred and violence experienced by transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people.’
In her address to General Assembly, Jo said:
‘I am sure members of Assembly already know that they will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love, that they will never meet someone who is not made in the image of Christ. Sometimes though it is needful to remind ourselves and society that a certain group of human beings are just that human - deserving of the love and dignity that we are called to show one another, and that is what this resolution seeks to do.’
In response, one representative shared:
‘This is just like racism, we need to be careful about our language, that doesn’t condemn people. This will provide life changing support.’
A minister shared that they had a friend who was at the time transitioning who also babysat her children. They helped them to grow with a healthy attitude to gender:
‘My daughter has an attitude to gender that blows my mind.’
Another shared that their welcome into the URC was ‘vibrant, loving and embracing’:
‘Even though we’re theologically different, my Moderator and I respect one another. Please remember that we’re all human beings created by God and already in the church, that we love you, and like to think that you love us back.’
Revd Jayne Taylor, another member of the URC Equality Committee who supported the proposal, is also minister of the church which hosts the Open Table Exeter community. Jayne said:
‘When we put together the resolution we had no idea how well it would be received, especially given the current climate, yet in the end it was passed with an overwhelming majority. When I addressed the Assembly I asked those assembled how many of them knew someone who is trans. Well over half raised their hands, which I think was a surprise to all of us!’
Read the resolution here.
The United Reformed Church is one of five national churches in the UK with which the Open Table Network works. Currently 6 of the 35 communities in the network are hosted by URC congregations.
In March 2023, the Open Table Network received a grant of £50,000 over three years from the URC Legacy Fund. One of the aims of the grant is for OTN to enable the development of at least one new Open Table community in each of the 13 URC Synods (or regions) in which the URC is present across Britain.
