Judging from the email crap that followed my mention of Anthony and the Johnsons and transexuality I am delighted that the ordination of the Church of England's first openly transexual priest Sarah Jones went ahead without protest at Hereford Cathedral.
Praise be for Anthony Priddis Bishop of Hereford (one of the most creative and pastorally gifted of the 'bench') and praise too for the Diocese and title parish who offer such open support for her ministry see here
Those who have opposed it are from the conservative evangelical end of the Church - and predominately on their interpretation of the Bible which is presented as God's understanding of humanity and speaks in terms of fixed catagories of male and female.
I was there...as college friends were being ordained at the same time as Sarah, and it was quite wonderful. One of my mates, who was sharing a Communion station with her, commented that there was an endless tide of S's parishioners coming up, who all said very politely "Would you mind if I received from her!"...
Apparently during the ordination retreat, S was at some pains to place herself vulnerably in the Cathedral cloisters etc so that if there was going to be an uproar, it would only impact on her and not on her fellow Deacons. When the time came, uproar there was, of applause and cries of welcome. It honestly gave me hope for the church :-)
Posted by: Kathryn | 26 September 2005 at 09:07
Tom
Please forgive the anonymous comment, I wanted to ask your permission to do this but couldn't find an email address to contact you.
As a transsexual woman, and an evangelical to boot, I too was delighted to see Sarah's story. I was particularly proud (is that the right word?) to read in Kathryn's comment of the care Sarah had taken to handle the situation.
Just one comment, please don't take Don Horrocks and the Evangelical Alliance as speaking for all Evangelicals. They are a significant and influential body (sadly) and their ignorance on the matter of Transgender was painful to read a few years back. But they do not speak for all Evangelicals, many of whom have walked with me and cared as I battled through the initial decision and then with the consequences of that decision.
Posted by: Ann Onymous | 26 September 2005 at 18:36
Thank you Kathryn - always good to have the Max Boyce perspective (I was there!)
Thank you Ann for your post - and yes absolutely we should not label all Evangelicals with the views of the Evangelical Alliance or what I believe in this country may actually be a conservative minority even among evangelicals. Sorry about the email address - I have for the time being removed it cos of the volume of emails which I could not respond to at the moment
Posted by: Tom Allen | 26 September 2005 at 18:49
Great to read this, I would like to wish Sarah all God's richest blessing in her future ministry
Posted by: Anderson | 01 October 2005 at 18:59