Evangelical Alliance Condemns Ordination of Transsexual in Church of England

The Connecticut 6 ^ | 9/28/2005

[sionnsar]

As the Church of England ordains its first transsexual woman into ministry as a priest, the Evangelical Alliance UK has come out to firmly condemn the decision.

Sarah Jones, 44, from Ross-on-Wye is the first transsexual to be ordained to the Church of England - a hugely controversial move which is sure to strain the already tense Anglican Communion. (BBC)

Assistant curate Sarah Jones, 44, from Ross-on-Wye, who was a man for the first 29 years of his life, was ordained last Saturday.

The decision has been defended by the Right Reverend Anthony Priddis who described Ms. Jones as a “superb candidate” for the role, adding that she had the gender realignment surgery “many years ago – long before she explored the possibility of being ordained”, reported the BBC.

Bishop Priddis said that the issue of ‘gender dysphoria’ was “understood a lot more clearly in this 21st century as we understand lots of things more clearly”.

The Evangelical Alliance, however, has come out to firmly condemn the ordination of Ms. Jones.

Don Horrocks, EA spokesperson, said the Bible made it “absolutely clear that God created human beings as male and female.

“Therefore there is absolutely no Christian acknowledgement of the 21st century human idea that it’s possible somehow for a person to take charge of their own destiny and to decide what their own sexuality is,” he added.

The ordination of the Rev Sarah Jones, who used to be a man, at Hereford Cathedral…has big implications for the Church.
Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs Evangelical Alliance

Bishop Priddis also highlighted the fact that gender dysphoria is recognised by both the NHS and law, saying that those who suffer from the condition “need help in order to be able to move to that wholeness, which we, as Christians, want for everyone”.

However, Dr Horrocks stated that anyone who chooses their own sexuality “is therefore actually perpetuating an illusion or masquerading and any Christian is clearly not going to be supportive of someone who purports to be what they’re not”.

Dr Don Horrocks commented further in an Evangelical Alliance release, “The ordination of the Rev Sarah Jones, who used to be a man, at Hereford Cathedral…has big implications for the Church. If, as is generally accepted, it is not possible for a person to change their sex, then it is a myth for people to think that they can bypass the Creator and attempt to control their own destiny, identity, or gender.”

The Evangelical Alliance’s Head of Public Affairs concluded, “The fact is that sex is a given from God and cannot be changed. Only a few years ago gender identity disorder was a well known psychological condition. Now people think it can be treated by cosmetic surgery. Surely it is far better to help people find their true birth identity.

"If, despite this, people think that, for example, they can present themselves as a woman when they are really a man then this seems like perpetuating the illusion or deception. And for the Church to perpetuate it seems a complete contradiction in terms.”

Ms. Sarah Jones, a former Roman Catholic, was ordained to priesthood last Saturday by the Bishop of Hereford, with the support of parishioners in the Ross team ministry.

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[Salman]

bump

[Tax-chick]

Dr. Don Horrocks commented further in an Evangelical Alliance release, “The ordination of the Rev. Sarah Jones, who used to be a man, at Hereford Cathedral…has big implications for the Church.

I don't see why. They ordain women, and they ordain men. He/she is either one or the other, depending on how you look at it.

If, as is generally accepted, it is not possible for a person to change his sex ...”

It seems to be generally accepted in "enlightened" circles that it IS possible for a person to change his sex. Don't we have taxpayer-funded sex-change operations for prison inmates? Isn't it illegal to discriminate against a person who claims to be the opposite sex from what he was born as?

... then it is a myth for people to think that they can bypass the Creator and attempt to control their own destiny, identity, or gender ...

"Controlling one's own destiny, identity, or gender" is the basic principle of a free country, to paraphrase the U.S. Supreme Court. What's a "myth," according to right-thinking folk, is the idea of a Creator.

[Yemaja]

It seems to be generally accepted in "enlightened" circles that it IS possible for a person to change his sex.

Not for the most part. This is why in the medical community, "Sex Change Surgery" has fallen into near disuse. It has largely been replaced by "Gender Reassignment Surgery," and similar descriptions. As a university article explains: "Can a person actually change sex? Not really. A person's chromosomes and reproductive organs cannot be changed to those of the opposite sex."

Now there are "studies" purporting to show that transsexuals are "born that way." However these are politically (and financially: they benefit the "sex reassignment" industry) rather than scientifically motivated. In this regard they are exactly like the studies supposedly showing there is a "gay gene" and similar crap.

Don't we have taxpayer-funded sex-change operations for prison inmates? Isn't it illegal to discriminate against a person who claims to be the opposite sex from what he was born as?"

This is what a free country is about?