TransEpiscopal

TransEpiscopal is a group of transgender, nonbinary, and allied Episcopalians dedicated to fostering the full embrace of trans, nonbinary people, and our loved ones, in and through Episcopal Church. We came into being in late 2004 through informal online contacts and grew through list-serves, in-person gatherings, social media, and support from other peace and justice organizations in the Episcopal Church. We joined The Consultation in 2007, sent representatives to the Lambeth Conference Fringe Festival in 2008, and have advocated at General Conventions since 2006.

The majority of our work has focused on support and justice for trans and nonbinary people through legislative change within The Episcopal Church, particularly at General Convention. We have seen supportive resolutions pass at every General Convention since 2009, including discrimination protection for lay employees (D032-2009) and lay leadership at all levels of the Church (D019-2012), support for a fully trans-inclusive Employment Non-discrimination Act (C048-2009), and access to discernment for the ordination process (D002-2012). In 2018, nondiscrimination language was extended to employment for ordained clergy (A284-2018) and a Name Change Rite was added to the Book of Occasional Services (A128-2018). The 2018 General Convention also called the Episcopal Church to join efforts to end the widespread pattern of violence against trans and nonbinary people, combatting especially the toxic intersections of racism and trans misogyny (C022-2018). For a full list of our legislative work, please see our website: http://www.transepiscopal.org/policies--legislation.html.

In the summer of 2019, we came together for a leadership retreat made possible by the generous support of the Diocese of Chicago. We were able to talk, dream and set priorities for the future. We are grateful for the progress the Church has made, even as we are also aware that there are a range of experiences, from support to exclusion, that trans and nonbinary people have in the Episcopal Church. Therefore we call upon the Church to collaborate with us in creating resources and opportunities to form the Church for the embrace of our community at all levels of the Church’s life and in all orders of ministry. We also call for the creation of specific support resources for trans and nonbinary clergy in the ordination process and in deployment.

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