The leader of the Oasis network has published a new eBook encouraging churches to include, welcome, support and accept transgender people.
The Gender Agenda: Towards a Biblical Theology on Gender Identity, Reassignment and Confirmation attempts to "heal the hurts" inflicted on people who are transgender. Its purpose is to also help Christians form an "inclusive theology", which Rev Chalke argues is consistent throughout the Bible.
He said:"The subtle shift from viewing transgender people as 'depraved sinners' to 'unfortunate victims of psychological pressures and mental illness' camouflages the fact that, in the end, as numbers of trans people have learned to their cost, the environment it creates is just as toxic for them."
The book also asserts that the world's first Gentile convert to Christianity had gender and sexual minority status. It uses the example of Philip baptising an Ethiopian eunuch even though Jewish theology at the time would not have deemed him worthy of it due to his status as a foreigner and a eunuch.
Rev Chalke added: "For the record, I am not suggesting that a 1st century eunuch is the exact equivalent of a 21st century trans or intersex person. It is, however, an extraordinary example of the early Church's understanding of the principle of radical inclusion as central to their mission and purpose."
However, Jeanette Howard, a Christian who experienced gender dysphoria in her youth, told Premier churches should be careful about this topic and clearly define how they welcome trans people.
"Does it mean I walk with you shoulder to shoulder, I encourage you on your walk in discipleship, obedience and submission to the Lord? Absolutely.... I know three [people] who have de-transitioned in response to the Lord.
"If it means come in, and I not only accept you but I actually endorse and encourage you in your transgender, then to me that is not a Biblical representation of what has been said and taught."
Rev Chalke also teamed up with LGBT rights charity Stonewall to produce a new guide designed to help churches begin the conversation of including transgender people.
The guide includes testimonies of transgender people and explores what the Bible has to say about trans people.
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