Thank you for a sensitive article. As the parent of a trans child I have witnessed the truth of what Rachel Mann writes. It’s a shame some contributors to the discussion believe in such a small God. They should read Genesis 1:30 and understand that God breathed the breath of life into his creation. - and everything that has breath has been created by God and is loved by God; including my trans child. I thank God too for the community of our local church and their affirmation.
‘Proud Mum’ on PremierYouthwork.com
I felt that on the whole the article was unhelpful because it was attempting to do pastoral care outside of a theological framework. When I was a youth worker and then as a trainee, and now in much of the youth work I do, my theology will completely govern how I pastor. For example, in engaging with youth (or adults) struggling with issues of gender identity, my intention would be that they see that God’s creation is good, although fallen; that God has fearfully and wonderfully created them in his image and that changing that would be putting oneself up against God, saying that our recreation is better than his creation, and making myself my own God. I would want to listen, but as a pastor (shepherd) I would also want to guide in truth. As much as is possible, I would try to understand, recognising that issues of gender dysphoria are complex and often deeply personal; however, I would want to do this, as well as with love and compassion, with an understanding of the biblical principles of creation, identity in Christ and gender distinctions. In that case, my pastoring and theology are not at all separate but two sides of the same coin: one might work itself out in my study, the other in practice, but both are inseparable.
Sam Gibb
