TransEpiscopal
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Nonbinary Resources
  • Policies & Legislation
  • Contact
  • Donate

For Immediate Release

7/12/2012

0 Comments

 
For Immediate Release
The 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church has now added “gender identity and expression” to the church's nondiscrimination canons for both lay and ordained ministry. The House of Bishops passed the legislation on Saturday, July 7th. The House of Deputies then passed it Monday, July 10, officially making it an act of the convention.  By adding this language to its canons, The Episcopal Church joins the United Church of Christ, which took a similar step in 2003, and the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, which did so in 2007.  Like The Episcopal Church, both groups have had openly transgender ordained and lay leaders for several years.

"We are filled with joy for this clear affirmation that the Episcopal Church welcomes and values the ministerial gifts of transgender people, lay and ordained,'' members of TransEpiscopal said in a joint statement after the House of Deputies' vote.

''We are also delighted by the strong support and broad understanding of trans issues shown by deputies representing a wide range of regions and generations in this church. As the church steps boldly into new frontiers in various facets of its life, we are proud to be part of this spirit-filled movement. We thank all of our allies, especially IntegrityUSA, The Consultation, and the Chicago Consultation for their tireless, heartfelt support.''

On the final day of Convention the House of Deputies also concurred with the House of Bishops to pass resolution D022 which calls for a Church-Wide Response to Bullying.  "Gender identity and expression" are included along with "economic, ethnic, racial or physical characteristics, religious status and sexual orientation" in a list of characteristics in response to which bullying often takes place.

“Bullying of any kind, for any reason, goes contrary to the second of Jesus’ two great commandments:  to love one’s neighbor as oneself.  As we in the United States continue to grow in awareness of the effects of bullying, we are proud that The Episcopal Church has decided to take a stand in support of the most vulnerable in our society.  Transgender people are certainly among them: according to a 2011 study, 78 percent of transgender people report being bullied or harassed as children.  It is high time for our church to join in the lifesaving work of ending this epidemic.”

The text of D022 reads as follows:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention calls for a church wide response to the epidemic of bullying, particularly of those perceived as being “different” by virtue of economic, ethnic, racial or physical characteristics, religious status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression; bullying is defined as the recurring use of single or combined written, verbal or electronic expressions or physical acts or gestures, directed at any person that: result in physical or emotional harm to the person or damage to his/her property; places the person in reasonable fear of harm to him/herself or of damage to her/his property; creates an intimidating or hostile environment for the person; impacts the rights of the victim.  Bullying shall include cyber-bullying through elctronic/social media, telephonic technology or other means;and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention encourage new partnerships among our congregations, dioceses, campus ministries, National Association of Episcopal Schools, public schools, counseling centers, and governmental organizations in order to support and offer preventative programs addressing bullying, harassment, and other related violence, especially with higher risk populations; and be it further

Resolved, That these partnerships be encouraged to create or join with existing required programs  designed to recognize and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation in our church settings which:

 - utilize positive, inclusive, empowering and developmentally appropriate
    materials
 - raise participant’s awareness about the issue
 - focus on prevention
 - seek to change bystander behavior into ally behavior
 - create partnerships between youth and adults
 - provide intervention and treatment for those who exhibit bullying behavior.

0 Comments

The Road to Anaheim

7/7/2009

0 Comments

 
I should have probably said Flight to Anaheim, but Road sounded a bit more poetic. In any case, I am sitting in an Airport waiting to fly to The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Anaheim California. To my knowledge five of our number are already there and the remaining three (myself included) will arrive today. Yes we will have eight of our members at Convention. This doesn't sound like a great host of people, but it does represent a great effort and is ground breaking.

The effort represents more than just the eight, because some of you out there contributed to help in the effort. It is ground breaking because we are all out and proud of being who we are. In the car driving to this flight I had an interesting discussion with my friend Brenda. We are all just people like any other of God's created humanity. Whatever the reason we are who we are. As far as the Church is concerned the reasons we are the way we are are irrelevant. God made me and God made you. The differences between people are minor. That God loves us isn't minor. Wouldn't it be nice if the Episcopal Church acknowledged that?

God's Peace,
​
- The Rev'd Michelle Hansen
From an Airport
0 Comments

General Convention History

6/25/2009

0 Comments

 
Every three years representatives from each Diocese of the Episcopal Church meet in Convention to make decisions for the life of the whole Episcopal Church. This is called General Convention and it is modeled on the legislative model of our National Government. There is a Senate (The House of Bishops) and a House of Representatives (The House of Deputies.) The Deputies are from both the Lay and Clergy order.

I have never been a Deputy to Convention, but I have attended several, the first one was The Special Convention held in Indiannapolis, ID in 1969 (boy, that dates me!). I was in seminary then and I went with a delegation of seminarians from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale supporting the efforts of seminaries. It was a politically turbulent time, racially (race riots in many cities), politically (with the Viet Nam War), Sexually (the sexual revolution was in full bloom) and educationally.

The last General Convention I attended was held in Minneapolis/St.Paul in 1976. What follows is a synopsis of that Convention.

1976 Minneapolis

Issues, Discussion, Actions:

Ordination of women- Lengthy debate with alternating speakers pro and con - Passed. 114 clergy votes (58 needed for affirmative action: 60 yes; 39 no; 15 div. 113 lay votes; 64 yes; 36 no; 13 divided. Minority resolution states “stand committed to the Episcopal Church, determined to live and work within it, but cannot in good conscience accept.

Proposed Book of Common Prayer - Extensive amendments debated - Vote by orders on main motion — 113 clergy (57 needed) 107 yes; 3 no; 3 div.; 111 lay (56 needed) 90 yes; 12 no; 9 div.

Human Affairs - Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health charged with concerning itself with theological, ethical and pastoral questions inherent in such aspects of human affairs as human health, sexuality and bioethics

Historical note: Talk of schism; General Convention recommends that the dioceses and the Church in general engage in serious study and dialogue in the area of human sexuality as it pertains to various areas of life, particularly in living styles, employment, housing and education.


That Convention set the ground work for the Modern Episcopal Church. Women Clergy are now fundamental with bishops, priests and deacons throughout the Church and worship has been molded by the 1976 proposed Prayer Book (approved for the second, decisive time at GC 1979).

Once again I am headed to the General Convention to be held in Anaheim next month as part of the delegation from TransEpiscopal. The last Convention I attended affirmed my right to be a priest as a woman. I am hoping that this convention will affirm the rights of all people to fully participate in all facets of the Church no matter the gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. It has taken me thirty-three years to attend another Convention and I pray this will be as successful as the 1976 Convention. I am however more expecting more on the scale of what happened in 1969. At that time there was hardly any recognition of the presence or needs of seminarians. All the clergy had been to seminary, but most left it behind as a fond remembrance, forgetting that seminaries and seminarians' needs change with time.

I am hoping at least that there will be a dawning of awareness that transgender people exist in the Church and that we are equally God's children. I am also hoping that issues of sexuality will not be swept under the rug and avoided. We will see and we will report here.

God's Peace,

- The Rev. Michelle Hansen, S.T.M., M.Div.
0 Comments

A Letter from the Consultation

9/26/2007

0 Comments

 
Picture
The following is a letter written on September 24th by the Consultation, a coalition of justice organizations in the Episcopal Church, to the House of Bishops as they deliberated on their statement. Two of us from TransEpiscopal participated in the Newark meeting and, while the letter has been posted on several other blogs and websites for the last couple of days, we post it here as a sign of a process in which we were proud to take part. Even as we struggle in these difficult days in the Anglican Communion, this kind of collaboration gives us hope.

Integrity

TransEpiscopal

Episcopal Urban Caucus

Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Episcopal Women's Caucus

Union of Black Episcopalians

Episcopal Ecological Network

National Episcopal AIDS Coalition

Province VIII Indigenous Ministries

Episcopal Church Publishing Company

Episcopal Network for Economic Justice

Episcopal Asiaamerica Ministry Advocates

Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission


September 24, 2007

A message from The Consultation to the House of Bishops as it deliberates its message to the Church.

The thirteen constituent members of The Consultation, representative of the independent justice organizations of The Episcopal Church, meeting September 23-24 in Newark, wish to remind the members of the House of Bishops that they represent one house of the General Convention, and one constituency of the baptized in The Episcopal Church.

Any message you make must be mindful of the fact that the Executive Council has made a very clear statement on the matter before you and that General Convention will not speak on this matter until its meeting in 2009.  

We have in mind the language of the Baptismal Covenant which calls us to respect the dignity of every human being. It is not respectful of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers when we tell them that they are full participants in the church and then place restrictions on their participation at any level of the church's life.

In the preamble of the 2006 platform of The Consultation we affirm that we see the image of God and the Christ in others and ourselves. We believe that all the baptized are called to share in the governance and mission of the Church at all levels. We see the increase of power claimed by the episcopate as imbalance in The Body.

We urge you to have these things in the forefront of your minds and hearts, as you craft this statement. The sacred vows of The Baptismal Covenant and the tradition and heritage of the participatory governance of The Episcopal Church must not be squandered for a single Lambeth conference.

We urge you as bishops not to walk apart from the rest of the priesthood of all believers in The Episcopal Church, and to embrace the unconditional love of God as made incarnate in the radical inclusion of Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit be with you to guide you in all strength and courage in these difficult days as ordained leaders in The Church.

0 Comments

    Archives

    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    August 2020
    June 2020
    November 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    February 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    April 2009
    January 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007

    Categories

    All
    77th General Convention
    80th General Convention
    A063
    A063 2022
    A064 2018
    A068 2018
    A088 2018
    A091 2018
    A143 2018
    A284 2018
    Advent
    Advocacy
    Allies
    All Saints
    Allston/Brighton
    Anglican Communion
    Anglican Communion Listening Process
    Anglican Comprehensiveness
    Anglican Primates Dar Es Salaam Communiqué
    Anti Trans Legislation
    Anti Trans Violence
    Anti-trans Violence
    Archbishop Of Canterbury Rowan Williams
    Art
    Asceticism
    Author Anderson C.
    Author: Bear
    Author: Cameron Partridge
    Author: Charley Labonte
    Author: Christina Beardsley
    Author: Dante Tavolaro
    Author: Donna Cartwright
    Author: Gari Green
    Author: Gwen Fry
    Author: Iain Stanford
    Author: Jim Toy
    Author: Kit Wang
    Author: Kori Pacyniak
    Author: Liz
    Author: Louise Brooks
    Author: Meredith Bacon
    Author: Mia Nikasimo
    Author: Michelle Hansen
    Author: Penny Larson
    Author: Sarah Lawton
    Author: Shelly Fayette
    Author: Teal Van Dyck
    Author: Vicki Gray
    B012 2018
    B033
    Baptism
    Baptismal Covenant
    Becoming
    Believe Out Loud
    Bishop Barbara Harris
    Bishop Bill Swing
    Bishop Bud Cederholm
    Bishop C. Andrew Doyle
    Bishop Catherine Roskam
    Bishop Catherine Waynick
    Bishop Chet Talton
    Bishop Dabney Smith
    Bishop Dorsey Henderson
    Bishop Duncan Gray
    Bishop Gene Robinson
    Bishop Geralyn Wolf
    Bishop Ian Douglas
    Bishop J. Clark Grew
    Bishop John Chane
    Bishop Jon Bruno
    Bishop Larry Benfield
    Bishop Marc Andrus
    Bishop Mark Beckwith
    Bishop Mark Lawrence
    Bishop Mary Glasspool
    Bishop Otis Charles
    Bishop Prince Singh
    Bishop Samuel Howard
    Bishop Steven Charleston
    Bishop Tom Shaw
    Bishop William Love
    Blackburn Motion
    Blessing
    Book Of Occasional Services
    Boston
    Brandon Teena
    Buddhism
    Bullying
    C001 2009
    C001-2009
    C006 2018
    C019 2015
    C022 2018
    C029 2018
    C030 2006
    C031 2018
    C046 2009
    C046-2009
    C048 2009
    C048-2009
    C054 2018
    C056 2009
    C061 2009
    C061-2009
    Cameron Partridge
    Camp Aranu'tiq
    Campus Ministry
    Cathedral Church Of St. Paul
    Catholic
    Chanelle Pickett
    Changing Attitude
    Changing Attitude Nigeria
    Chaz Bono
    Chris Ashley
    Christian Formation
    Christmas
    Church Of England
    Church Of The Advocate
    Collaboration
    Colonialism
    Coming Out
    Communion Of Saints
    Compassion
    Complementarianism
    Connecticut
    Courage
    D002
    D002 2012
    D005 2018
    D012 2009
    D012-2009
    D019
    D019 2012
    D022
    D022 2012
    D025
    D029 2022
    D030 2022
    D032 2009
    D036
    D036 2015
    D036 2018
    D037 2015
    D039 2009
    D066 2022
    D069 2018
    D072 2022
    D090 2009
    Dallas Transgender Advocates And Allies
    Damien De Veuster
    Dante Tavolaro
    David & Goliath
    Davis Mac-Iyalla
    Debra Forte
    Deployment
    Dialogue
    Diatesseron
    Diocesan Convention
    Diocese Of Arkansas
    Diocese Of California
    Diocese Of Connecticut
    Diocese Of Los Angeles
    Diocese Of Louisiana
    Diocese Of Massachusetts
    Diocese Of New York
    Diocese Of Olympia
    Diocese Of San Joaquin
    Diocese Of South Dakota
    Diocese Of Texas
    Discernment
    Discrimination
    Divinity School
    Donna Cartwright
    Drew Phoenix
    Easter
    Easter Embodiment
    Easter Vigil
    ELCA
    ELCA New England Synod
    Elizabeth Clark
    Empathy
    ENDA
    Episcopal Church
    Episcopal Divinity School
    Eunuchs
    Evangelical Christianity
    Executive Council
    Exodus
    Families Of Trans People
    Family
    Family Diversity Project
    Florida
    Forms
    Fringe Festivals
    Gay
    #GC80
    Gender
    Gender Affirming Care
    Gendered Language
    Gender Identity
    Gender Neutral Restrooms
    Genderqueer
    General Convention
    General Convention 2006
    General Convention 2009
    General Convention 2012
    General Convention 2015
    General Convention 2018
    General Synod
    #givingtuesday
    GLAD
    Gospel Of John
    Gospel Of Luke
    Grief
    Gwen Araujo
    Gwen Smith
    Harvard Divinity School
    Harvard University
    Harvey Milk
    Hate Crimes
    Haunting
    Hawaii HB 546
    Healing
    Hinge Days
    HIV/AIDS
    Holy Spirit
    Homophobia
    Homosexuality
    Hope
    House Of Bishops
    House Of Deputies
    HR 1913
    HRC
    Iain Stanford
    I AM
    Incarnation
    Indaba Groups
    Institute For Welcoming Resources
    Integrity Eucharist
    IntegrityUSA
    Interfaith Coalition For Transgender Equality
    Intersectionality
    Iowa Equal Marriage
    Isaiah 56
    Jendi Reiter
    Jennifer Finney Boylan
    Jim Toy
    John 21:1-19
    Joy
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    Judith Butler
    July 4th
    Jump Rope
    Kintsukuroi
    Kit Wang
    Kylar Broadus
    Labor Organizing
    Lambeth Conference
    Lay Ministry
    Leprosy
    LGBTIQ
    LGBTQ Africans
    LGBTQ Anglicans
    LGBTQ Pride
    Liberation
    Liminality
    Louie Crew
    Louise Brooks
    Lutherans Concerned North America
    Mark Jordan
    Marriage Equality
    Maryland HB 235
    Mary Miller
    Masks
    Massachusetts
    Massachusetts HB 1722
    Massachusetts HB 1728/SB 1687
    Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
    Matthew 25
    Media
    Michelle Kosilek
    Myra Chanel Ical
    Name Change In Church Records
    Name Change Liturgy
    Names
    Narrativity
    National Transgender Discrimination Survey
    New England
    News Coverage
    Nigeria
    Nonbinary
    Oasis California
    Oregon
    Organization
    Other Sheep
    Pain
    Parachute
    Parenting
    Parents Of Trans People
    Passion Narratives
    Philadelphia
    Prayer Book
    Prayer Book Revision
    President Of The House Of Deputies
    President Of The House Of Deputies Bonnie Anderson
    Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
    Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
    Press Release
    Priesthood
    Proclamation
    Public Accomodations
    Queer Youth
    Race
    Racial Justice
    Racism
    Reconciling Ministries Network
    Reign Of God
    Religion
    Religious Life
    Remain Episcopal
    Renaming Service
    Repair
    Resilience
    Resistance
    Restrooms
    Resurrection
    Retreat
    Rhiannon O'Donnabhain
    Richard Hooker
    Rita Hester
    Roman Catholic Church
    Ronald Miller
    Ruby Rodriguez
    Salem
    Same Sex Blessings
    San Francisco Night Ministry
    Sarah Lawton
    Sedementation
    Sermon
    Sexism
    Sexuality
    Sexuality Debates
    Sexual Minorities Uganda
    Sexual Orientation
    Sex Work
    Side-wound
    Sonia Burgess
    Spirituality
    St. Anne's
    Stephanie Spellers
    Stigma
    St. Luke's And St. Margaret's Allston
    St. Martin In The Fields
    Stockton
    St. Paul's
    Stumbling
    Suicidality
    Suicide
    Supreme Court Ruling
    TDOR
    TDOV
    Testimony
    Texas
    Texas HB 25
    The Briggs Initiative
    The Consultation
    The Cross
    The Crossing
    The Good Shepherd
    The Honorable Byron Rushing
    The Laramie Project
    Theological Anthropology
    The Philadelphia Eleven
    The Rev'd David Weekley
    The Rev'd Deacon Carolyn Woodall
    The Rev'd Deacon Vicki Gray
    The Rev'd Dr. Christina Beardsley
    The Rev'd Drew Phoenix
    The Rev'd Gari Green
    The Rev'd Gay Clark Jennings
    The Rev'd Gwen Fry
    The Rev'd Junia Joplin
    The Rev'd Michael Barlowe
    The Rev'd Paul Washington
    The Rev'd Susan Russell
    The Sibyls
    The Task Force
    Trans
    Transafro
    Trans Awareness Week
    Trans Civil Rights
    Trans Clergy
    TransEpiscopal Eucharist
    Transfiguration
    Transformation
    Transgender
    Transgender Athletes
    Transgender Day Of Visibility
    Transgender Faith Leaders
    Transgender Moment
    Transgender Non Discrimination
    Transgender Non-discrimination
    Trans Inclusion
    Transition
    Trans Justice
    Trans Lesbian
    TransLutherans
    Trans Medical Care
    Transmisogyny
    Trans Misogyny
    Trans Narratives
    Trans Ordination
    Trans Ordinations
    Trans People Of Faith
    Transphobia
    Trans Pride
    Trans Representation In Media
    Trans Sermons
    Transsexual
    Trans Spirituality
    Trans Studies
    Trans Women
    Trans Youth
    Trauma
    Travel
    Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Sacramento
    Trump Gender Memo
    UCC
    Uganda
    UMC General Conference
    United Kingdom
    United Methodist
    UUA
    Vendela Vida
    Vermont Equal Marriage
    Vice President Of The House Of Deputies
    Viktor Juliet Mukasa
    Violence
    Vocation
    Voices Of Witness Africa
    Voices Of Witness Out Of The Box
    Welcome One Another Fellowship
    Wholeness
    Wilderness
    Women Bishops
    Women's Ministries
    Women's Ordination
    World Mission Committee

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.