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Earlier this month, Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President/CEO of the United Church of Christ (UCC), joined leaders from ten major religious traditions to release a statement supporting transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people. The statement was directed at the American public, political leaders, and moral teachers.
“During a time when our country is placing their lives under increasingly serious threat, there is a disgraceful misconception that all people of faith do not affirm the full spectrum of gender – a great many of us do. Let it be known instead that our beloveds are created in the image of God – holy and whole,” the statement reads.
The signers acknowledged their different religious backgrounds but emphasized a shared concern for protecting those facing persecution. “Our faiths, our theologies, and our practices of prophetic witness call on us to say with one voice to transgender people among us: ‘You are holy. You are sacred. We love you. We support you, and we will protect you,’” they said.
An additional UCC statement noted: “The UCC embraces the gifts and the very being of transgender and nonbinary persons as blessed children of God. Demonizing and dehumanizing treatment of transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse persons is anathema to the gospel of Jesus Christ, who teaches us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”
Following significant feedback on the letter, individuals now have an opportunity to add their names in support by signing the statement online.
On November 20th’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, UCC members across the country gathered virtually to honor transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people whose lives have been lost or affected by anti-trans violence. The worship service was recorded for later viewing.
R. Ward, UCC gender and sexuality justice minister and manager, offered a blessing during the service: “Blessed are our bodies. Blessed is our love. Blessed are we when we celebrate that which the world turns away. Fill our hearts with a pride rooted in resistance to all that seeks to destroy. May we delight in the ways you have created us. Diverse, unique, surprising, and beautiful. Thanks be to God.”
Rev. Lawrence T. Richardson from the UCC Michigan Conference delivered a sermon stating: “God is love. And any person, church, or religious tradition that tells you that you are unworthy of love is wrong. God doesn’t need their consent to love you.”
Clergy read aloud 38 names belonging to trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming individuals who had died or suffered due to violence.
Rev. Elder Carmarion D. Anderson said: “On this day of remembrance, we do not stand alone in mourning. We stand in mission. We carry the mantle. We continue the fight...Let their names be the drum beat that tells us...‘Do justice, love mercy...protect each other...Because when one of us rises, we all rise.’”
Rev. Derek Terry closed with prayer: “May resilience rise in us like breath...reminding us that every life is sacred and every person is worthy of joy.”
The full statement supporting trans people can be read online through official channels provided by participating organizations.
