Supreme Court gender ruling

The President and Vice-President, along with the Secretary of the Methodist Conference, have released the following in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling made on 16 April regarding gender.

Prayer

Holy God, you made us in love,
and each of us bear your image and likeness,
we are wonderfully restored and renewed by the work of your Spirit.
Help us to see and value the beauty of the gift of your diverse creation
and so treat one another with the same tenderness we receive from you.
May those who are frightened, uncertain or anxious
know your comfort and our support.
Amen

Revd Helen Cameron and Carolyn Godfrey
President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

Statement

Following the Supreme Court's judgment, many may feel anxious, hurt, or unsettled. We need to be clear: nothing in this ruling diminishes our determination to be an inclusive church. The Methodist Church believes that all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have a place in God’s Church and trans people should always feel that they are welcome and loved.

It is important that we reassert this in the light of some of the coverage of the Supreme Court’s ruling; this is not a matter of ‘winners’ or ‘losers’, and to portray it as such is at best unhelpful and at worst an attempt to justify prejudice and discrimination. The Court made its ruling on a matter of the interpretation of the law. It determined what the provisions of The Equalities Act mean by defining who may or may not participate in some single-sex activities or may use certain single-sex facilities, and who is and is not protected against discrimination on the grounds of sex (whilst noting that trans people are protected against discrimination because they are trans – and that has not changed).

It is likely that this presents an issue in very few churches, but should a question arise, please address it to soc@methodistchurch.org.uk and the Team will do its best to offer clear guidance.

Although the ruling is likely to present an issue in only a few places, the effect on those who feel excluded and uncertain is wider and deeper. Anyone in that position, and wanting pastoral support should contact the local minister or superintendent, District EDI Officer or Connexional Inclusion Team.

The Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler
The Secretary of the Conference