Title: Trans Affirming Churches
Author: Christina Beardsley and Chris Dowd
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Year: 2020
154 pages
These two authors have done much research and wrote many books between them about the transgender community finding their place in religious society. Combining the interview method with scriptural analysis, Beardsley (who is trans) and Dowd put together this little handbook on how churches can be affirming to the trans community.
This book is an excellent resource for churches who are exploring how they can be more inclusive, covering subjects like understanding who trans people are, what it says in the bible about trans people, and some practical advice on how to become more affirming. It is easy to read and could be used easily for faith education. Appendix A even includes an outline syllabus for a professional development day.
One drawback for me is that the authors are based in England which can be very different from Canada in church life, health care systems, and culture. It makes me wonder if there is a similar resource for Canadian churches, using Canadian sources.
Overall, it's a good easy read that definitely gives you some information to work from in moving forward towards inclusivity in your church.
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