by Jennifer Stark

In the programme for the Church of Scotland’s annual General Assembly, one of the early major debates is on the Report of the Church of Scotland’s Theological Forum, which exists, in the words of its remit, ‘to resource, express and challenge theology that informs the life and work of the Church’, in cooperation with other councils or committees where appropriate. Placing this debate early in the week reminds Commissioners of the theological grounding of the church’s work and witness.

Readers of Open House may remember that in 2021, I described an aspect of the Forum’s work which is now nearing completion. The Church of Scotland, Catholic, Reformed, and Presbyterian in government, expresses its fundamental beliefs through a text known as the ‘Articles Declaratory’, (Church Constitution | The Church of Scotland), stating that they acknowledge Holy Scripture as its ‘supreme rule of life’. The ‘subordinate standard’, for centuries, has been the Westminster Confession of 1649. In 2021, I wrote, ‘For many years, the Church has considered whether the Westminster Confession of Faith should continue to hold this position. It’s long; the language is of the 17th century; many ministers (and others) struggle to subscribe to some of its theology, which has to be understood in the context of the time’. (Open House Scotland - News - General Assembly 2021)

Since then, the Forum has recommended revision of the Articles, and the Vows taken by officeholders, and the replacement of the Westminster Confession as sole subordinate standard with a Book of Confessions. These recommendations have been agreed by the Assembly and debated in Presbyteries around Scotland and abroad; almost all voted in favour. The final decision, after a further referral to Presbyteries, will be made next year. (A short video on the topic, made by Rev. Dr Liam Fraser, Convenor of the Forum, can be found here: Statements of the Church’s faith | The Church of Scotland)

Transgender identities

Monday afternoon saw reports and debates on two issues which are of current high public and political interest. In 2023, the Assembly asked the Theological Forum to ‘explore the theology of transgender identities within the context of the Church’s life and ministry’. (This work didn’t start from a completely blank slate: in 2016, a document was produced by the former Mission and Discipleship Council, ‘Diverse Gender Identities’, which focused on pastoral care and raising awareness of the issues. It included contributions from some transgender people).

The Forum’s report is relatively short, and in accordance with the Assembly’s instruction, the Forum consciously did not attempt to discuss wider societal issues, but focused on three areas: engagement with Scripture, engagement with lived experience and theological questions. What follows is a snapshot of some of the main points – the full report can be read here.

Readers may find it of interest to set the report beside the recent encyclical ‘Dignitas Infinita’, and the discussions in The Tablet (13 April) and the May edition of Open House.

The Forum held conversations with a number of transgender people, including Christians, and incorporated their voices in the report.

On ‘Engaging with Scripture’, the Forum acknowledged that there is a ‘clear sexual binary’ in Scripture, but that ‘others argue that these ancient accounts cannot be determinative for the way in which we understand sex and gender today’, and that ‘as we generally consider the Old Testament dietary laws and sartorial regulations not be obligatory on the New Testament Church, as we see them as fulfilled in Christ, so it is possible to take these verses directing rigid gender distinctions not to be binding today.’ There is an interesting exploration of how the Scriptures treat the figure of the eunuch, demonstrating that ‘at the very least, such passages teach that fulfilment of rigid gender roles cannot be considered Biblically as essential to receiving spiritual blessings or rendering true service to God’.

Exploring the transgender experience, the report notes the undoubted existence of gender dysphoria, and how interviewees testified to lifelong experience of difficulty with binary gendered roles, ‘it is evident that many incidences of diverse gender identity are deeply rooted and apparently permanent’. The contributors’ experience of church varied – one had found the traditional teaching of the church ‘abusive’, while another emphasised that ‘the Church needed to stop seeing transgender people as a problem’, but there were also accounts of acceptance and support.

With regard to ministry within the church, the Report noted unequivocally that ‘to exclude a category of people because of their gender identity would be biblically and theologically illegitimate, and the current system of assessing gifting and calling on an individual basis should continue’. It concluded, ‘the vital point we wish to assert is really very simple. Transgender people are part of the Church of Scotland and they are welcome’.

The debate on the Report gave the Report a markedly positive reception, describing it as ‘Measured… balanced… sensitive… nuanced and sympathetic’.

Particularly moving and interesting were the contributions of two university chaplains (34.00 - 45.00 on the recording). Dr. Urzula Glienecke noted, ‘The Church of Scotland has come a long way….this is life-saving work for many people’. The other, Dr Donald McEwan, commented, ‘one trans student had asked me if there was anything that I, as a Christian, can read about this…. That person was delighted when I sent [this report]’. He had also received suggestions and comments, some theological, for further exploration. ‘They were incredibly appreciative… that this report has come.’ A young Commissioner identified what he felt to be a core theological issue: ‘we affirm the inherent dignity of every human being… this is basic Christian doctrine,.… regardless of their background and how they identify’. The Forum’s Convenor agreed, ‘this is the bedrock of Christian ethics’. Other points raised included the Cass Report (which came out too late for the Forum to consider), and concerns about the irreversible effects of some treatments for gender dysphoria; however, the Report was endorsed by the Assembly without changes.

A lighter moment followed a few minutes later, when a proposal was put forward for the Church of Scotland to adopt some form of the reserved sacrament, to alleviate the situation of some congregations who, lacking a minister, can very rarely celebrate communion. The Forum’s Convenor observed, ‘I feel a bit bashful talking about reserved sacrament in the presence of His Excellency the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh – perhaps you should take the podium instead’ and amid laughter, quipped, ‘As they say in Father Ted, “that would be an ecumenical matter’”. (The motion provoked some discussion, but was defeated by a large majority).

Jennifer Stark is a Congregational Support Worker in East Lothian and a member of the Church of Scotland Theological Forum.