Church Policy on Transgender

[pam]

This is not to be a debate but I am looking to find out what the Church's stand is on transgender.

For example: My understanding (I could be wrong) that a woman who changes to a man can not hold the Priesthood.

But can someone who has had a sex change be baptized etc?

I'm only looking for official church policy.

I'm trying to answer a question for a project I'm working on but I have no idea what the policy is.

[Guest]

That's a good question. I wonder about temple ordinances, too.

[pam]

I did find this on wikipedia but I don't know how accurate it is:

The LDS Church teaches that gender is inherently linked to sex, but the church has no official policy on the status of intersex persons. Transgender persons are accepted in the church and may be baptized, but may not receive the priesthood nor enter the temple. if they are considering or have undergone elective sex reassignment surgery.

[Guest]

Interesting. The temple is so gender-specific that it only makes sense, I suppose. I wonder if there's anything more in the CHI available online or if it would only be in the bishop's copy. I asked my husband who served his mission in San Francisco/Oakland what the protocol would be, but neither he nor anyone he knew during his mission ever ran into it.

[pam]

I imagine it would be in Book 1 which is for Stake Presidents and Bishops.

[Wingnut]

I believe that transgender people may be baptized and hold callings, but cannot be ordained to the priesthood, whether born male (sex) or changed to male (gender). Any instruction on this is likely to be contained in book 1. Book 2 is primarily program and people oriented, not detail-specific or strange case scenarios.

[Backroads]

I know of a case where the person was raised as a boy, then in early teens was identified as being female, insides and chromosomally-speaking. She identified as female... had some operations and was actually later married in the temple.

But I don't think that's in the same place as elective surgery...

[annewandering]

I know of a case where the person was raised as a boy, then in early teens was identified as being female, insides and chromosomally-speaking. She identified as female... had some operations and was actually later married in the temple.

But I don't think that's in the same place as elective surgery...

That unlucky woman was raised as the wrong sex. Its not a case of physical not matching self image. In her case she was 'fortunate' in that she self identified as what she was later found, medically, to be physically. I dont see any reason for that to leave questions as to what sex she really is.

Since so much of the plan of salvation is based on gender it is easy to see why that has to be sorted out later for those with uncertain gender.

[estradling75]

It does appear that we don't have access to any official policy on the matter.

However it seems that church is stopping short when the case of an individual's gender is unclear. The church has declared gender to be a 'eternal characteristic' and it does have some gender based roles (priesthood and temple ceremonies beyond baptism) so when it is unclear to what should be done the church stops, until it becomes clear.

I can only imagine how hard this might be to the person affected by it, but it puts said person in the position of being stopped by something out of their control (The church saying no is out of their control), and the doctrine in such case is very clear. No blessing will be denied to those that are faithful who, through no fault of their own, can not advance, even though they wish to with all their heart.

[annewandering]

I just dont think the church has a reasonable option till more is known. Good thing we know that these things will be sorted out. It is not an empty promise. They will be sorted out.

[grauchy123]

I don't know what the policy on this board is for quoting the CHI so I'll just paraphrase it...

CHI vol 1 Section 3.3.4

transsexuals cannot receive a temple recommend

-No caveats listed for first presidency approval or anything like that as is common in other sections.

CHI vol 1 Section 6.7.2

Bishops are to counsel against *elective* transsexual surgery. (emphasis mine)

Bishops are to refer questions about the policy to the Stake and the stake should ask the First Presidency

This section also states that such an operation may be grounds for church discipline

CHI vol 1 Section 16.3.16

(Again, this section uses the word "elective")

transsexuals (including those considering transsexual operations) cannot be:

Baptized, Confirmed, or receive the priesthood

-An exception policy for Baptism/Confirmation is listed as needing approval from the First Presidency.

-No exception listed for the Priesthood

Edited June 12, 2012 by grauchy123
Added Baptism/Priesthood policy

[pam]

Thanks, that is pretty much what I thought the policy was but I wasn't sure.