Northern Province: Inclusion of Persons of All Gender Identities
Re: Inclusion of Persons of All Gender Identities
- Whereas, Holy Scripture reveals that all of humankind are made in the image of God, blessed by God, and declared “good” by God (Genesis 1:26-31); and
- Whereas, The Moravian Church Ground of the Unity states: “We oppose any discrimination in our midst because of ethnic origin, sex or social standing, and we regard it as a commandment of the Lord to bear public witness to this and to demonstrate by word and deed that we are brothers and sisters in Christ” (Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum, Part I, #7); and
Whereas, the predominant stance on sexuality in our society shows preference for cisgender persons whose personal sense of gender identity and/or gender role corresponds with their assigned sex at birth; and - Whereas, those who identify as other than cisgender have too often felt excluded from and persecuted by society; and
- Whereas, Jesus’ ministry exemplified love for those who found themselves on the margins of society; and
- Whereas, The Moravian Church, Northern Province, in following Christ, has a long history of affirming those on the margins of society (e.g., women, persons with disabilities, homosexual persons); be it therefore
RESOLVED: The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, affirms the dignity and rights of persons of all gender identities; and be it further
RESOLVED: The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, reaffirms its open welcome to all people by specifically recognizing that persons of all gender identities are also under God’s care; and be it further
RESOLVED: The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, shall recognize that persons of all gender identities can be members of our church because they are children of God and seek to know God’s grace which is freely given to all people who have faith in God; and be it further
RESOLVED: Persons of all gender identities shall be supported and affirmed by being allowed to celebrate their lives as individuals, couples, and families within the bounds of the church and under the grace which our Creator imparts to all persons; and be it further
RESOLVED: The church shall continue to enter into dialogue in a loving manner with persons of all gender identities in order to understand their lives and their spiritual walk; and be it further
RESOLVED: The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, encourages pastors and church leaders to engage in training and education related to the understanding of and care for persons of all gender identities.
R&E 2018, pp. 17-18, R. 21-26
