The United Methodist Church has appointed a transgender deacon

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washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/06/07/the-united-methodist-church-just-appointed-a-transgender-deacon/?utm_term=.b0a1ed100f5f
The bishop spoke the traditional words as she placed her hands on the new deacon named M with just a slight difference from the way those words have always been spoken before.
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“Pour out your Holy Spirit upon M,” the bishop said. “Send them now to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to announce the reign of God and to equip the church for ministry.”
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Not “send him now” or “send her now.” “Send them now.”
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That’s what M Barclay has been working for 12 years to finally hear.
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Barclay, a transgender person who identifies as neither male nor female and thus uses the pronoun “they,” was commissioned on Sunday as the first non-binary member of the clergy in the United Methodist Church.
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“Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).
 
Richard_White said:
“Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).
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They also have women deacons in the Methodist Church. So since both men and women can be deacons in that church, what would preclude a transgender person from being a deacon in the Methodist Church?
 
Thorolfr said:
They also have women deacons in the Methodist Church. So since both men and women can be deacons in that church, what would preclude a transgender person from being a deacon in the Methodist Church?
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Yes that was my thought as well. I am not remotely surprised.
 
MaryT777 said:
Yes that was my thought as well. I am not remotely surprised.
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Neither am I, it’s not surprising. The Anglican Communion has already had some transgender ministers. It is sad to see this happening though. All we can do is pray for them.
 
One more reason for me to be happy to be Catholic today!
 
I’m a bit uncomfortable with the they/them thing and calling it transgender, to me, in most cases this is really androgyny. However, in the case where a person is called to an office that is available to either sex, who cares? You may not like this event…but at least this person has strong faith. Would you prefer an Atheist or someone of strong faith in a package you are uncomfortable with?
 
thephilosopher6 said:
Neither am I, it’s not surprising. The Anglican Communion has already had some transgender ministers. It is sad to see this happening though. All we can do is pray for them.
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I know several transgender priests in TEC. Not certain how many there are in the US but I would guess not that many. Prayers are always appreciated and welcome. Being a priest is a special - and often challenging - calling.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
I know several transgender priests in TEC. Not certain how many there are in the US but I would guess not that many. Prayers are always appreciated and welcome. Being a priest is a special - and often challenging - calling.
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Unfortunately, they’re not real priests. 🤷
 
thephilosopher6 said:
Unfortunately, they’re not real priests. 🤷
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Of course they are real priests. I know that this conversation has been held before and there is always a stalemate, so perhaps we can just agree to disagree. Your respect for non Roman branches of Christendom is heard well.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Of course they are real priests. I know that this conversation has been held before and there is always a stalemate, so perhaps we can just agree to disagree. Your respect for non Roman branches of Christendom is heard well.
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No, they’re not real priest. Pope Leo XIII says Anglican orders are null and void. Also, I’m sure some of them are biologically female, so even if Anglican orders were valid, women cannot validly partake in the sacrament of Holy Orders, thus they wouldn’t be priest. And allowing transgenders into ministry is a grave mistake anyway since they are defying the natural law.

The Catholic Church is Catholic, she is not purely Roman. Eastern Catholics are not Roman Catholics, for example. We are the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church as professed in the Nicene Creed and there is no other Catholic Church.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Of course they are real priests. I know that this conversation has been held before and there is always a stalemate, so perhaps we can just agree to disagree. Your respect for non Roman branches of Christendom is heard well.
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One HAS to be a MAN to be a true priest!! NO matter what!! My Mom used to remind us when we were on our way to Confession, “You can fool me, you may even fool the priest but you will NEVER fool GOD!!” Would be great if we all remember that! God Bless, Memaw
 
Memaw said:
One HAS to be a MAN to be a true priest!! NO matter what!! My Mom used to remind us when we were on our way to Confession, “You can fool me, you may even fool the priest but you will NEVER fool GOD!!” Would be great if we all remember that! God Bless, Memaw
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That is the Catholic view and interpretation, yes.

Others obviously have interpreted scripture differently than the RCC and disagree on this point. In many Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, etc… churches women can most definitely be priests. But I suspect you know that.
 
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