Celebrating Diversity:

An Order for Affirming Gender Transition

¶ Preparation
An opening hymn may be sung.
Greeting
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
We come from scattered lives but Lord; you bring us together as one body. Through
worship and transfiguration in your presence this day, reveal to us who you call us to
truly be, and let us celebrate, and affirm those who are taking these steps.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
and also with you.
God calls each one of us to; serve, love and care for one another. Today we come
together to celebrate and mark the transition of N (chosen name) and show
(appropriate pronoun) that through the pain and suffering endured as the process of
finding a true gender identity unfolds, God is with (appropriate pronoun) through it all.

Collect
The president introduces the Collect with the words ‘let us pray’.
Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit you give your faithful people
new life in the water of baptism. Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit, that
those who are reborn into new names may serve you in faith and love, and
continue to grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is alive and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.

¶ Liturgy of the Word

Old Testament reading (Genesis 35:9-15)
God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed
him. God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but
Israel shall be your name.’ So he was called Israel. God said to him, ‘I am God
Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from
you, and kings shall spring from you. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will
give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.’ Then God went up
from him at the place where he had spoken with him. Jacob set up a pillar in the place
where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink-offering on
it, and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him
Bethel.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
A gradual hymn may be sung.

The Gospel reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus
walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him
say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said
to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means
Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and
saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four
o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We
have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus,
who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’
(which is translated Peter).
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
The sermon may be followed by a period of silent reflection.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. And
in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third
day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right
hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I
believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.
 Prayers of Intercession
One of the following responses may be used.
Lord in your mercy OR Lord, hear us.
Hear our prayer. Lord, graciously hear us.

¶ Affirmation of Gender Transition

Presentation of the Candidate

A hymn may be sung as the candidate is presented to the congregation.
The President addresses the candidate.
Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
I have.
Are you ready, with your own mouth, to affirm your true name and gender in
Christ, the one in which Christ calls you to serve, and the one you will be
recognised by in the Holy House of God?
I am.
N, please share with us now your testament before God and the people of this
church, and take this blessing; in the name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, may you find closure through this act.

Testimony
The candidate offers a testimony about their faith and/or gender identity.
The president addresses the whole congregation.
People of God, will you welcome and uphold N in their life with Christ?
With the help of God, we will!
Affirmation
The president addresses the candidate and offers a candle.
In affirmation, God calls you from the pain of not being able to be fully yourself, in
order to follow Christ anew. This means dying to sin and raising to new life in him
by the name of N.
Let this transition from old, to new, be to you the resurrection of your life in him.
Therefore, I ask:
Is this the name by which you are called to serve the Lord?
It is.
 Is it as male/female/non-binary/other that you are called to serve the Lord?
It is.
From this moment forward, when God calls you by the name of N, will you serve
Him without hesitation?
I will.
The candidate lights the candle and their chosen people come forward and, with the president,
lay hands on them.
N may God, who has given you the desire to follow Christ as you were made and
stand here today, give you strength to live life as who you are called to be.
Amen.
May, by faith and law, you live your life, and be known to the church of God as
male/female/non-binary/other, and by the name of N, now and forever.
Amen.
The president addresses the candidate’s chosen people and the congregation.
Will you accept N with open arms, share with (appropriate pronoun) the grace of
Christ, and affirm (appropriate pronoun) in their calling by God?
We will!
N, God welcomes you as His chosen and beloved son/daughter/child!
Amen!

¶ Sending Out
A hymn may be sung.
The Blessing
The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith; and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you and
those you love, always.
Amen.
Dismissal
The candidate may say:
Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.