The Church of England has published advice on how to welcome transgender people into the Anglican faith.

The pastoral guidance stops short of offering a new service or a specific blessing but it does advise Anglican clergy to address transgender people by their chosen name. It notes: “For a trans person to be addressed liturgically by the minister for the first time by their chosen name may be a powerful moment in the service.”

The document was approved by the House of Bishops on Monday night and will now be adopted into the church’s common worship. It encouraged clergy to be “creative and sensitive” in enabling people to mark a gender transition in “celebratory” way.

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