Caroline ffiske was a Conservative Councillor for Eight Years. Published on 29 March 2021.

Women in the Church of England have begun expressing their concerns about the impact of gender ideology within the church. Whistleblowers have contacted us because they feel unable to speak out internally. They have also approached the Free Speech Union. 

In fairness to the Church of England, its policies and approaches relating to gender identity may well have worked when they applied to a tiny number of gender-dysphoric people. However, now that gender ideology has become a youth-focused and social media phenomenon; and now that every distressed young person can 'reach for' gender ideology as a framework for understanding life's pain and confusion; well-intentioned policies are likely to be coming under increasing strain. 

Extraordinarily, Church materials call for 'unconditional affirmation' of trans people. The pastoral guidance can be found here. Imagine being the parents of a young person who, perhaps autistic spectrum, perhaps struggling with their sexuality, perhaps part of a peer group who is doing the same, has 'come out as trans'. Shouldn't parents be able to expect some moderation, some caution, some wisdom from the ages, from the Church? And what of young people themselves? More and more detransitioners now step forward; some have lost their sexual function, will be unable to have children, will carry scars for life. How can the Church explain and condone its 'unconditional affirmation' approach to these young people? 

Our whistleblowers tell us that there is pressure from the Church to simply 'affirm' any man as a woman who demands it. Members of the congregation are supposed to participate in affirming men as women 'even if we are rape victims'. A man must be affirmed as a woman 'even though many of our congregations include women who have been abused by men, vulnerable people such as girls with learning difficulties, children who have experienced abuse, families of transitioners and victims of male clergy abuse'. 

"This is coercive speech... The grooming angle is horrendous... It goes against safeguarding procedures...".

"Few of us signed up for this new form of controlled speech and belief... No consideration is given to anyone else's belief or consent. Clergy must use female pronouns for males on male demand, and clergy are required to hide reality, and mislead entire church congregations about the birth sex of males who identify as women. Demands from transgender people to control everyone else's language, and hide their birth sex, are to take precedence over the beliefs and material reality of entire church congregations, including male abuse survivors, despite the huge number of vulnerable people churches welcome..." 

"The CofE transgender guidance is gaslighting children, victims of male abuse, people with learning difficulties, survivors of male clergy abuse, women, those with learning difficulties, children - entire congregations full of vulnerable people".

These are strong claims. But they are surely valid. Attempting to live in truth matters to people - particularly within the Church. Science and reality matter. So do freedom of speech and freedom of conscience. And, of course, safeguarding. You would also think the established Church has its own wisdom, from the ages, to help people who are running from, pained by, reality. 

I would like Church leaders reading this to reflect upon these words from an American mother:  "My once beautiful daughter is now nineteen years old, homeless, bearded, in extreme poverty, sterilized, not receiving mental health services, extremely mentally ill, and planning a radial forearm phalloplasty (a surgical procedure that removes part of her arm to construct a fake penis)". 

Please read this incredible testimony from another mother. Some of her worries for her daughter: 'Women on high doses of testosterone have a much higher risk for heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots. They suffer from vaginal and uterine atrophy, painful conditions that normally precipitate a hysterectomy at a young age, putting them into menopause before they are out of their twenties'. This is where 'unconditional affirmation' can lead.

The words of a detransitioner: 'With all my heart I wish my gender clinic had not enabled me to transition'.

The Church should also consider seriously the concerns of many older gay people, that gender ideology can feel like the new homophobia.

I can only restate that safeguarding is also an issue. 

Trans-identifying people should feel safe in church. But so should women and children. Holding on to reality matters; freedom of speech and conscience matters - in life, and in faith, and in Church. The Church of England should surely address these growing concerns with open and honest dialogue.