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.”

Traditionalists in the church are understood to have blocked plans for a change in the liturgy and the adoption of a new blessing for transgender people. The guidance stresses that the church teaches that the sacrament of baptism can be undertaken only once.

As a compromise, it explains how existing liturgy can be adapted to affirm those who have changed their gender. The existing right for the affirmation of baptism should be used to mark a change in gender.

A Church of England spokesman said the guidance is aimed at encouraging clergy to work with transgender people to devise services to mark the unique story of each person. He said in this context a catch-all transgender service was thought to be inappropriate. Read more via Guardian