Full Breakdown
Church in Wales Reaffirms Inclusion of Trans People After EHRC Draft Guidance
7/18/2026, 1:22:30 AM
Core Event
On 16 July, the Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales released a statement responding to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft Code of Practice. The bishops said the draft guidance, which outlines what organisations may do under equality law, has “caused fresh pain and anxiety to many trans people.” They affirmed that the Church will not invoke legal exemptions to deny trans individuals access to worship, sacraments, pastoral care, or broader church life.
Official Statements & Responses
The bishops emphasized that the draft Code “tells organisations what the law permits” but does not define the Church’s mission. They reiterated a commitment made after a Supreme Court ruling a year earlier, declaring that every human being is a “precious child of God, deserving of dignity and respect.” The statement called on congregations across Wales to provide “genuine sanctuary” for trans people and their families and urged public bodies to seek solutions that uphold the dignity of all, rather than protecting some rights at the expense of others. The Bench concluded by affirming that every trans person is “a beloved part of the life of this Church.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The publication of the EHRC's Draft Code of Practice has caused fresh pain and anxiety to many trans people.” — Bench of Bishops, Church in Wales
- “It does not tell us who we are as the Body of Christ.” — Bench of Bishops, Church in Wales
- “We are called to the radical welcome of the one who sought out the excluded and the overlooked.” — Bench of Bishops, Church in Wales
- “The Church in Wales will not use equality law exemptions to exclude trans people from our worship, our sacraments, our pastoral care, or our common life.” — Bench of Bishops, Church in Wales
- “You are known. You are loved. You are welcome here, as you are, always.” — Bench of Bishops, Church in Wales
Why It Matters
The statement signals a clear theological stance that separates the Church’s pastoral obligations from statutory minimums, positioning the Church in Wales as an advocate for full inclusion of trans members. By publicly rejecting the use of legal exemptions, the bishops aim to influence both internal congregational practice and broader public discourse on the balance between equality legislation and religious freedom in the United Kingdom.
