A088 Develop Guidelines for Amending Name and Gender in Church Records
his resolution seeks to provide a policy to address an issue of privacy as it impacts access to full membership and ministry in this Church among those who have legally changed their name(s) and wish to keep that change private. People who take on a new legal name have often undergone profound life transitions of various sorts, including divorce and/or remarriage, adoption, and as part of the fuller claiming of a gender identity by members of the transgender community. While many people may not find it necessary to request a change in church records after they have legally changed their name, others may consider the potential disclosure of a previous name via church records a matter of privacy and even personal safety. The proposed policy is offered to dioceses as a way to honor the dignity of any person who has changed their name.
Explanation
his resolution seeks to provide a policy to address an issue of privacy as it impacts access to full membership and ministry in this Church among those who have legally changed their name(s) and wish to keep that change private. People who take on a new legal name have often undergone profound life transitions of various sorts, including divorce and/or remarriage, adoption, and as part of the fuller claiming of a gender identity by members of the transgender community. While many people may not find it necessary to request a change in church records after they have legally changed their name, others may consider the potential disclosure of a previous name via church records a matter of privacy and even personal safety. The proposed policy is offered to dioceses as a way to honor the dignity of any person who has changed their name.