Vicar can carry on preaching after sex change
By Sean O’Neill
A BISHOP gave his blessing yesterday to a vicar who is to have a sex change operation before resuming his ministry as a woman. The Rev Peter Stone, 46, who will be known as Carol, is the first serving priest in the Church to have “gender redesignation” treatment.
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| Rev Peter Stone: ’Every night I prayed that I would wake up as a girl’ |
The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev Barry Rogerson, said there were “no ethical or ecclesiastical legal reasons why the Rev Carol Stone should not continue in ministry in the Church of England”. He said he had researched the issue of transsexualism and consulted Lambeth Palace before approving Mr Stone’s continued ministry.
Mr Stone has “the overwhelming support” of his congregation at St Philip’s Church, Upper Stratton, Swindon, where he has been vicar since 1996. Had the parish opposed him remaining as vicar after the sex change, he would have been removed and the Diocese of Bristol would have provided for him.
Mr Stone, who has been married and divorced twice and has an 18-year-old daughter, said he had been troubled by his sexuality all his life. “My earliest memory was wishing to be other than I am and every night I prayed that I would wake up as a girl. I thought it was perfectly normal and reasonable at the age of four or five to do that. If there was another way for me I would not be here today. Nobody does this by choice. The whole thing is full of agony. I am looking forward to that moment when I will consider myself to be a matching head and body and head and heart.”
Mr Stone was ordained in 1978 and is a former chaplain and head of religious studies at Daunstey’s School, Devizes. His first marriage lasted seven years but he never discussed his transsexual feelings with his wife. He did talk about it with his second wife to whom he was married for 13 years and who is the mother of his daughter.
He added: “My daughter has been tremendously supportive. She is doing her A-levels at the moment and so she has a lot on her mind. Her mother wants my happiness. She has known about my struggle for many years. Both my wives are supportive.” Mr Stone is receiving drug treatment and will have surgery towards the end of the summer. He said he would not dress in women’s clothing until the surgical procedures were complete.
Bishop Rogerson said the decision over the future of Mr Stone’s ministry had been his responsibility. He said: “I consulted with the General Synod office, with our lawyers and I informed Lambeth Palace. Having done my homework and talked with him, it became clear this was the right thing for him to do. It is not a decision I have had any sleepless nights about.” The bishop said that consultations with Mr Stone’s parish began a month ago and the full congregation was informed on Sunday. Without the support of at least two-thirds of the congregation Mr Stone’s ministry would not have continued.
Bishop Rogerson said he accepted that there were many in the Church who would feel uncomfortable with his decision. However, Greta Davies, vice-chairman of St Philip’s parochial church council, said: “There has been overwhelming support from parishioners. On Sunday the bishop talked to the congregation about it and there was spontaneous applause.”
2 November 1999: Sex-change father faces call to quit children’s panel
2 August 1999: Sex-change soldiers can stay in Army
29 September 1999: Sex-change Pc loses discrimination case
14 May 2000: Transsexual weddings are condemned
1 May 1996: Transsexual wins Euro court fight
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