 I am not generally a big fan of church apologies to LGBTIQ+ folk - as (like many apologies to First Nations peoples) they are so easily ‘cheap grace’, and lack meaningful reparations and active repentance (which you’d think would be basic for Jesus followers). However, where there is a genuine attempt to LIVE Apology out - what queer UCA leaders call a ‘Living Apology’, with clear intent and steps (sadly something the UCA is still dragging its feet on) - this is something some us can at least work with, even where our full dignity is simply not negotiable. I’m pleased therefore by what I believe is a genuine step forward by my former Anglican diocese in the diocesan Apology issued by its Synod this week. Whilst I’d like to see what the next steps are - beyond a welcome promised major event with the Archbishop - this has been part of a reconciling process which has invited queer folk like me to contribute and has been led by Anglican leaders like the Dean of Brisbane who are truly affirming. I therefore thank my wonderful church siblings in Southern Queensland warmly for all they have done and continue to do and pray that this may continue to bear living fruit (even with the current limits and pressures set by other Anglicans in Sydney-style).
The text of the Apology is below...
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It was wonderful to see photos of good friends and other people from across my old Diocesan community gathered with Elders and other First Nations community leaders at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane after the launch of the second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan with which I was involved.. The gathering commenced with Yuggera Traditional Owners welcoming to their Country, dancing and carrying out a smoking ceremony on the grassy Cathedral grounds. Following this, community members processed into the Cathedral where the Reconciliation Choir sang and RAP Working Group Chair and Wakka Wakka priest The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase gave an address, before introducing Archbishop Phillip Aspinall and respected Elder speakers, including Wangan Jagalingou Elder The Rev’d Aunty Alex Gater, Saibai Elder Aunty Dr Rose Elu, Kabi Kabi Elder Professor Boni Robertson and RAP Coordinator and Quandamooka Bundjalung Elder Aunty Sandra King. Following a moving time of truth telling and story sharing, fellowship over afternoon tea was enjoyed, with refreshments provided by First Nations caterer Three Little Birds Events. With thanks to all those who gathered in person and online to officially launch the RAP, as the journey in Reconciliation together continues. Visit the ACSQ website to explore our new Innovate RAP, which particularly embraces stronger procurement and recruitment strategies to support and engage with our First Nations peoples and endorsement of The Uluru Statement from the Heart: https://bit.ly/3r3DR8i.
I'm delighted to share this short non-binary video enacted poem, released on this Trans Day of Remembrance, as a tribute to our diverse lives and in memory of those whose lives have been so cruelly abused and taken from them this year - with thanks to artist & facilitator Chalise van Wyngaardt and their team, West End Uniting Church in Brisbane, the UCA Transforming Worship gender diverse liturgy group I’m coordinating, and all who have supported this initiative, financially and in other ways 🙏❤️🏳️⚧️🌈  It was a delight to share together with MCC Brisbane on our last Sunday evening in Brisbane - with special thanks to Pastor Alex Pittaway for leading a special blessing of Penny and I as we head south, to my dear friend Kevin Green for his sermon, and everyone involved. I am deeply grateful to MCC Brisbane for the love, encouragement, fun and divine glitter we’ve shared over the last five years. A truly, fully, affirming church is such a profound joy and gift to the world - may more and more flourish!
 As I come, this Saturday, to give my final lecture as a St Francis College Brisbane staff member, it is poignant to do so on the subject of ‘The Vocation of Anglicanism’. In that light, it is such a delight to find today an Ad Clerum from Bishop David Jenkins - written in 1993, in the white heat of conflict, as the final legal steps for the ordination of women went through Parliament. It is a typical +David description of the Anglican (Church of England) spirit in which I was raised - so far from so much that passes as Anglican in some places today - not least these key points which also sit so happily with the UCA ‘Basis of Union’ ...
 I am delighted by friends and colleagues who have been working on a project for May-June 2021 entilted From Biscuits to Bishop: Changing women, changing church - A celebration of Anglican women’s history in Brisbane Diocese. From Biscuits to Bishop is a multimedia exhibition celebrating Anglican women . The digital exhibition, to be launched in mid-2021, will be complemented by a display of objects and memorabilia in St John’s Cathedral Brisbane...
 It has been a great delight, and a surprising honour, to be featured as one of the 'Dangerous Women' of Queensland in the recent podcast series produced by the State Library of Queensland. Each of the other episodes features remarkable women from different fields of life and experience - including the extraordinary Lilian Cooper who, with her life partner Josephine Bedford, were also queer pioneers associated with the Anglican Church in Brisbane. My conversation with the wonderful Holly Zwalf can be found here, and the full podcast series here. I am also grateful for a positive article in the Brisbane Times by Jocelyn Garcia, in which she highlights 'finding your roar' - part of what I hope I can convey to others (of whatever gender identity and/or journey):
"I hope my story can encourage other people, not to be exactly like me, but whoever they want to be and have courage to take on difficult things because it is worthwhile in the end, Above all, it’s about taking courage and trusting the deep-down things of love and life in yourself." (full article here)  Penny and I are feeling very blessed after renewing our marriage vows this week in St John's (Anglican) Cathedral in Brisbane - on our 35th wedding anniversary. We had intended to mark this occasion by beginning several months long leave overseas. COVID-19 put an end to that. However we felt powerfully drawn to mark this point in our lives, particularly after this year completing the main elements of my gender affirmation journey. It also gave us an opportunity to celebrate a 'queer' marriage which some of our co-religionists say is impossible (!) but which we believe is a lovely gift for the renewal both of marriage and also of human relationships with our wider creation. For, as I have written elsewhere (see here for example), a deeper wrestling with Judaeo-Christian tradition leads us into a much more profound and life-giving understanding of marriage and God's shalom...
 I was thrilled recently to meet with the amazing (Snaggletooth Productions) duo Erin McBean and Holly Zwalf (also, among other things, coordinator of Rainbow Families Queensland). They were interviewing me for the State Library of Queensland's Dangerous Women podcast project, which will highlight six women's stories. I am honoured to be one of these, recognising that for some I am 'dangerous', though I have never sought any such epithet, and I hope that something in my journey may help others in shining creatively. This is certainly the aim of the State Library. As has been shared with me:
'All of our Dangerous Women are compelling, bold, determined and dynamic and we hope that in sharing their stories they will empower listeners to share a deeper understanding of themselves and Queensland. We have selected stories of three women from our heritage collections, and two women with contemporary aspects, yourself included. We have employed the expertise of Snaggletooth Productions, an all female production company to produce and host the podcast'. I hope to share more about the project as a whole as it unfolds. There are three key features however which have emerged for me which have strengthened my views (born of my life experience and my studies of women's history) of how 'dangerous women' who deliberately create positive change, or unwittingly represent positive change, come to flourish...  I'm hugely grateful to Dr John Wallace, film-maker Rachel Lane and her wonderful team, for bringing to fruition the short documentary Faithfully Me, sharing part of the stories of myself and Rhett Pearson as transgender people of faith living into our authentic selves. This was shown on ABC Compass on 24 May, and is available on iView here until 23 June, and afterwards will be shared by Equal Voices and others on YouTube and through other channels. We hope it will be a blessing to many, sharing further light and understanding, and affirming gender diverse people in churches and wider society. In this project I am particularly grateful as ever for the support of my wife, the Revd Penny Jones (who also shares some of her journey with me in the film), and friends and colleagues from St Francis College & St John's Cathedral in Brisbane (both of which, by kind permission respectively of the College Principal and Dean, were part of the locations filmed).
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AuthorJo Inkpin is an Anglican priest serving as Minister of Pitt St Uniting Church in Sydney, a trans woman, theologian & justice activist. These are some of my reflections on life, spirit, and the search for peace, justice & sustainable creation. Archives
September 2024
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