Resolution: 86-02: Gender Dysphoria and Transgenderism
Whereas, mankind was specially and personally created by God. In the beginning, “God created man in his own image…male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, 2:7, 2:21-24, 5:2) and as confessed in Westminster Confession of Faith 4.2, Larger Catechism Q17, and Shorter Catechism Q10, and; as David praises God in saying, “For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14), and;
Whereas, God created mankind with two separate genders. As Jesus said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female…” (Matthew 19:4, Luke 10:6), and;
Whereas, God commanded man and woman to procreate. As God said to Adam and Eve and later to Noah and his sons, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 7), and as confessed in Westminster Confession of Faith 24.2, and;
Whereas, children are a blessing and are to be protected. As the Scriptures says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord,” (Psalm 127:4) and Jesus had a high regard for children and their just protection saying, “Whoever causes one of these little ones…to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42), and;
Whereas, the two created genders are separate in the sight of God and are not to be confused. As the Scriptures says, “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5; see also 1 Corinthians 11:7-9), and;
Whereas, science supports biblical teachings. As the sex of a person is the biological state of being female or male, based on sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles, and is genetically encoded into a person at the moment of conception and it cannot be changed. Therefore, so-called sex change medical and surgical interventions are a rejection of science, and; [see endnote]
Whereas, to reject the teachings of Scripture breaks the Moral Law and promotes the lies of Satan. To declare oneself as a different gender than to which he or she was born is a lie, thus breaking the Ninth Commandment (Exodus 20.16); and as confessed in Larger Catechism Q143-145; Shorter Catechism Q76-78, and since Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44), such a declaration itself may be deemed satanic. Now, therefore, be it
Resolved that the 86th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting August 3-7, 2023, in Greeneville, Tennessee, condemns all forms of gender transitioning or change from one’s original biological creation as being contrary to God’s creation and will.
Resolved that we thereby also condemn biological males using female locker rooms and bathroom facilities, thus allowing the male opportunities of voyeuristic perversion and placing the females in embarrassing, immodest, and even dangerous situations.
Resolved that we also reject males participating in female competitions and females participating in men’s competitions, because that too perpetuates the lie that gender may be fluid, or may be different or changed from one’s begotten biological nature.
Resolved that we condemn when schools and any other entity teach contrary to the above statements, or support those who do so.
Resolved that we love and help those who are caught in the gender dysphoria lies to free them from this bondage, and encourage them to renounce those lies, place their faith in Christ, and become, as best they can with the Holy Spirit’s help, the person God created them to be.
Resolved that we love and embrace those who, having once been caught up in the lies of gender dysphoria, have now rejected those lies for a life serving Christ. May there be many such people who are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Resolved that we encourage parents to involve themselves in their children’s lives, learn what they are being taught in school, and be acutely aware of their interactions with friends, social media, and the internet.
Resolved that we encourage parents to beware of the ungodly influence that public education currently has upon children in the United States, and if possible, to remove their children from such schools and place them into a private Christian or home school environment.
Resolved that our churches and ministries support parents in raising their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV), and if possible, helping parents through material means and fellowship in the community of Christ.
[Endnote: All of the above material, from the beginning of the document excepting that which is italicized, was issued by the Evangel Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America and adopted by that denomination. We are very grateful for their work in this area. The full document may be found here: pcaga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Overture-12-Evangel-Petition-re-Sex-change-procedures.pdf .]