Dr. Andrew Collins is a Christian counsellor who also works part-time as a consultant psychiatrist. As an elder at Killicomaine Evangelical Church in Portadown, he is involved in ministry on a regular basis. Dr. Collins also provides teaching and training on pastoral and mental health issues for churches and conferences. In our fifth ‘On being human’ seminar, which focuses on gender and sexuality, he will to consider gender dysphoria and transgenderism from a pastoral perspective.

Gender dysphoria – and the broader category of transgenderism – presents a growing pastoral concern for the church today. Whilst the number of those struggling with the condition is small, the questions it raises cut right to the heart of what it means to be male and female in the image of God.

In seeking to understand the issue in a pastoral context, we will begin by reviewing how society today understands gender identity issues. A plethora of terms are used to express different experiences of gender and any discussion of these matters must be clear about vocabulary and definitions.

I will attempt to look at the question of causation, asking where does gender dysphoria come from? Is it nature or nature, or more? The question of how to help and support those who struggle is a matter of considerable debate and current approaches to managing gender dysphoria will also be explored.

In a Christian context, observations, interpretation of causes and even interventions themselves must be brought before the gaze of scripture – so how do we understand and reinterpret gender dysphoria in light of being created male and female in the image of God? Of being fallen and then redeemed by Jesus Christ?

At the end of the seminar, I want to conclude with a pastoral approach to transgenderism and consider how we can love and know the person, speaking grace and truth into a complex struggle.

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Dr. Andrews’ seminar ‘Understanding gender dysphoria’ took place on Monday, 7th November 2016 at Union Theological College, Belfast.