LGBTQ+ Identities and Religion
A helpful guide for IP Out Members and Allies
Tuesday 11 November 2025, London and Online
6.00 arrival for 6.30 pm start
Meet the speaker – Rev Sarah Jones
Sarah was the first person to be ordained in the Church of England having previously made a gender change. In January 2005 she hit the headlines when she was outed to a national newspaper as having made a gender change many years previously. The story was covered in many newspapers, television and radio stations and on web sites and blogs throughout the world.
Representatives from the media went to her parishes and asked people what they thought about having a curate who had made a ‘sex-change’. The people and her Bishop supported her.
Sarah was ordained priest in September 2005 despite criticism from some conservative Christians – even on the morning of the ordination itself.
She is a contributor to national and local radio and television programmes as well as livestreams, blogs and webcasts.
Sarah now ministers in central Cardiff. She also speaks to conferences and groups on a range of topics including sex and gender, social influence, leadership and diversity, being your authentic self and about the importance of having good support from your employer. In June 2021 Sarah was awarded a Pride Award by Attitude Magazine and in November 2021 she was the subject of a BBC World Service radio programme.
Location
White & Case, 5 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1DW
Timings
6.00-6.30 pm: Registration for in person attendees
6.30 pm: Online event start
6.30-7.30 pm: Introduction, speaker and Q&A
7.30-9.00 pm: Networking
9.00pm: Close
Session Outline
- A brief outline of Sarah’s lived experience and the human-ness of being trans and the development of her transgender and sexual identities
- An overview of the common experience of Trans, Intersex and Gender non-conforming people
- An exploration of sex, sexuality and gender in the Bible and religious attitudes to LGBTQIA+ identities
- An exploration into the importance of compassion, support and Allyship
- Question and Answer time
Registration
This event is free. So are all our resources. We think it’s important to keep IP Inclusive on the right side of the paywall. That said, we do need money to keep the show on the road, so if you are able please consider donating via our Just Giving page. For more information – including about corporate donations – visit our fundraising page.
Please note that registration for this webinar requires the provision of an email address associated with your company or institution. If you do not provide such an email address, your registration will be cancelled. If this will cause any problems for your attendance, please contact the IP Out committee at [email protected].