A transgender woman has come forward with allegations of discrimination, claiming a church pastor told her she would only be baptised if she agreed to “grow a beard” and “wear trousers.” Joann Carver, a 74-year-old actor with a career spanning TV dramas like The Bill, Holby City, and Doctors, stated the alleged remarks were made in June last year at the Lighthouse Church in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
Ms Carver described the comments as deeply hurtful and baffling, stating, “The long-lasting effects of it are all still with me.” She explained that prior to this incident, she had felt secure and comfortable in Ely. However, the experience left her feeling so ashamed that she began to withdraw and spend much more time at home. “It’s really quite sad because I miss the Lighthouse and it was an uplifting place to be, but only if you’re willing to conform to their un-Christian attitude,” she lamented.
Ms Carver joined the congregation after undergoing gender-affirming surgery in 2022 and initially felt a strong sense of welcome from the church leaders. She recounted enjoying the services, prayers, and sermons, and noted that her partner, Hannah, who had been attending the church for over 20 years, was open about her sexuality as a lesbian and was not rejected by the pastors.
However, Ms Carver claimed the atmosphere shifted when she expressed her desire to be baptised last year. She had participated in the church’s Alpha course and had been hoping for baptism in 2024. She alleged that she was the only participant who was not baptised.
The Baptism Request and Alleged Conditions
According to Ms Carver, when individuals interested in baptism were invited to come forward, she did so. She was then invited to sit with the pastors for a discussion. During this conversation, she claims they informed her that they could not baptise her. When she asked for the reason, she was reportedly told that she was “sinning as a trans woman and because I was living in sin with my partner.”
Ms Carver expressed her shock at this response, given the pastor’s previous friendly demeanour towards her. “This is a person that had previously been very friendly towards me and never seemed to reject me for being trans, so I was absolutely gobsmacked,” she stated. She recalled the pastor’s final words to her being a desire to see her “willing to make a change and prepared to repent.”
Following this, a follow-up meeting was arranged a week later at the request of her partner, who sought clarification on the expected changes. It was during this meeting that Ms Carver claims the pastors suggested she “should come to church in trousers and grow a beard.”
Church’s Response and Stance
After lodging a formal complaint, Ms Carver reported receiving an apology from the pastor. However, she claims she received no further communication from the church.
A spokesperson for the Lighthouse Church released a statement addressing the concerns. The church affirmed its commitment to welcoming all people and treating everyone with “love, dignity and respect as humans made in the image of God.” The spokesperson stated, “We are aware of the concerns raised, but we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation described.” They added that church leaders “acted in good faith and with sincere pastoral intent throughout.”
The statement continued by outlining the church’s theological position: “As a Christian community, we affirm the historic biblical teaching that sex is biological and a good gift from God.” The church emphasised that these convictions are “long-held, consistent, and shape how we approach baptism and discipleship.” They believe that upholding these beliefs and acting in accordance with them is “promoting God’s best for people and part of our pastoral responsibility before God.”
The church concluded by expressing a desire for “peace and reconciliation for all involved” and praying that “each person experiences the grace and nearness of God.”
Ms Carver and her partner have since left the church, with Ms Carver believing she was subjected to “discrimination” and “transphobia.” The incident has had a significant emotional impact on Ms Carver, who now feels a sense of loss for the community she once found uplifting.
