(7-8-26) At its 227th General Assembly in late June 2026, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a measure stating that it supports access to medically necessary, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare. The measure passed by a vote of 441–30. It directs the church’s Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy to update its healthcare policy to reflect that position.
A motion from the Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee declaring that the PC(USA) supports access to medically necessary, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare was approved 441-30.
GEN-02, On Access to Health Care, directs the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy to update its healthcare policy so that it reflects this topic of business.
Committee Recommendation
On this Item, the Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee acted as follows:
Approve as Amended with Comment
The Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee chose to remove the phrase “including minors” from this recommendation at the request of young people who did not want to see this overture misused to cause more harm to transgender minors. This phrase was removed with the clear understanding that “all individuals” does, in fact, include people of all ages.
Electronic Vote – CommitteeAffirmative:50Negative:10
Final Text:Show Final Text
Declare that the PC(USA) supports all individuals[, including minors,] to have access to all medically necessary, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare.
[Direct the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy to update relevant health care policy, such as “Resolution on Advocacy on Behalf of the Uninsured,” to reflect GEN-02 and other current health care concerns, to be brought to the 228th General Assembly (2028).]
Zayn Silva, a corresponding member with the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity, said the church has struggled to offer compassion for gender-affirming healthcare.
Silva said –
“During the HIV/AIDS crisis, we called treatment moral confusion, and people died without our love.”
Silva said compassion for those seeking gender-affirming care is an example of LEAF, an acronym shared in the morning worship by Moderators the Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson. LEAF, the Moderators offered, stands for “Love Everyone and Flourish.”
Silva said –
“Let us not let people die without love now, because this is a life-and-death matter.”
Silva offered statistics from The Trevor Project in 2024: More than 80,000 young people seriously considered suicide in the year before.
Silva said –
“The same research shows that where young people are affirmed, those numbers drop. Gender-affirming care is associated with lower suicide risk.
The body of Christ does not turn people away from healing,”
Commissioners also approved with amendments an item to refer to PL&W and the General Assembly Committee on Representation to further study. The business came in as a commissioner’s resolution that would treat with care the ministries of staff who had served as intercultural congregational associates.
The measure passed with amendments 471-13.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) celebrates the gifts of all gender identities and sexual orientations in the life of the church and affirms the full dignity and humanity of all people.
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