Why does the Resource Center have "Regeneration" in its name?

 

When a family member transitions from one gender to another, often the other family members must reform or recreate themselves.  Family members' adjustment and reaction to a transgender parent or child is a process that occurs over time rather than a static event (1*).  Transitions happen not only for the transgender individual, but also his/her family, regardless of whether they are willing (2).  They may have to change the relationship terms (e.g., father, mother, brother, sister)  that they use to refer to their transgender family member.  In the Christian context, the word "regeneration" also means a spiritual rebirth or conversion.  For Christian families with a transgender member, these two meanings of regeneration can sometimes intersect.  In order to cope with changes in the family, its members may renew or remake their relationships with God.

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The Family Resource Center Model

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The Regeneration Resource Center is based on the family resource center model and has been adapted for Christian families with a transgender member.  Family resource centers are facilities that provide services and programs to meet families' needs.  They can be located in a wide variety of settings in communities, such as churches.  However, in this case, the Regeneration Resource Center is virtual.  Family support focuses on empowering families to help them care for their members.

 

Mission Statement

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The mission of the Center is to support and strengthen families with a transgender member by providing information and resources, as well as referrals and education from a Christian perspective to family members, clergy, churches, and mental health clinicians.  The Center promotes protective factors for families, including resiliency (emotional and spiritual), social ties, and self-initiated referral to clinical support when needed.

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Center Director

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The Regeneration Resource Center was developed by Sean Lynch, PhD.  Dr. Lynch is a licensed certified social worker (LCSW) who received his license from the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (#16372).  He is a counselor at Bay Area Christian Counseling located in Annapolis, MD, where he provides individual counseling for those exploring their gender identity and for the family members of these people.  He also offers support groups for families with a transgender member.  He has been a member of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work and the National Association of Social Workers.  He was formerly a faculty member at the University of Florida-Jacksonville School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. He has worked as a public health social worker in an HIV and substance abuse prevention program in West Hollywood, CA, serving transgender people and gay men.  He received his doctorate in social welfare from UCLA. In addition to his work experience, he also has lived experience as a person with a transgender family member.  From this experience, he has learned to take a nuanced approach to this complex subject.  He has found that there are no easy answers when a family member does not conform to societal and religious views of gender, and the experience of each family with a transgender member requires a unique approach.  

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How to use the Center's resources

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Disclaimer Notice

The content provided on this website is for general information only.  It is not to be perceived as or relied upon in any way as medical advice or mental health advice.  This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment that can be provided by your own physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, therapist, counselor, mental health practitioner, or any other licensed or registered health care professional. 

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The resources provided here are designed to meet families, clergy, churches, and mental health clinicians "where they are," meaning that the resources start with their understanding of gender identity and their beliefs about how it should be expressed.  The resources represent a wide range of perspectives on transgender identity and avoid taking any particular position.  The reason for this approach is that this issue is a controversial one, the science on gender identity is still developing, and there is a variety of views on its causes, morality, and appropriate responses.  This situation means that within one family different members may hold conservative and liberal perspectives on gender identity.  Since family members go through a process of acceptance over time when one of its members discloses a transgender identity, the perspective they have on gender identity and the transgender family member at the beginning of the process may change.  Within the Christian church, views diverge on whether gender identity is linked to biological sex or not (3).  While you may disagree with a particular perspective, bear in mind that it may be best to be open-minded regarding a controversial subject that we still don't know much about.  In particular, both conservative and liberal viewpoints could be better informed by family members' lived experience of this issue.  It's possible for families, clergy, church members, and mental health clinicians to keep their strongly held religious convictions and be supportive of someone with a transgender identity (Matthew 7:1-3; Romans 3:23).

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Let's get started!

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• Are you a family member with a transgender relative?  Click here to learn more.

• Are you a member of the clergy or of a church?  Click here to read more.

• Are you a mental health clinician?  Click here to learn more.

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* The citations on this page come from the research literature and other publications and are available upon request.

1. Lev, 2004; Emerson & Rosenfeld, 1996

2. Connolly, 2006; Whitley, 2013

3. Adams 2017, De Jong 2017, Green 2015, Miller 2015