Jo Inkpin Explained

Type:Priest
Jo Inkpin
Ordination:
  • 1986 (deacon)
  • 1987 (priest)
Birth Place:England
Religion:
Spouse:Penny Jones
Alma Mater:Durham University

Josephine McDonnell Inkpin is an Australian priest and activist. Currently a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, she was previously a member of the Anglican Church of Australia and was the church's first openly transgender priest.[1]

Early life and education

Inkpin was born in England. She completed a PhD in theology at Durham University in 1996, with a thesis titled "Combatting the 'Sin of Self-Sacrifice'?: Christian Feminism in the Women's Suffrage Struggle: 1903–1918".[2] [3]

Career

Inkpin taught history and theology at Oxford University. She was ordained a deacon in 1986 and a priest in 1987.[4] She has noted that the role of priest allowed her to "exist in a way between sexes – in previous centuries they called it the third sex".

Inkpin and her wife Penny served in the Church of England before moving to Australia.[5]

Transition

Inkpin made a public statement in July 2017 announcing her transition.[6] At this time she was aged in her fifties and had felt that she was a woman for many years.[7] She chose the name "Josephine" in honour of Josephine Butler, an Anglican saint and theologian.

The Archbishop of Brisbane supported her transition and encouraged her to continue with her ministry. Other parts of the church, including the Sydney Anglican Diocese, were not as supportive.[8]

In March 2021, Inkpin was inducted at Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney. This made her the first openly transgender person appointed within a mainstream church in Australia.[9] [10] [11] [12] On 4 May 2021, local member of parliament Alex Greenwich issued a community recognition statement congratulating Inkpin on her appointment, noting that Inkpin and Jones were passionate, welcoming and focused on inclusion within the church.[13]

Activism

Inkpin was the co-chair of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. She was also coordinator of the Rainbow Faith project.

Inkpin was featured on the Queensland State Library podcast "Dangerous Women".[14] [15]

Personal life

Inkpin is married to Penny Jones, also an Anglican priest. They met in the early 1980s while they were both studying theology at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. They have twin daughters and are also grandparents. In July 2020 they celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and reaffirmed their vows at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane.

Writing

Inkpin is the author of Trans Spirit Flourishing, a website with resources for transgender Christians.[16]

She has two blogs – Blessed Imp[17] and Pen and Ink Reflections, written with her wife, Penny.[18]

Books

Journal articles and other publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 February 2018. Meet Australia's first transgender priest. 9 July 2021. ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . en-AU.
  2. Web site: Coleman. Ashleigh. Josephine Inkpin. 9 July 2021. arts-ed.csu.edu.au. en-AU.
  3. Inkpin. Jo. Combatting the 'sin of self-sacrifice'? : Christian feminism in the women's suffrage struggle, 1903–1918. 1996. Durham University. doctoral thesis. 21 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Q&A with priests, academics and spouses, The Rev'd Penny Jones and The Rev'd Dr Jo Inkpin. 9 July 2021. en.
  5. Web site: 30 March 2021. 'Tears of joy' as trans priest becomes Uniting Church minister. 9 July 2021. www.abc.net.au. en-AU.
  6. News: 24 July 2017. Statement on gender transformation from Dr Jo Inkpin – Anglican Ink © 2021. en-US. Anglican Ink © 2021. 9 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Married priest transitions to become Australia's first Anglican transgender clergy. 9 July 2021. Evangelical Focus. en.
  8. Web site: 30 March 2021. 'Tears of joy' as trans priest becomes Uniting Church minister. 17 July 2021. www.abc.net.au. en-AU.
  9. Web site: 7 April 2021. 'Another step forward': Trailblazer Reverend Jo Inkpin calls for increasing LGBTIQ+ acceptance in religion ». 9 July 2021. pinkadvocate.com.
  10. Web site: Jo Inkpin makes history as first trans minister inducted into a mainstream church The Drum – The Global Herald. 31 March 2021 . 9 July 2021.
  11. Web site: 1 April 2021. Trans minister Reverend Jo Inkpin makes history in Uniting Church. 9 July 2021. QNews. en-us.
  12. Web site: Joesphine Inkpin to serve as new minister at Pitt Street Uniting Church. 9 July 2021. Insights Magazine.
  13. Web site: Reverend Jo Inkpin. 4 May 2021. 9 July 2021. Alex Greenwich.
  14. Web site: Dangerous Women . 9 July 2021. State Library Of Queensland.
  15. Web site: Garcia. Jocelyn. 'Find your roar': Queensland's first transgender priest on living bravely. 9 July 2021. Brisbane Times. 11 October 2020 .
  16. Web site: About the Author. 16 July 2021. TRANS SPIRIT FLOURISHING. en.
  17. Web site: Jo Inkpin Blog. 9 July 2021. Blessed Imp. en.
  18. Web site: About Josephine Inkpin and Penny Jones. 9 July 2021. Pen and Ink Reflections. en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jo Inkpin".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.