Bishop Says Transsexual Has Not Been Disqualified

Episcopal Bishop-elect Frederick Borsch said Thursday that he would consider the application of Joanna Clark, who underwent a sex change operation 13 years ago, if she formally applies to establish her own religious community in south Orange County.

Her status as a transsexual would not automatically disqualify her from forming her own order, nor from becoming a sister in the Episcopal Church, he said. But he would take the operation into account in his decision, he said.

Last week, Clark, 49, took vows of poverty, obedience and chastity and the name of Sister Mary Elizabeth in a ceremony performed by the Rev. Robert Boyer, rector of St. Clement’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in San Clemente.

In the ceremony, Boyer said he “affirmed” Clark’s intention to establish her own order to perform social work. But Episcopal diocese officials denied that an order had been created or that Clark had been inducted as a nun in the order.

Borsch said the sex-change operation would be considered in his decision like any other personality trait in determining whether to admit a candidate to holy orders.

“I wouldn’t automatically say, ‘No, they couldn’t be involved,’ ” he said.

“What I’d want to do is meet with her and others like her, to understand them as people. I’d be very concerned about her maturity as an individual, with her gifts to reach out to other people.

“Obviously, it’s a very unique situation.”

Borsch was elected last week to head the Diocese of Los Angeles, which includes Orange County.

Clark, contacted by telephone at her parents San Juan Capistrano home, declined to comment.

Clark has said she already sent the diocese copies of rules and regulations that she and two friends had drawn up for their proposed order and has asked for the bishop’s blessing. Diocese officials said they have not received the documents.

Clark has been working as a staff assistant at the church and is called Sister Mary Elizabeth by co-workers. She has been wearing a blue homemade habit and a cross since last fall.

Her proposed order, the Community of St. Elizabeth, received status in December as a nonprofit corporation, she has said.

Creating an order is “a long and careful process requiring several years and various stages of approval,” according to a statement released by the diocese. “One first step is the approval of the bishop.” Another requirement is that the order have at least six professed life members.