First Person: Susannah Cornwall, theologist at Exeter University

[Shana A]

First Person: Susannah Cornwall, theologist at Exeter University
Monday, January 18, 2010, 07:00

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/features/Person-Susannah-Cornwall-theologist-Exeter-University/article-1719495-detail/article.html

ABOUT one in 2,500 children is born with a physical intersex condition, sometimes called a disorder of sex development.

They may have some unusual anatomy, like genitals which appear "in between" those of a typical girl or boy. Or there may be a "mismatch" between their genitals and other physical characteristics.

In the recent past, children with unusual-looking genital anatomy often had surgery to make them look more typical. However, some adults who underwent surgeries as young children have said that they would have preferred to be left as they were.

[spacial]

The existence of intersex raises more difficult questions for Christians who believe in fixed gender roles: if it is not always possible to know whether someone is male or female, how is it possible to say for sure whether they should be ordained or made a bishop?

The book of Genesis suggests that both males and females are made in God's image — but this need not mean that only males and females are made in God's image.

I'm still waiting for someone, anyone to explain to me why God might be male.

Or have any sex at all!

If God is male then I would have thought that, before creating men and the universe, He would have created a female god.

Surely we are all, what we are. Some are athletic, some studious. Most inbetween.

That would seem to apply to most things in life, including our sexuality.