19/05/2026
On 28 March 2026, the United Theological College (UTC) in Zimbabwe hosted a significant engagement focused on exploring the ways in which churches can respond to the realities faced by inters*x people within churches and communities. This event brought together presiding bishops from member churches and representatives from their offices for a day of meaningful dialogue, reflection, and strategic planning aimed at fostering inclusion, justice, and pastoral care for inters*x individuals.
The engagement commenced with a moving presentation by Betha Tsitsi Ndabambi, founder of the Inters*x Community Trust, Zimbabwe (ICTZ). She shared her personal lived experience as an inters*x person—a term that refers to individuals born with physical s*x characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Inters*x traits can include variations in chromosomes, go**ds, hormones, or genitalia that do not align with conventional definitions of male or female. Betha emphasised the importance of the church engaging directly with issues affecting inters*x people, moving beyond silence and stigma towards acceptance and pastoral support. Her testimony set a tone rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and pastoral concern, urging church leaders to recognise their role in affirming the dignity of all God's children.
Following her presentation, participants heard firsthand accounts from inters*x individuals about their lived realities. These narratives revealed profound challenges, including children being disowned by one parent immediately after birth, individuals experiencing psychological ostracisation by their churches and communities, and issues related to being mislabelled or misunderstood due to gender ambiguities. Participants also learned about the difficulties faced in accessing legal documents such as birth certificates and identity cards, which often do not reflect their true gender identities, thereby complicating access to education, health, employment, and other rights. These stories underscore how social exclusion, discrimination, and institutional barriers deepen the vulnerability of inters*x people in Zimbabwe.
The session also contextualised these issues within the broader regional and global landscape. In Zimbabwe and much of Southern Africa, inters*x individuals frequently face discrimination, lack legal recognition, and experience social exclusion from faith communities. Globally, the situation mirrors these patterns, with legal recognition of inters*x variations often inconsistent or absent and faith institutions exhibiting a range of responses—from outright exclusion to emerging efforts toward inclusion and advocacy. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for faith communities to reflect theologically on issues of gender, embodiment, and human dignity.
The engagement concluded with church representatives proposing concrete interventions to promote inclusion and justice. These included creating safe spaces within congregations for open dialogue, providing training for clergy and lay leaders on pastoral care specific to inters*x individuals, advocating for legal reforms that facilitate access to accurate legal documentation, and partnering with organisations like ICTZ to translate theological reflection into tangible support and advocacy efforts. Participants recognised that such steps are vital for fostering environments where inters*x people are recognised, respected, and affirmed as part of God’s diverse creation.
The College noted that these discussions marked an important step toward equipping church leaders with the knowledge and pastoral skills necessary to respond with dignity, inclusion, and justice. By centring the lived experiences of inters*x people within theological conversations, the event aimed to strengthen the church’s role in protecting and affirming the inherent worth of all individuals, regardless of their bodies or gender identities.
This gathering reflects an ongoing commitment within Zimbabwe’s faith communities to embrace a more inclusive understanding of human diversity and to act as agents of justice, compassion, and integrity in a complex social landscape.
*xInclusion