[Magdalen] My announcement (was Quick prayer request)

[Sally Davies]

Kristin...thank you for sharing this with us. May God be with you, with
Heather, and with everyone who links arms with you as you step out into a
fitting life. May you know a new peace and freedom that can carry you past
any hostility from anyone at all, and may angels come to your aid
whenever you can't walk past it.

Most of all, may music continue to be your great blessing in this the world
and a joyous gift you can share with others.

Sally D

On Friday, 17 October 2014, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:

> May God be with you on your journey.
>
> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 12:03 AM, Georgia DuBose <gdubose at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
>
> > May the Lord lead you in righteousness and make his way plain before
> > you place as you travel this amazing new road.
> >
> > All good wishes,
> >
> > Georgia+
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 16, 2014 at 9:59 AM, Scott Rollins <organist at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > > I hope you'll forgive me for not writing a separate post, but I hope to
> > > when life calms down a bit.
> > >
> > > I sent the message below to the choir on Tuesday, so that they would
> know
> > > of it before our rehearsal last night. And, as had been arranged, when
> I
> > > had sent the message to the choir, the rector forwarded it on to the
> > > members of the vestry and the rest of the staff.
> > >
> > > The message (and then I'll add a bit more):
> > >
> > > ----- Begin included message -----
> > >
> > > Friends,
> > >
> > > A few days ago, I gave Father Derek my resignation. My final Sunday
> will
> > be
> > > in just over a month.
> > >
> > > Part of the reason is burnout. My reaction to the parts of the job
> that I
> > > have found difficult has grown to consume more and more of my attention
> > and
> > > my energy as time has gone on. Were this the only reason, I would have
> > > attempted to find adjustments that would permit me to continue.
> > >
> > > However, over the past few years, I have also been coming to an
> > > understanding of who I am which does not match how I have been
> presenting
> > > myself to you. And I have reached the point where I can't continue
> hiding
> > > who I am; that is, where I can't continue hiding that I am a
> transgender
> > > woman.
> > >
> > > A word on terminology: a transgender woman is somebody who despite the
> > > anatomy they were born with identifies as a woman. It isn't about
> > > impersonation or performance, it is about who I am.
> > >
> > > I recognize that there are those who will be uncomfortable with this
> and
> > > others who will object based upon their beliefs. So while I have come
> to
> > > the point where I need to be more open about who I am, I also believe
> > that
> > > continuing in a staff position during this transition would lead to
> > > controversy and division within the parish, and be a distraction from
> > (and
> > > detriment to) the real mission of St. John's, as well as adding to how
> > > difficult it would be for me to handle my responsibilities as your
> choir
> > > director.
> > >
> > > I want to thank you all for everything you all do for this parish and
> for
> > > all you have done over the last four and a half years to welcome me and
> > to
> > > help lead music here at St. John's. I ask for your prayers, and you
> will
> > > continue to be in my prayers.
> > >
> > > ----- End included message -----
> > >
> > > The one thing that I left out was my name. I am using the name
> Kristin. I
> > > have been using that name in various places online for a while now,
> but I
> > > wanted to stay as Scott at work until my finish date (which is Nov 16),
> > in
> > > an attempt to not cause too much of an issue while I'm still in a
> > > leadership position.
> > >
> > > I have been surprised at how positive the responses have been. I
> received
> > > replies Tuesday from most of the choir, and I received a couple of
> other
> > > messages from people in or connected to the vestry. And most of them
> were
> > > fully supportive. (Though, of course, there were one or two that were
> > sorry
> > > I was leaving but mostly ignoring the reason behind it. I am sure the
> > > conversations between parishioners are far more "interesting" than any
> > > conversation that I will be part of.)
> > >
> > > My biggest fear had been the word getting to the parish and now that
> the
> > > situation is public knowledge, I'm feeling freer to let other people
> who
> > > knew me as Scott know. Before this week, the people who knew were my
> > wife,
> > > my stepdaughter, my mother, my former therapist, our current one, my
> > > rector, a former parishioner who moved out of state, and members of my
> > > wife's now-former order, and then the online people who have only known
> > me
> > > as Kristin. Now, I'm both excited and scared about coming out to other
> > > people and trying to stagger it enough that I don't drown under the
> > > responses, but quickly enough that people who need to hear quickly do.
> > >
> > > So, that's the situation here. Thank you for all your prayers around
> the
> > > announcement, and I'd appreciate them as I move forward.
> > >
> > > Kristin
> >
>