What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance 2019

    Earlier this year, someone was convicted in Glasgow Sheriff Court of sending me threatening and abusive messages. The offence was found to be aggravated by prejudice related to both sexual orientation and transgender identity. Someone had threatened my life, and my own association and support for trans people was one of the reasons for the prejudice and one of the reasons that the court and the police took the offence as seriously as they did.

    Whilst it was unpleasant having to deal with that incident, I’m well aware that it was the one time in my life when I’ve seriously suffered myself from prejudice against people with a trans identity. Those who are trans have to deal with this prejudice every day as they make their way through life. Such prejudice seems to have become more vocal and confident recently.

    My own limited and partial experience of dealing with this is one factor in why I am prepared to stand alongside those who mark today as the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Violence and prejudice against people is wrong. Trans people are simply people. Prejudice and violence against trans people is simply wrong.

    However, in stating that I stand alongside trans people in remembering that they suffer from violence and prejudice, I also am reminded that as I stand alongside trans people I stand alongside people whom I’ve known to be creative, brave, funny, interesting and whole. I know and have worked with trans priests and admire them. My own congregation includes trans people with all kinds of diverse experience who are not simply defined by their trans identity. When I think of them, I think of people who make the world a better place.

    The world will be a better place when violence against anyone because of their identity is eliminated.

    Remembering trans people whose lives have been taken from them, I lament their loss and pray that they may rest in peace and rise to make heaven more glorious.

    Remembering trans people who are alive, I thank God for them and pray that their lives may be filled with joy.

    [Comments on this post will be moderated]

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6 responses to “Repeat post – wiki video”

  1. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Ah goodie. I’m sure you’ll let us know how it goes 🙂

    (What an *awful*ly annoying voice-over on the video…)

    Reply
  2. Erp Avatar
    Erp

    Do you have the critical mass of people times effort/person to get the wiki going?

    Reply
  3. Stewart Avatar
    Stewart

    Sounds a wonderful idea – now what topic can we use and discuss to improve our worship.

    Reply
  4. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    That is a good question ERP. At the moment, the wiki is really working as an intranet. (Or perhaps an extranet). It means that several of us can work together on a page without being physically located together.

    One of the things that are very prevalent in churches is the presence of dispersed teams. Keeping everyone one track by e-mail can be quite hard.

    A good example of what we are doing at the moment, is using a private, protected part of the wiki so that I can work on wedding bookings with our weddings organiser.

    In time, and with help from others, I will be developing various bits of cathedral documentation. We are good at doing things in St Mary’s but less good at writing them down.

    Thus, a liturgical manual is one of the goals of the wiki project.

    Also things like “How to organise a ceildih in St Mary’s” and “How we organise champagne for Easter Day”.

    Reply
  5. Lay clerk Avatar
    Lay clerk

    “How to choose the post-Evensong pub”

    And the answer to both the ones you posed is obviously “get the choir to do it”!

    😉

    Reply
  6. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    I remember signing up for “St Mary’s Hub” a while back, but I didn’t record its URL, and I can’t now find it. Is that the wiki you’re talking about, or are you now starting from scratch with something different?

    I’m just curious to see how you’re using the technology, in case there’s anything we can learn and apply up here.

    Robin

    Reply

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