In the News: Rev. David Weekley

The Epworth United Methodist Church in Oregon got a bit of a surprise on Sunday when their beloved minister, the Rev. David Weekley, announced to the congregation that he had been born female and transitioned to male decades earlier.

Weekley had kept this information quiet for the 27 years that he had ministered within the Methodist church. He transitioned in the early 1970s, and entered the ministry approximately nine years later.

Age 58 now, and married with grown children, Weekley could have kept this information confidential for the rest of his life. But he made the decision to come out, and used his Sunday sermon to do so.

"Following his story," the Sherwood Gazette reports, "the congregation, who had remained silent throughout his talk, broke into thunderous applause. Church members then proclaimed their support for their pastor."

What Weekley did took a lot of guts. He could have lost almost everything--his congregation, his ordination in the church, and the support of his colleagues. He still might, because the Methodist church has taken a hard line against LGBT people, in the ministry and even in some congregations, and in a general meeting scheduled for 2012, church higher-ups will rule on a policy regarding trans people.

But for now, Weekley will retain his ministry and, by all indications, the support of his congregation. Hopefully, his coming out will change some minds and influence the church in their decisions about trans and LGB ministers.

Coming out isn't for everyone, but when it happens, especially in situations like this, it can go a long way in fostering acceptance of trans people. Research has shown that people who "know one" have a different view of whatever group that "one" belongs to. I think there will be a lot of people protesting any decision by the church to strip Weekley of his ordination.

And maybe by 2012, the world will be a saner place for everyone, including transgender and transsexual people. We can only hope. It really can't get much worse, but with people like Weekley coming out in such a public way, it stands to get much better.

And, regardless of what happens, he did what he needed to do to be true to himself, and that can be a lesson to all of us, trans and non-trans--to be true to ourselves, whatever that means to us. And it will mean something different to each of us.

I congratulate David Weekley and wish him the best of luck in what will prove to be a very interesting future. Whatever happens, he has already made a difference.

(Photo of the Rev. David Weekley provided by David Weekley)