Earlier this week, Thalia and I shared with you, the parishioners of Trinity Church, the summation of the investigation into Tom Whittemore’s charges of sexual abuse from a different parish thirty years ago. This statement was written by the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
None of us are ever truly prepared for such a situation. Being followers of Jesus Christ and members of God’s church neither insulates nor protects us from the realities of our broken and sinful world, and when such actions damage the community, we do our best to act with honesty, courage, grace, and faith.
Our time of healing is only just beginning. There are prayers to be offered, conversations to be shared, questions to be explored, and policies and procedures to be revised and implemented. This reality has affected each of us in different ways and will shape our community as we go forward.
I want to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to Thalia Mingo, our Senior Warden, Phil Unetic, our Junior Warden, our outstanding Vestry, our devoted clergy and lay staff; Joanne, Kara, Connor, Emily, Annie, Lily, Adam, Roberto, and Enrique for their dedication to Trinity, their commitment to the difficult work that is before us, and for their faithfulness to Christ and the mission of God’s Church. We are blessed to have such a team.
Finally, I want to thank you, the good people of Trinity Church, for your prayers, trust, and support. We have faced a great deal over the past three years, but I genuinely believe that as difficult as this season has been, God has been at work in our midst, and we are now standing on the threshold of a new season of life and vitality. We find our way forward as a cherished community of love and compassion proclaiming God’s word of healing and life to all.
The leadership team and I always welcome your comments, insights, questions, and concerns in order to promote understanding and clarity as we live into God’s future for our beloved community.
The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector