Giving thanks for Alan, Sarah, and Cynthia

Dear Trinity Church and friends,

 

Grace and Peace to you from God in Christ.  I pray this message finds you and yours well.

 

I write with word of three consequential changes among our Trinity Church staff: the September retirement of our Acting Director of Facilities, Alan Waugh, as he looks forward to more time with his family and grandchildren; the summer resignation of our Minister for Youth & Young Adults, Sarah Neumann, as she readies to begin seminary this fall; and the promotion of Cynthia Staples to a full-time position as our Historian & Visitor Services Supervisor.

 

All this news brings joy to the broader Body of Christ, bittersweet as the departures are:

 

. Alan’s ministry across the tenures of five rectors and priests-in-charge earned stars for both his Trinity and heavenly crowns.  As further confirmation of that twinkling halo, Alan stepped up to serve as Acting Director this last year – a year that none of us could have imagined when he accepted the gig.  His constancy and gracious, servant leadership has blessed our parish and everyone we serve.  As we wish him and his family all the best in this new season of their lives, the Search Committee for our new Director of Facilities launched in February, and we are in the resume-review stage at this time.  Current plans call for a new Director to be in place before Alan leaves.

 

. Sarah has also been an outstanding collaborator and leader during the two years of her ministry here.  Thanks be to God and to her skill, savvy, and fidelity, she will leave our Youth and Young Adult ministries in better condition than she received them – a high bar for which every Church leader aspires.  With the diocese’s admission of Sarah as a Postulant for Holy Orders to the Priesthood, her formation for ordination will continue as a full-time seminary student this fall, and, here at Trinity, we are considering several strategies to fulfill her ministry portfolio.  I have already begun initial conversations with prospective candidates, and I look forward to sharing more information with the parish as our plans firm.

 

. Finally, I am honored to introduce Cynthia Staples as a full-time member of our Trinity Church staff.  Many will know Cynthia from her work in our community-facing programs since 2007 and the days of the old bookstore, and she will continue that work as “Visitor Services Supervisor.”  In her expanded portfolio as “Historian,” Cynthia will add the related task of approaching Trinity’s history with a focus on issues of race and our complicity in the legacy of racism.  In the near term, this enrichment will allow her to collaborate with our Anti-Racism Team and support the ART’s hopes for a revision of Facing The Reality Of Our Past.  Further, Cynthia will support the Task Force for Justice and Reparations, as the Task Force – which will sunset this fall – studies our community-facing history, including our building, its builders, and our legacy benefactors known to us by their named funds that comprise a portion of our endowment.  In time, Cynthia will seek out partnerships in the community – other churches, museums, libraries, colleges, and/or universities – to further these historical studies, and to publish these narratives as part of our tours, online events, and in-person Forums and symposia. I am proud that Cynthia’s move into this important position marks our first new staff position created since the beginning of the pandemic.  This priority rightfully acknowledges Cynthia’s years of stellar work, and her expanded portfolio reaffirms our commitment to becoming an increasingly Beloved Community.

 

I hope you will join me in giving thanks for these three wonderful friends and colleagues.  Please see below messages to you in their own words.

 

With gratitude and optimism,

Morgan

 

 

From Alan Waugh, retiring Acting Director of Facilities

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

 

I’m writing to share that I will be retiring from work in September of this year. After more than eleven years in the Trinity Church Facilities Department, the time has come for me to move on to the next phase of my life.  My five grandchildren and many adventures await.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your support and friendship during my time here.  It has been a privilege to work with such a passionate and committed community.  My time as Trinity’s Event Manager provided me the chance to work with and get to know just about each and every one of you, and it has (almost!) always been a joy.

At present, I will continue as the acting Director of Facilities as we navigate through the challenges of preparing to re-open our buildings for worship and for the good work of the many Trinity Church and Trinity Boston Connects ministries.  Also, I look forward to assisting with onboarding the new Facilities management team.

I take my leave with fond memories of and deep gratitude for your love and kindness as you've helped me support you in the good work of Trinity Church.

 

Peace,

Alan Waugh

 

 

From Sarah Neumann, outgoing Minister for Youth & Young Adults

 

Beloved Trinity friends,

 

I’m writing to share with you all the news that I’ll be departing my role as Minister for Youth and Young Adults here at Trinity this summer.  I was recently accepted into postulancy, the next step in the ordination process, and will begin seminary at Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut this fall.

 

This is a bittersweet moment, as pursuing my call to the priesthood now means that I’ll be departing this parish community that I love. It’s been a such a great gift to worship, work, and Zoom alongside you all, and in particular with our amazing youth and young adult communities. To have crossed your paths in our mutual journeys of faith is an honor, and I will be cheering and praying for you from afar!

 

All best,

Sarah Neumann

 

 

From Cynthia Staples, incoming Historian & Visitor Services Supervisor

 

Dear Friends,

 

It has been a pleasure to work at Trinity Church all these years, meeting visitors from around the world, and getting to know the people who call Trinity home.

Now, it is an honor to have this opportunity to delve into the church’s rich and complicated history.

I look forward to engaging on this journey with you looking into the past to document and share stories that are relevant today and into the future.

 

Regards,

Cynthia Staples