Public Defender Woodall ordained as Episcopal deacon
Written by Lenore Rutherford, The Union Democrat March 12, 2012 12:09 pm
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Local-News/Public-Defender-Woodall-ordained-as-Episcopal-deacon (http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Local-News/Public-Defender-Woodall-ordained-as-Episcopal-deacon)
A Tuolumne County woman was ordained as an Episcopalian deacon at a Saturday ceremony in Stockton, joining a small but growing group of transgender clergy members.
Carolyn Woodall, an attorney with the Tuolumne County Public Defender's Office, was conferred the title in a ceremony at the Episcopal Church of St. Anne in Stockton, joined by dozens of church leaders, family members and friends.
She will serve at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Jamestown, comprised mainly of local Episcopalians who stayed with the faith following a 2007 rift in the San Joaquin Diocese, which saw more-conservative members leave and join the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America.
Woodall called the ceremony "wonderful" and said she was "very relieved."
Transgender Deacon Shares Life Changing Story
April 6, 2012 6:44 PM
Reporting Ben Sosenko
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/04/06/transgender-deacon-shares-life-changing-story/ (http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/04/06/transgender-deacon-shares-life-changing-story/)
JAMESTOWN (CBS13) - This story is extremely rare. In fact, there are only a handful of Episcopalian clergy members that are transgendered in the world.
Reverend Carolyn Woodall's story, the deacon at Jamestown Church, began one dark night when she contemplated taking her life.
In the Spring season, the season of new life, Woodall has her own story of resurrection.
"God made me male on the outside, but female in my soul," said Woodall.