iNYC: Integrity NYC Metro

Good times with Integrity/NYC-Metro on February 10th

2012-02-13T16:13:00.002-05:00

Forty eight people turned out for Integrity/NYC-Metro's Eucharist and Social on Friday, February 10th, at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields. The Rev. Jon M. Richardson, Priest-in-Charge of St. Paul's, Bergen, presided; The Rev. Dn. Kent Curtis of All Saints, Manhattan, served as deacon; and The Rev. Jan Nunley, parishioner-priest at St. Peter's, Peekskill stirred everyone up with a great sermon.

We were blessed with presence of Integrity's founder, Louie Crew. It was also wonderful to have some folks who were checking out the Episcopal Church for the very first time, as they had heard of the event through NYU's campus ministry. The social went on for over an hour and a half, until the hall finally had to be locked for the evening. (Rumor has it that some folks continued the party on their own!)

The steering committee was very pleased by the response, and is planning another Eucharist and Social for early May. We are hoping to do something brand-new for Integrity and have a Spanish-language Eucharist in a Latino parish! Watch this blog for details.

Reaching Out: New Meetup Group for LGBT Christians in NYC

2012-01-24T13:58:00.001-05:00

As part of an effort to reach more people, both our peers in other LGBT Christian organizations and those looking for a spiritual home, we have founded a Meetup Group. Unlike Facebook and other social networking services, Meetup is event-focused and automatically suggests activities to members based on what interests they choose in their profile.

In an effort to share this tool and ministry with similar organizations within other mainline denominations, we have chose to identify this group as "Believe Out Loud NYC" rather than limit it to Integrity. We will make contact with the other area churches listed as Believe Out Loud partners in an effort to foster the kind of ecumenical cooperation the campaign espouses.

Please take a look at the Meetup Group and consider participating. Besides events we will use it for discussions, polls and other activities to get to know other progressive Christians in the city.

Believe Out Loud Workshop at Newark Convention

2012-01-16T16:59:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, Jan. 28th, The OASIS (the LGBT Ministry of the Diocese of Newark) and Integrity will present a workshop about the Believe Out Loud campaign at the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Newark at the Parsippany Hilton.

Believe Out Loud is a multi-denominational campaign to identify, equip and promote congregations that are inclusive and welcoming LGBT persons. In 2010, Integrity, TransEpiscopal and the OASIS diocesan ministries in numerous dioceses undertook the work of promoting Believe Out Loud within the church.

The program, which is free, encourages congregations to intentionally include LGBT persons in their efforts to welcome visitors and newcomers. There are educational materials available about various topics.

Resolution on Marriage Passes at NY Convention

2012-01-16T16:52:00.000-05:00

The Committee on LGBT Concerns of the Diocese of New York proposed a resolution that was presented at our (delayed) Diocesan Convention. The resolution asks that the Bishop of the Diocese of New York interpret C056 in a manner that will allow (but not require) clergy in the Diocese to officiate at same-gender marriages as they do currently with opposite-gender couples. It also calls upon the Diocesan Convention to urge the 77th General Convention to revise the current Canons of The Episcopal Church with regard to marriage, to provide for the marriage of same-gender couples in those jurisdictions that have or will have civil marriage for same-gender couples.

For those not at Convention, the resolution on Marriage Equality passed easily. There was a motion to separate the parts, with a vote on parts 1 & 2 and then a vote on part 3 [the main part asking the bishop to allow clergy to officiate.] The vote on the first two parts was practically unanimous, and about 75% in favor of the third part.The full text of the resolution along with a brief explanation may be found here.Thank you to all those who helped support this resolution.

Eucharist & Social Scheduled for Feb. 10th

2012-01-12T14:18:00.000-05:00

On Friday, Feb. 10th at 7:00 p.m., Integrity NYC-Metro invites everyone to join us for worship and conversation at St. Luke in the Fields, 487 Hudson Street, New York.

The Rev. Jon L. Richardson, Priest-in-Charge at St. Paul's Church in Jersey City and Vice President for National Affairs for IntegrityUSA, will celebrate the Eucharist, assisted by The Rev. Deacon Kenton Curtis. Kenton is the supervising social worker for the HIV/AIDS Initiative of The Actors Fund and serves at All Saints' Church in Manhattan.

The Rev. Jan Nunley, an award-winning journalist who helped shepherd the Episcopal Church's communications into the digital age, will offer the sermon. A reception and social hour will follow.

A special invitation is extended to past and present members of Integrity. We would like to get to know you and share a bit about what we've been up to!

St. Luke in the Fields is located at the corner of Hudson and Christopher streets in the heart of the West Village. It is just steps away from the Christopher Street PATH station for a quick ride from New Jersey, and two short blocks from the Sheridan Square station on the #1 subway.

Prayer for the Election of a Bishop

2011-11-18T14:19:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, 19th November 2011, the Episcopal Diocese of New York will meet to elect our new bishop coadjutor. We have been blessed with a wonderful list of diverse candidates from whom to choose.

The candidates are:

The Rev. Canon Andrew M. L. Dietsche

The Very Rev. Peter Eaton

The Rev. Canon John T. W. Harmon

The Very Rev. Tracey Lind

The Rev. Canon Petero A. N. Sabune

The Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon

If you would like to know more about the candidates, please go to:

http://www.dioceseny.org/pages/483-coadjutor-election

As the Diocesan Organizer for Intgrity USA in the Diocese of New York, I look forward to working with whomever the diocese (and the Holdy Spirit) will elect.

Please join me as I pray:

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for yourpeople and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Paul J. Lane

Diocesan Organizer - Diocese of New York

Integrity USA

Requiescat in Pace: Frank Goodsir (1930-2011)

2011-11-01T23:44:00.000-04:00

Integrity NYC-Metro has learned of the recent death of Frank Goodsir, an active member of the NYC Chapter in its early days and a friend of the community. Among Frank's recent ministries was the coordination of monthly monthly services of the National AIDS Memorial within the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.

We are gathering details about Frank's life and contributions, and hope to offer a more substantial tribute here in the near future. Anyone who can provide more details is requested to contact Christian Paolino, Integrity's Diocesan Coordinator (Newark) at newark@integrityusa.org.

A Memorial Service will be held this coming Saturday, November 5th at 10:30 a.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York. All members and friends of the Chapter are encouraged to attend if able. Transit: Cathedral Pkwy (0.2 mi W)

Parish Spotlight: Church of the Redeemer, Morristown, N.J.

2011-10-08T18:15:00.002-04:00

A congregation with a long history of inclusion has recently placed new energy into "believing out loud."

The Church of the Redeemer, in downtown Morristown, N.J., whose mission statement describes it as "a Christian Liberation community in the Episcopal tradition," has long been a place of radical hospitality. As its marquee has proclaimed for years, persons of every identity and belief system are welcome within its doors. It recently called a new rector, the Rev. Cynthia Black, D.D., whose dedication to social justice meshes well with the church's history.

Redeemer has a number of public events in the month of October which are of interest to our community:

On Thursday, Oct. 13th, at 7:30 p.m., members of the congregation will host a discussion of Stephanie Spellers' 2006 book, Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and the Spirit of Transformation. The book is described as "a practical theological guide for congregations that want to move beyond mere inclusively toward becoming a place where welcoming 'the other' is taken seriously and engaging God's mission becomes more than just a catch-phrase.
On Sunday, Oct. 16th at 7:00 p.m., the gospel duo and same-sex couple Jason and deMarco will offer a concert to benefit S.A.F.E., a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing safe housing for LGBTQ youth and young adults throughout the United States.
On Thursday, Oct 20th at 7:30 p.m., Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda will speak about his work with LGBT people in his country as part of a nationwide tour organized by the St. Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation. Bishop Christopher will also preach at Redeemer's 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Oct. 23rd. "Bishop Christopher is one of the most courageous people I know. At great risk to himself and to his family he has been willing to speak truth to power-- in this case, the truth of God's love to the Anglican Church of Uganda, and to the Government of Uganda," said Rev. Black.

This summer, Redeemer became the second Integrity Proud Parish Partner in the Diocese of Newark, which helps to support both Integrity's work nationally and our recently-revitalized NYC Metro Chapter. Redeemer is also adopting the Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation marque, which was somewhat of a "no-brainer" given its place in the vanguard of LGBT inclusion in our area.

Vestry member Steve Osvold told us, “Redeemer has a long history of social action and LGBTQI inclusion, but we’re definitely seeing a new burst of energy and commitment. Some of that grew out of our response to Tyler Clementi’s death last year, but it also reflects where we are as a parish, with an energetic and visionary new rector and a desire to see what new things we can do to make the world better reflect the world Jesus described in the Gospels. Redeemer’s generally been more interested in what’s possible than in the status quo, I think, and so many people seem to be seizing on that at this moment. It’s really an exciting time to be at Redeemer!”

In the 1980s, the congregation, which at one time was one of the largest in the Diocese of Newark, was coping with dwindling membership and a perceived lack of direction or purpose. Coping with the reality that the parish must reinvent itself or die, the members called The Rev. Philip Dana Wilson as their fifteenth rector.

Under Wilson's guidance, the congregation responded to the illness and death of one of its own from HIV/AIDS in the early 1990s. At a time when many still refused to care for AIDS patients, the members set up an AIDS ministry and converted Redeemer's oversized rectory into the Eric Johnson House, a residence for persons with HIV/AIDS who are coping with homelessness or transition in their lives. Today the House is operated by New Jersey AIDS Services, a nonprofit separate from the church, but a symbiotic relationship with the congregation remains.

This focus on caring for the disenfranchised and underserved has blossomed into other ministries and is now at the core of the parish's identity. These are just a few of the ministries that the congregation now participates in or supports, a textbook example of the response predicted by The Rev. Rebecca Voelkel in her study To Do Justice: A Study of Welcoming Congregations. In her research, Rev. Voelkel found that congregations who intentionally self-identify as LGBT-welcoming experience a further "hunger and thirst for justice" which leads to further commitment to social ministry.

When the time came to search for a new Rector, the congregation knew it needed someone who shared its commitment to inclusion. The call went to The Rev. Cynthia Black D. D., who had long served as Dean of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but was herself a product of the Diocese of Newark, ordained here in 1985. Rev. Black's own history of social justice and AIDS awareness work won her the praise of former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, who stated, "Her ability to grasp the many dimensions of any situation and to articulate them clearly and boldly have been a gift to the Council and the church."

Watch a video of the Celebration of New Ministry for The Rev. Cynthia Black

Today, Redeemer has been blessing same-sex relationships for over twenty years. The congregation also recently started its own LGBTQIA group led by parishioner Leah Thomas, who stated, "With the death of Tyler Clementi, the Church is developing a concerted outreach to the wider LGBTQ community, both local and global. As part of this effort, we are proud to host Bishop Senyonjo to help raise awareness of the situation of LGBTQ people in Uganda."

Integrity NYC-Metro is proud to call Redeemer a partner in the work of furthering equality, and we look forward to participating in this month's events. Redeemer is located at 36 South Street in Morristown, N.J., within walking distance of the Morristown Station on the Morristown Line of NJ Transit Railroad.

Believe Out Loud - Welcoming and Affirming Parish Workshop in NYC on October 2, 2011

2011-09-12T14:29:00.004-04:00

Believe Out Loud - Welcoming and Affirming Parish Workshop
Saturday, Oct 1 from Noon to 6:00pm
LGBT Center, 208 West 13th Street, New York NY 10011

Is your parish welcoming and affirming of LGBT persons? Are you as welcoming and affirming as you would like to be? Many unchurched lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] people in your community are spiritually searching. They are looking for a faith community where they will be welcomed and affirmed as beloved children of God. You can encourage them to visit and join your parish by becoming a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation. An Integrity Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation is a mission or parish of our denomination that publicly welcomes and affirms LGBT people and that has completed a simple 3 step process.
Believe Out Loud is a program being used by 16 different main-line denominations as a means of learning to become more welcoming and affirming of LGBT people. Come and learn how your parish can become an Integrity Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation.
The workshop is free to Integrity members, there is a small fee for non-members to cover costs.
For details and to register go to: http://integrityusa.givezooks.com/events/believe-out-loud-workshop-nyc

For more information contact: Paul J. Lane, Diocesan Organizer-New York, Integrity USA at newyork@integrityusa.org

Integrity/NYC-Metro and New York State Same-Sex Marriage

2011-07-18T19:15:00.005-04:00

We are very happy that the elected representatives of New York State, have recognized lifelong commitments between people of the same sex, as marriage. We pray for the day that this recognition will take hold in every state in our country, and at the federal level of government.

Integrity's vision for the Church is this: "all the sacraments for all the baptized." We understand this as meaning that one standard--prayerful, thoughtful, and equitable--should be spelled out and applied to both heterosexual and LGBT people.

We recognize that the different bishops of the dioceses in New York State are interpreting the "generous pastoral response" permitted at General Convention in 2009, in varying ways. While Integrity would rejoice if all bishops were to immediately solemnize marrriages, we realize that this is not immediately likely for varying reasons, and we urge charity and pastoral engagement on all sides in other dioceses.

Vindictive language and attribution of evil motives on any side are profoundly unchristian, wound the heart of God, and provide fodder to anti-Christians who believe the church is evil.

The Episcopal Church has existing canons regarding the solemnization of marriage. While these use male-female language that we believe needs changing, Integrity does not see any reason to request that clergy exempt same-sex couples from the reasonable and healthy requirements contained in these rules, among them:

Each partner is free to marry, freely consents to the marriage, and intends that the marriage be lifelong.
The couple intends that the marriage take place in the context of the Christian community that is the church.
At least one of the parties is baptized.
The couple has completed appropriate pre-marital counseling from the cleric performing the marriage or some other approved person.
Any (and all) previous marriages and/or domestic partnerships have been dissolved legally and evidence of this has been provided to the cleric.
Any former spouse(s) and children have been and are being treated justly. (In some parishes, this is understood as being current on any and all child and spousal support.)
Where necessary, the appropriate bishop has given consent.
Thirty days' advance notice has been provided to the cleric. (The canons state this can be waived for a serious reason. Since there is no reason at this point to expect that the right to marriage in New York is going to be revoked soon, there would need to be a more weighty reason than a strong desire to be among the first married under the new law.)

All clergy, church lay people, and seekers wishing to be married should remember that both the state and the Episcopal Church are very, very clear that no cleric should feel pressured into performing any particular marriage--by a couple, their families, friends, or ethnic/cultural mores.

We urge all parishes, regardless of their stance on same-sex weddings, to update their websites with accurate, complete, and current information regarding their wedding policies, so that seekers may find and read it before making contact.

For other questions or information,please contact Integrity/NYC-Metro at integritynyc@gmail.com.

Integrity NYC-Metro & FaithStreet Offer Workshops to Enhance Your Parish's Web Presence

2011-07-07T08:55:00.007-04:00

If you haven't seen the current edition of The Episcopal New Yorker, click here and check out the fine introduction to FaithStreet.com, a new Web directory of New York area churches.

Integrity/NYC-Metro and FaithStreet.com are partnering to offer Episcopal churches a two-hour free evening workshop on how to create or improve your parish's web presence for free or at minimal expense. While this workshop is designed for parishes that have limited technical resources, all are welcome. There are two sessions--one on July 19th in Washington Heights at the Church of the Intercession, and one on August 2nd at Grace Church, West Farms, in the Bronx.

Click here to respond to this invitation.

July 19th at 6:45 p.m.

Church of the Intercession

550 West 155th Street

New York, NY
Transit: 157 St (0.1 mi N)

August 2nd at 6:45 p.m.
Grace Church West Farms
1909 Vyse Avenue
Bronx, NY
Transit: West Farms Sq - E Tremont Av (0.2 mi E)

New York City Pride Day - 2011

2011-06-27T22:20:00.014-04:00

by Paul J. Lane, Diocesan Organizer for Integrity, Diocese of New York

Pride Week in New York has been quite a whirl-wind. Each morning we woke up hoping that today would be the day that Marriage Equality finally came to New York State, and each evening we went to bed disappointed as the State Senate worked into the night without bringing Marriage Equality to a vote. That is until Friday night, when the Republican controlled Senate brought the matter to the floor. (Without this turning into a civics lesson, let me just say that, in New York, the majority party controls which bills come to the floor for a vote and most bills are never brought to the floor unless passage is almost assured.)

There was literally dancing in the streets of Greenwich Village when the vote came in. I know. I was there.

As we in Integrity continue our own march toward the full inclusion of all the baptized in all the sacraments, as Episcopalians we are not always the best at getting our message of full inclusion out to the wider community. The visible participation of the Episcopal Church / Integrity in Pride Events is one of the ways that we can do this, so, on Sunday afternoon, June 26th, Episcopalians and their friends from the Dioceses of New York, Long Island and Newark, as well as further afield, began to gather on East 37th Street in preparation for our turn on Fifth Avenue.

We were soon joined by the Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of New York who has marched in many New York City LGBT Pride Marches in the past and will be retiring at the end of the year.

The march began at noon, but it was almost 4:00 p.m. before the Episcopalian contingent began marching down the Avenue. The turn-out of both participants and spectators was far greater this year than in years past. Once upon the avenue we were joined by our float, funded in part by a grant from Integrity USA.

The Bishop joined us on the float only to find the Rev. Jon M. Richardson, Vice President for National Affairs for Integrity USA.

The view down Fifth Avenue from 34th Street was enough to take your breath away.

Preceding the float were banners from both the Episcopal Diocese of New York (pictured above with Bp. Roskam) and Integrity NYC Metro.

We then marched proudly down Fifth Avenue to Greenwich village along with many local Episcopal parishes.

We arrived in Greenwich Village at about 6:00 p.m., giving us enough time to rest before attending the traditional Festive Evensong for LGBT Pride at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, an Integrity Proud Parish Partner.

The church was packed with over 300 Episcopalians, Lutherans and friends as Bishop Roskam processed down the aisle in a rain-bow cope, preceded by the Rt. Rev. Andrew St-John, parish clergy and the Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng, theologian and Assistant Professor at the Episcopal Divinity School who was to be our preacher for the evening and who, coincidentally, had had his union blessed at St. Luke’s in June 11 years earlier. A reception followed and was enjoyed by all.

Photos by Br. Millard Cook n/BSG, Paul J. Lane and Vincent Chiumento

Marriage Equality

2011-06-25T03:23:00.003-04:00

As Diocesan Organizer for Integrity USA in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, I can do nought but congratulate those politcians and especially those activists who have made Marriage Equalit a reality in New York State. I am proud to represent a diocese that stood up for eqality in civil marriage by an overwhelming majority at convention several years ago.

A special thanks must go out to Michael Sabatino and his husand, Robert Vooheis, two members of Zion Episcopal Church in Dobbs Ferry. They have worked tirelessly with MENY in order that this day should come.

Join us at the Pride March. Sunday, 26th June. Meet on 37th Street between 5th and Madison between 12:30 and 1:00pm. We really have something to celebrate..

Paul J. Lane

Eucharist Before the NYC Pride March

2011-06-21T10:15:00.002-04:00

Integrity NYC Metro has been invited to join in the regular 11:00am Sunday Eucharist at the Church of the Transfiguration (The Little Church Around the Corner), 1 East 29th Street. We will proceed to the March from there. (A 10 minute walk.)

http://www.littlechurch.org

Please join us.

(The streets and side-walks of the East 30's are not conducive to a pre-March Street Eucharist.)

Pride March Information is Here

2011-06-20T16:47:00.003-04:00

WE ARE IN SECTION 11 / GROUP 15. WE NEED TO BE LINED UP ON EAST 37TH STREET, BETWEEN 5TH AND MADISON, BY 1:00PM.
(Although we probably won't start marching right away.)

THE NYPD DOES NOT ALLOW MARCHERS TO JOIN THE MARCH ENROUTE.

All who are able should meet on East 37th Street.
The float will join us once we are on 5th Avenue.
If you need to ride the float, please contact Paul Lane at newyork@integrityusa.org

...

The Episcopal Church has, for years, been in the forefront of the full inclusion of LGBT persons in all of the sacraments. While we may not yet have attained all of our goals, we are well on our way. This is one of the most visual and important ways that we have of reaching out to the LGBT Community, many of whom have given up on or been driven away from any organized religion.

Integrity NYC Metro has partnered with LGBT Concerns Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and many parishes and individuals arranged for a float and DJ in the 2011 LGBT Pride March.

The March takes place on Sunday, June 26, 2011. It will proceed down Fifth Avenue from the lower 30s to its usual end point on Christopher and Greenwich Streets in the West Village. All you need to do to participate is show up. All are encouraged to come and bring their parish banner.

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Lane at 646-456-8705 or lgbtconcerns@dioceseny.org

Partial funding for the float has been provided through a grant from Integrity USA.

We apologize for the delay in getting this information to you, however, NYC Pride did not publish the Order of March until Monday, 20th June.

Bishop Sisk Expands on His Recent Letter to the New York Times

2011-05-23T10:33:00.002-04:00

May 23, 2011

In a letter published May 16 in the New York Times in reference to same-sex civil unions, and reproduced below, Bishop Sisk expressed his support for equal rights for all before the law, and applauded the fact that at the Diocesan Convention in Nov 2008 the Episcopal Diocese of New York as a whole had voted in support of legislation to enable such unions in New York State.

"When expressing views in this format, however, it is not always possible to be as nuanced as one would like," he said, expanding on the letter. "I want to make it clear that I do not mean to suggest that every Episcopalian, either elsewhere in the country or here in the Diocese of New York, agrees with me on this - I speak only for myself and for the majority of the Diocese who voted in favor of the legislation. A sizable minority - although I do believe it is a minority - disagrees, in some cases strongly. Those people's views are honestly and prayerfully held, and deserve to be listened to with respect."

Bishop Sisk also drew the important distinction between the support of people of faith for equal rights for all before the law - and hence their right to be legally married - and the far more complex and difficult issue of the sacramental character of gay and lesbian unions. "Opinions within the Episcopal Church are far more widely varied on whether or not such unions should be recognized within the Church, and if recognized, what the nature of that recognition should be," he said. "At The Episcopal Church's General Convention in 2009, legislation was passed calling for a renewed pastoral response from the church in light of changing circumstances in civil legislation regarding marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons. It also provided for an open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships and urged the honoring of the theological diversity of our church in regard to matters of human sexuality. That process is still continuing."

The text of the Bishop's letter to was as follows:

To the Editor:

Not all people of faith oppose the granting of equal civil rights without regard to gender orientation ("Faith Groups Campaign to Block Gay Marriage," news article, May 6).

Speaking personally, I support the proposed New York legislation. So too, I am happy to say, does the Episcopal Diocese of New York, which voted in 2008 to call on the governor and the Legislature to enact it.

(Rt. Rev.) MARK S. SISK

Episcopal Bishop of New York

New York, May 9, 2011

Episcopalians in the Pride March 2011

2011-04-28T13:08:00.004-04:00

The Episcopal Church has, for years, been in the forefront of the full inclusion of LGBT persons in all of the sacraments. While we may not yet have attained all of our goals, we are well on our way. The annual LGBT Pride March is one of the most visual and important ways that we have of reaching out to the LGBT Community, many of whom have given up on or been driven away from any organized religion.

For the first time in several years, in 2010, the Committee on LGBT Concerns of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, in collaboration with Integrity NYC-Metro and the Oasis-Diocese of Newark, as well as many parishes and individuals, sponsored a float in the annual New York City LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Trans-Gender) Pride March in June. Several hundred Episcopalians, from parishes large and small, from Staten Island to Sullivan County, marched down Fifth Avenue with the float, the largest religious contingent in the entire March!

In order to do this again in 2011, we need your help. The LGBT Pride March is not a budgeted item. We rely on donations from individuals, parishes and groups in order to make it possible. The cost is between $6000.00 and $7000.00 and our suppliers (float, music, registration) require payment in advance. While it may seem a bit early, Easter has just passed and the LGBT Pride March is on Sunday, June 26th, the second Sunday after Pentecost.

The Church of St. Luke in the Fields has agreed to act as our treasurer this year. Please make your checks payable to The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, note Pride March in the memo field and mail to:

Paul J. Lane
c/o The Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

The March takes place on Sunday, June 26, 2011. It will proceed down Fifth Avenue from the lower 30s to its usual end point on Christopher and Greenwich Streets in the West Village. Our exact meeting time and location won’t be known until about two weeks prior to the actual March. You will not need to register your group separately. We will take care of registration and marshals. All you need to do to participate is show up. We will post the information on the LGBT Concerns web-page: www.dioceseny.org/pages/346-lgbt-concerns and our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=220187362837 as soon as the March organizers let us know.

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Lane at 646-456-8705 or LGBTConcerns@dioceseny.org

Integrity NYC Metro - Spring Meeting and Eucharist - May14th, 2011

2011-04-27T14:14:00.002-04:00

Integrity/NYC Metro's Spring 2011 Eucharist will be celebrated on Saturday, May 14th 2011 at 4:00p.m. at The Church of the Transfiguration, 1 East 29th Street in Manhattan. The Eucharist will be followed by a General Membership Meeting and Social. (This is the same day as the celebration of Bishop Roskam's 15th anniversay as bishop.)

We will be talking about the directions in which Integrity sees itself going both nationally and locally as well as asking for input from our members about what they would like to see Integrity do on the local level.

We welcome all members and those who are interested in becoming members, as well as family and friends. Please email convener@integritynycmetro.org if you have questions or check out our web-site at http://www.integritynycmetro.org/

Again, All Are Welcome.

Coming Out as Christian at GAAMC

2011-04-10T14:22:00.000-04:00

On Monday, April 4th, three of us "came out" at a regular meeting of the Gay Activist Alliance of Morris County (GAAMC), the oldest LGBT community organization in New Jersey... as Christians.

Given the ongoing controversy over what the Bible (and, thus, God) is really saying about same-sex attraction in the way we understand it today, it is not surprising that the intersection of these two worlds is a thorny one, and there is considerable distrust or at least bemusement at those who claim to be both. And yet, that is where many of us find ourselves. Our visit was intended to witness to our own very different experiences, and also to let people know that there are many Christian congregations in the area of various denominations where they will be welcomed, as part of the Believe Out Loud welcoming congregation program. Integrity, the national organization for LGBT Episcopalians, is working with its peer organizations in thirteen other denominations to identify and support congregations that are striving to be more welcoming and affirming.

As it turned out, there were members of three different Episcopal congregations in the audience. They also shared testimony of how they had been made to feel welcome, some after very negative experiences in other churches. Others expressed pleasant surprise that there were so many places taking intentional steps to be more inclusive.

Some good networking followed the event, and we hope to forge cooperation with folks that are already "believing out loud" in their own congregations to keep building the groundswell of inclusion. Panelists were The Rev. Robert Solon, Vicar at St. Thomas' Church in Vernon, N.J.; Mary O'Shaughnessy, Convenor of Integrity NYC-Metro; and Christian Paolino, Diocesan Organizer (Newark) for IntegrityUSA and a member of the OASIS Commission, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark's ministry to LGBT persons.

Much thanks to Sherry Rase, the program coordinator at GAAMC, for her assistance and hospitality.

Film Honoring Byron Rushing to Air April 26th

2011-04-08T15:38:00.000-04:00

On April 26th, a fifteen-minute documentary honoring Massachusetts State Representative Byron Rushing 's work for marriage equality in African-American communities will be screened as part of a film festival honoring Nelson Mandela in New York.

Marriage Equality: Byron Rushing And The Fight For Fairness describes how Rushing (who is heterosexual and an Episcopalian) presents marriage equality as a civil-rights issue to black faith leaders. It will have its world premiere on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. at Aaron Davis Hall, 135th St. at Convent Ave., in New York City.

Buy tickets for the premiere
Press release
Read the article on Walking with Integrity
Watch a film clip
Rep. Byron Rushing Biography

Céad míle beannachta

2011-03-12T13:54:00.004-05:00

A hundred thousand blessings. They were certainly with Integrity NYC Metro when we marched in the St. Pat's Parade for All, an inclusive parade honoring Patrick of Ireland, held in Queens New York on Sunday, 6th March. The wind was howling but the rain stayed away until the end of the parade.

Hope to see you there next year.

Integrity NYC Metro to March in the Queens St. Patrick's Parade for All

2011-03-01T11:46:00.001-05:00

Join with Integrity NYC Metro in New York's most diverse St. Patrick's Day Parade, embracing LGBT contingents, community groups, childrens' bands, Irish organizations and religious and civic groups, all in celebration of Ireland.

This year's Parade is on Sunday, the 6th of March. It begins at 2:00pm at the corner of Skillman Avenue and 47th Street in Woodside (closest subway station is 46th St. / Bliss on the number 7 line). Marchers should plan on being there by 1:00-1:30pm. The March Organizers will not give an exact location for each group until the day of the Parade. Look for the Integrity banner or call/text Paul at 646-456-8705 or Chap at 348-840-1700. It ends at Woodside Avenue and 58th Street in Woodside. (You can also stand at 48th Street and Skillman and join us as we pass by.)

Bring your friends. Wear something green. Join us for a good time (and maybe a pint or two at the end).

By Grace Alone

2011-02-26T23:14:00.000-05:00

In the context of encouraging Presbyterians to vote for Amendment 10-A, which would drop restrictions on LGBT clergy, The Rev. Dr. Arlo Duba makes an excellent Biblical case for inclusion in a piece titled By Grace Alone.

The Presbyterian Church USA, under the auspices of the organization More Light Presbyterians, is one of the denominational partners of Believe Out Loud. Rev. Duba is the Former Director of Admission & Director of Chapel at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Former Dean at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

Break the Silence Concert: More Details

2011-02-15T10:59:00.000-05:00

Three renowned LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) choirs will come together for the first time to sing sacred and spiritual music, while lending their own unique voices to advance the existing Christian movement for LGBT equality. The concert will take place in New York City at one of the oldest Christian institutions in the United States – Marble Collegiate Church. The entire event is an initiative of the Believe Out Loud project, which is managed by the Collegiate Churches non-profit organization, Intersections International.

The three choirs are:

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus, which has appeared at such venues as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and performed alongside such stars as Liza Minnelli, Stephen Sondheim, Carol Channing and Eartha Kitt. From Town Hall to City Hall, from the advent of AIDS to the struggle for marriage equality, the NYCGMC and its more than 250 members have been producing innovative programs and serving the LGBT community for more than 30 years.
The Anna Crusis Women's Choir, the longest running women's choir in the United States, was founded in Philadelphia in 1975. In addition to being a premier performing arts group, they are an agent for social change that tackles issues facing LGBT persons and other disadvantaged populations.
Lavender Light Gospel Choir, a men and women's chorus, was founded in 1985. The group consists of several ethnic and spiritual backgrounds, and provides a special ministry to African-American gays and lesbians—a constituency who have historically been pressured within their communities to choose between their race and orientation.

Sung Won Park, director of Believe Out Loud and all LGBT programming for Intersections International, called the coming together of the three choirs "a historical event to shout out God's love for all people, especially those who have been marginalized by the church as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

"The time has come for us to take a stand," said Park, "and let the world know that being silent about our support of LGBT equality equals shutting the doors to the sanctuaries for these individuals."
Believe Out Loud, a trans-denominational movement to promote LGBT-inclusion in the Christian church, has begun a three-year drive to get one million progressive Christian voices to believe out loud and show the public that an all-inclusive Christian collective can save lives. According to a recent poll conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, an astounding two-thirds of the respondents see a direct connection "between messages coming from America's places of worship and higher rates of suicide among gay and lesbian youth." (http://www.publicreligion.org/research/?id=426)

Within the Episcopal Church, IntegrityUSA, along with TransEpiscopal, The OASIS and other diocesan LGBT ministries, has adopted the brand"Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregations" for those churches who are intentionally welcoming and affirming of LGBT people.

"The church should serve to affirm life for all people," said Park. "But if two-thirds of the public believes the church is not affirming life when it comes to LGBT people, it is a wake-up call to all churches to shift this perspective."

Believe Out Loud is an unprecedented coalition of the nation's leading religious and secular LGBT organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign (HRC); Gays & Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Progressive Christians Uniting; Public Religion Research; Christian Community Inc.; The Religious Institute; Many Voices; The Association for Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (American Baptist Church USA); Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance (Christian Church/Disciples of Christ); Integrity USA (Episcopal Church); Lutherans Concerned (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America); More Light Presbyterians (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)); The Coalition for LGBT Concerns (United Church of Christ); and The Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church).

Bishop Christopher Speaks Out

2011-02-11T15:29:00.000-05:00

Bishop Christopher Senyonjo wrote a poignant letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the other leaders of the Anglican Communion about the plight of LGBT people in Uganda, punctuated by the recent brutal murder of David Kato, an LGBT activist and member of the church.

Break the Silence Concert

2011-02-09T16:16:00.002-05:00

PLEASE SHARE/PRINT/DISPLAY!

On Sunday, February 20th, Intersections International presents a spectacular concert to benefit Believe Out Loud, the multi-denominational revolution of welcome that's sparking new ways of thinking in churches across the country.

Join us for Break the Silence, an afternoon of spectacular music and celebration featuring the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir of Philadelphia, the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and the Lavender Light Gospel Choir at the beautiful Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Proceeds benefit the Believe Out Loud project, a collaboration of Intersections International, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute of Welcoming Resources, and twelve Christian denominations. Within the Episcopal Church, Integrity and the various OASIS diocesan LGBT outreach programs, along with TransEpiscopal, are working with congregations to promote inclusion. For more information on Believe Out Loud within the Episcopal Church, visit An Invitation to Become a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation.

Tickets are $20.00 in advance; $15.00 for groups of five or more; and $25.00 at the door.

For more information, contact James Rowe at Intersections International.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 20th at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Marble Collegiate Church, 3 W 29 St, New York, NY
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
- Subway: 28th & Broadway (N,R) 28th & Lexington (4,6)
- Bus: X27 (5th Ave & W 30 St)

View Larger Map

Statement on the Murder of David Kato by the Bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of New York

2011-01-28T16:33:00.000-05:00

Statement on the Murder of David Kato
by the Bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of New York

January 28, 2011

Like many around the world, we are horrified to learn of the vicious murder of Ugandan LGBT rights activist David Kato in Mukono, Kampala. Though the circumstances of Mr. Kato's death are still under investigation, we know that he, along with other activists in Uganda have lived under the threat of violence and imprisonment in recent times. Mr. Kato, who was the advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda, as well as Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo and many others, was targeted last fall in a Ugandan magazine. All LGBT persons along with their advocates are at risk due to the general hostility toward them in Uganda and, in particular, due to pending legislation which would call for imprisonment or even death.
We call upon all people of good will, and especially the people of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and our sister and brother Anglicans around the world, to stand in solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons, and to resist language, laws and actions which marginalize and even criminalize their relationships. Further, given the current hostile climate in Uganda, we call upon the Anglican church of Uganda to speak up for human rights for all God's children. Further, we call upon the United States government to grant asylum to LGBT persons from Uganda and other nations where the threat of violence is great.
We pray for the repose of the soul of David Kato, for his family and friends as they mourn, and for the LGBT community in Uganda and their allies as they struggle for an end to the fear and violence, which threaten them every day.

+Mark
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Bishop of New York

+Catherine
The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam
Bishop Suffragan of New York

+Andrew
The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith
Assistant Bishop of New York

Two dads, two boys, a horse, and a lot of love

2011-01-25T10:35:00.003-05:00

The New York Times has this article about Maurice Mannion-Vanover, his two dads, brother--and horse, in Montclair, New Jersey.

The love and support of their parish, St. Luke's in Montclair, comes across in the article as well. I was at Maurice's funeral, and the outpouring of affection from parish family, friends, and family was incredibly moving.

Integrity NYC-Metro Congratulates Erik Bottcher on NY Cabinet Seat

2011-01-19T00:04:00.001-05:00

Members of the Integrity NYC-Metro steering committee were pleased to learn yesterday that Erik Bottcher, most recently the LGBT/HIV community liaison to New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, has been named to the cabinet of New York's recently-elected governor, Andrew Cuomo, as Special Assistant for Community Affairs, a new position.

"I've worked with Erik Bottcher--a fellow activist and New York City Council staffer--quite often over the past couple of years," said Integrity NYC-Metro Steering Committee member Michael Mallon, who is on the staff of Council Member Daniel Dromm. "Erik proved himself to be a tireless advocate for the LGBT community during his tenure as LGBT Liaison for NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn; I know he will continue the stellar work as a member of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's cabinet."

Bottcher, 31, is a native of Wilmington, N.Y., and a graduate of George Washington University. He was recently named to City Hall's "Rising Stars" list of 40 influential people under the age of 40.

Michael Mallon and Erik Bottcher at the "We Will Not Be Silent"
Community Rally in 2009

Short Films Encourage Acceptance by Families

2011-01-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of the Impact Program blog, "Always My Son" is one of a series of short documentary films called are being produced by the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University to encourage the families of young LGBT people from a variety of cultural backgrounds to be supportive vs. judgmental. Studies show a family's response can have a dramatic effect on a person's well-being.

Why Integrity/NYC-Metro? Why Now?

2011-01-12T10:05:00.002-05:00

In its original incarnation, Integrity/NY served as a support and refuge for gay and lesbian Episcopalians who had very few welcoming parishes to choose from.

Today, we are blessed in the dioceses of Long Island, New York and Newark with a wide variety of parishes who have integrated LGBT people as members, leaders, and clergy.

You might well ask, “Why is Integrity/NYC-Metro needed?”

Our LGBT brothers and sisters need our support. There are many Episcopalian and Anglican LGBT people who are not as blessed as we are. This past fall, Integrity/NYC-Metro helped raise $6500 to support Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, a Ugandan supporter of LGBT rights who has been stripped of all his income and threatened with death, because he believes in our equality before God. There are U.S. dioceses in which no openly LGBT person can present themselves for vocational discernment, solely by virtue of their orientation or identity. We need to continue to stand with those in need.

There are LGBT Christians who are seeking welcoming churches. Many LGBT people who were raised in hostile churches or denominations still love Jesus Christ and want to follow him as Lord, even though they feel shunned or alienated by “organized religion.” Integrity/NYC-Metro wants to reach out to these Christians and offer them the same gift we have found for ourselves—membership in welcoming, truly integrated faith communities. Parents of LGBT people have also found themselves choosing their love for their children over the condemnation of their churches, and they too seek church homes. We are actively working to identify parishes who want to be part of this Integrity/NYC-Metro movement.

We need to be as out as Christians as we are as LGBT people. Many progressive people scoff at Christianity as a close-minded, ignorant refuge for the hate-addicted and self-righteous. We need to fight that stereotype by coming out as Christian and LGBT wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself. Integrity/NYC-Metro is a supportive group for coming out as Christian!

Please join Integrity today. A portion of every member’s dues comes back to our chapter. This is how you can support our ongoing outreach to the LGBT community and the church. Visit www.integrityusa.org and sign up at the Membership link. Be sure to specify Integrity/NYC-Metro as your chapter!

Peace,

Mary O'Shaughnessy
Convener

New website and survey

2010-12-22T14:04:00.002-05:00

Greetings of about-to-be-Christmas, all!

I am writing to let you know that thanks to the hard work of the talented Christian Paolino of the Newark Diocese, we have a new website:

http://www.integritynycmetro.org/

Please go to the survey and take a couple of minutes to fill it out--we want to know what you think.

Peace,

Mary O'Shaughnessy
Convenor

Meet Bishop Christopher Senyonjo - December 19th - The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, New York

2010-12-03T11:48:00.003-05:00

Join the members of St. Luke in the Fields and Integrity NYC Metro as we listen to Bishop Christopher tell his story.

Bishop Senyonjo is the retired bishop of Western Buganda and the chaplain to Integrity, Uganda. He is back in the U.S. to update his supporters on his efforts to create a more inclusive community in his homeland, which is torn apart by a controversial “kill the gays” bill in Parliament and by a tabloid paper’s campaign urging the hanging of homosexuals and their supporters, including Bishop Christopher.

His visit earlier in the year allowed Bishop Christopher to open the St. Paul's Centre for Reconciliation and Equality, hire an office manager and a women's development specialist. The center works with, among other groups, LGBT people, victims of domestic violence and people living with HIV / Aids. He is creating a very impressive “gay/straight alliance” through self help projects and an inclusive faith community. He needs additional funding to keep the center going.

Please come and hear his story. If you cannot attend but would like to contribute, you may send contributions to the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, 487 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Please mark any checks with Bishop Christopher in the memo field.

The Church of St. Luke in the Fields is located at 487 Hudson Street, just south of Christopher Street, in Manhattan.

The event will take place in Laughlin Hall, through the gate just to the right of the church.

Refreshments will be served beginning at 1:30. The Bishop will begin speaking at 2:00pm.

Bishop Senyonjo will also be the guest preacher at both the 9:15 and 11:15 services that day. At the 11:15 service there will also be the dedication of a new icon to the Theotokos.

Please feel free to pass this invitation on.

World AIDS Day Observances

2010-11-24T13:45:00.004-05:00

WORLD AIDS DAY OBSERVANCES IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY DEC. 1

On Wednesday, December 1st, the chapter will participate in World AIDS Day observances on both sides of the Hudson.

New York

At 6:15 p.m. we will join Episcopal Response to AIDS at St. Luke in-the-Fields, 487 Hudson Street, for their annual World AIDS Day Eucharist. The Rev. Hugh M. Grant will celebrate the Eucharist, and The Rev. Mary Foulke will preach.

ERA’s 2011 Grant Awards will be announced at the reception following immediately after the service. Please join us! Everyone is welcome to our table

To submit names of the departed, infected and affected for inclusion in the Prayers of the People and/or to RSVP, please email WAD@erany.org. If you are unable to attend the event but would like to support the work of ERA, please visit www.erany.org to make a secure on-line donation, or mail a check made payable to “Episcopal Response to AIDS” to:

ERA
1047 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10025

Thank you!

Transportation:

	33 ST	Christopher Street Station
		Christopher St./Sheridan Square
	M08 - West St. Crosstown	Christopher & Greenwich Sts.

New Jersey

World AIDS Day: A Service of Remembrance and Healing

At 7:30 p.m., we will join The OASIS and Positive Connections, a support group for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, in an observance of World AIDS Day at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 380 Clifton Avenue, Clifton. The Rev. Peter DeFranco, Rector of St. Peter's, will officiate and Gary Paul Wright, a leader in the state's response to HIV/AIDS, will be the guest speaker.

A panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display, with thanks to The Names Project of North Jersey. During the Remembrance of the Dead, candles will be lighted by members of the congregation in memory of people who have died of AIDS. A social will follow the service. All are welcome.

Transportation:

74 Paterson - Newark
190 Paterson - NYC
705 Passaic Bus Term

Main Ave. & Clifton Ave.

November Round-Up

2010-11-23T20:33:00.015-05:00

Integrity Participation at the 234th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York

Integrity NYC Metro leadership attended the 234th Convention of the Diocese of New York, held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 13th, 2010. Paul Lane, the Diocesan Organizer for New York coordinated a table partnership between the Chapter and the LGBT Concerns Committee of the Diocese. Chap Day (Provincial Coordinator, Province II) and Esteban Giron (outgoing Acting Convener) helped staff the table. We had information about Believe Out Loud (brochures and buttons), as well as Integrity membership brochures. A good 50 of each were taken, if not more! We had very positive feedback. Additionally, Bishop Sisk announced a special convention for the election of a Bishop Co-Adjutor, to be held on October 29th, 2011. Bishop Sisk made it clear that although the diocese will be choosing a Bishop Co-Adjutor, to serve as the 16th Bishop of New York upon Bishop Sisk's retirement. Bishop Sisk made it clear that he is not going to be going anywhere in the near future. Bishop Roskam announced her retirement effective January 1st, 2012. Additionally,

The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk

Trans Day of Remembrance Participation
On Friday, November 19th, Paul Lane, Chap Day, Mary O'Shaughnessy, Michale Mallon and Tina Cioffi (all Integrity NYC Metro board members) attended the Trans Day of Remembrance hosted at the New York LGBT Center. The event was co-sponsored by Gender Identity Project, Human Rights Campaign, and the Church of St. Luke in the Fields. The Rev. Mary Foulke (of St. Luke's) offered an invocation. Integrity NYC members were honored to attend and stand in solidarity with the Trans community.

Welcoming Congregation Workshop Participation

Chap Day, Rev. Susan Copley, Rev. Br. Tobias Haller, BSG

On Saturday, the 20th of November, the Committe on LGBT Concerns of the Diocese of New York sponsored a Welcoming Congregation workshop at St. Ann's Church Morrisania in the Bronx. Integrity NYC Metro Board Members Christian Paolino, Paul Lane, Br. Millard Cook, n/BSG, Mary O'Shaughnessy, Michael Cudney, and Chap Day attended. Paul and Michel, serving in their dual roles as members of the LGBT Concerns Committee helped organize the event. Mary and Chap served as speakers. The Rev. Susan Copley from Christ Church Tarrytown told her own story of moving to full inclusion. The Rev. Tobias Haller, BSG offered a moving reflection on LGBT inclusion that is reproduced on his blog In a Godward Direction.

NEW CONVENER FOR INTEGRITY NYC METRO

Mary O'Shaughnessy

Chap Day (Provincial Coordinator, Province II), Paul Lane (Diocesan Organizer, New York), and Christian Paolino (Diocesan Organizer, Newark) are proud to announce the Board election of Mary O'Shaughnessy as the chapter's new Convener. As you may know, Esteban Giron has served as the acting convener after the resignation of David Casey. Chap, Paul, and Christian thank Esteban for taking up the mantle of David for the interim period. Mary will chair her first board meeting on the 28th.

If anyone is interested in joining the Board of New York, please contact Chap, Paul, or Christian. The Board is asked to be dues-paying members of Integrity USA, and to participate in the planning and implementing of activities related to Integrity NYC Metro. Chap can be reached at chap@integrityusa.org; Paul and Christian can be reached at newyork@integrityusa.org and newark@integrityusa.org, respectively.

Bishop Christopher, Under Threat, Returns to the USA

2010-10-25T22:17:00.000-04:00

Below is a message from Albert Ogle, VP of National Affairs for Integrity USA as posted this evening on Walking With Integrity. As you may know, Bishop Senyonjo visited the New York area this past June, speaking at St. Luke in the Fields and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This article is also of additional interest, as Bishop Sisk of New York has addressed concerns related to Bishop Senyonjo's safety to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

When Bishop Christopher Senyonjo’s picture showed up on the front page of a Ugandan paper under the headline, “100 Top Homos - hang them,” Integrity supporters of the bishop and his work became ever more concerned about the growing climate of homophobia in Uganda.

Other LGBT leaders were also targeted and Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has been providing emergency counseling and shelter for some of the victims of this latest wave of public violence.

The inflammatory story in “Rolling Stone” (no connection to the USA version) was published just as I returned from a visit to Uganda with Pastor Joseph Tolton of The Fellowship in New York. I quickly made contact with the bishop and his staff. So far, they are all safe and are asking for our prayers. I now try to communicate with him on a daily basis.

Our trip to Uganda was very productive and informative. Organizers in Uganda, including Integrity Uganda, have formed a Civil Society Coalition of 34 partner organizations.. This coalition successfully challenged the “Rolling Stone” in Ugandan courts and it was mandated to close its doors. The coalition will also consider additional legal strategies and will make all legal resources available to stop this latest phase of the anti-gay witch hunt which appears to have support from some American based churches.

Earlier this week the Rt. Rev, Mark Sisk, Bishop of New York, wrote a private letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury expressing his concern that Bishop Senyonjo had been so publically targeted in the newspaper. Sadly, the Archbishop has remained silent on this. Instead, he voiced his concern about the election and consecration of Mary Douglas Glasspool as Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Here's what he had to say:

“The decision of the American Church to go forward, as it has, with the ordination of a lesbian bishop has, I think, set us back. At the moment I'm not certain how we will approach the next primates' meeting, but regrettably some of the progress that I believe we had made has not remained steady. Alongside that, and I think this is important, while the institutions of the Communion struggle, in many ways the mutual life of the Communion, the life of exchange and co-operation between different parts of our Anglican family, is quite strong and perhaps getting stronger. It's a paradox”.

Yes, well, here's what I find as a paradox: that a photograph of heterosexual bishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda appears on the front cover of a magazine with the headline: "Hang Them" without any outrage from his fellow bishops. This story made international news, was reported on CNN, in the UK and in the Washington Post, yet, no-one within Anglican Church leadership circles rose to his defense, except Bishop Sisk.

Regardless of his lack of church support, Bishop Christopher continues to preach an inclusive gospel of a loving God to everyone, including his enemies. Please keep him and his persecuted community in your prayers. Write to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let him know of your support for Bishop Christopher and ask him to join all of us in respecting the dignity of every human being.

You will also have another opportunity to support the brave bishop and his work. Bishop Christopher will soon return to the United States along with his wife Mary (an equally brave and courageous leader who has watched their beloved Church of Uganda’s behavior towards her family). They will arrive in California on November 14th and will be visiting New Orleans (December 5th at St. Anne’s) Atlanta (St. Bartholomew’s on December 12th) and will have two consultative meetings in New York and Washington DC around immigration and asylum issues for the USA around LGBT people. For more information on his visit and an update on the difficult legal situation he and his friends are facing, stay posted or join his Facebook page.

Rev. John Makokha, UMC Pastor and LGBT Rights Activist in Kenya to Speak in New York

2010-10-21T13:12:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday, the 26th of October 2010, at 7:00 p.m., the Rev. John Makokha, will speak at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (UMC) located at 263 West 86th Street (West End Avenue).

Rev. Makokha is in the United States to meet in Ohio with the Reconciling Ministries Network of the United Methodist Church and is in New York at the invitation of the Rev. Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, a cross denominational Christian ministry to LGBT persons, mostly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. You can find out more about Other Sheep at: http://www.othersheep.org/

This would be a great occasion for Integrity to learn about what is happening in Kenya and to support our fellow Christians as we all Believe Out Loud together.

The following article was submitted by Anne Baraza (John’s wife) and edited by Rev. Steve Parelli, Bronx, NY, Oct. 15, 2010.

"The Rev. John Makokha is senior pastor of Riruta UMC in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the African correspondent for Reconciling Ministries Network and the Country Coordinator of Other Sheep Kenya Trust, a faith-based LGBTI organization.

"John earned his B.Ed. Degree at the University of Nairobi and has served as graduate teacher in various high schools in Kenya. He was ordained a minister in the Triumphant Pentecostal Church and served as a pastor in a Free Methodist Church. After earning an M.A. degree in Missions at Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology, he started Riruta United Methodist Church, the only Reconciling Ministry (RMN) in Africa. Anne Baraza, his wife, also a graduate of Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology, is the Counselor for Other Sheep Kenya and the CEO of Riruta United Women Empowerment Programme.

"As Coordinator for Other Sheep Kenya, John passionately organizes and leads educational awareness seminars on human sexuality and gender identity throughout Kenya. Other Sheep Kenya addresses religious homophobia, transphobia, social justice, and HIV/AIDS in Kenya through capacity building and advocacy programs for LGBTI people and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Other Sheep Kenya engages in (1) promoting the recognition and solidarity of LGBT people through recruitment into the organization, counseling/information sharing, and networking; (2) participation in LGBTI activities in the country; (3) sharing information and experience between LGBT and PFLAG groups; (4) promoting the human rights of LGBTI through advocacy and campaigns; (5) training and mobilizing religious allies to win the war on homophobia and transphobia; (6) providing education, training and information on HIV/AIDS, care and treatment to the LGBTI community; (7) promoting reproductive health education; and (8) mitigating against gender based sexual violence and substance and drug abuse within the LGBTI community.

"Rev. Michael Kimindu, anglican priest, colleague and co-laborer with John and Anne in Kenya, is Other Sheep Coordinator for East Africa. Other Sheep has ministries in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Other Sheep Kenya came into existence during the 2007 Kenya summer ministry program of Rev. Stephen Parelli and Jose Ortiz, Other Sheep Executive Director and Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, respectively.

"If you are in NYC, or have friends who live here, we hope you will avail yourself of this unique opportunity - or tell your friends to do so - and come and learn about the wonderful work that is being accomplished in Kenya for sexual minorities in a faith-based context."

Long Island, Newark, New Jersey and New York Bishops offer Statements on the Recent Suicides, Bullying, and Anti-Gay Violence

2010-10-19T11:06:00.000-04:00

The Presiding Bishop joined with religious leaders across America in a statement of solidarity against bullying and a call for action and time of healing in the wake of the recent gay suicides anti-gay violence. If you have not read about this, Walking With Integrity has the Press Release.

Many have also seen the "It Gets Better" video with Bishop Robinson. If you have not, you can find it here: It Gets Better: Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire.

The bishops who serve Long Island, Newark, New Jersey and New York have also released statements that are well worth a read, and have been reproduced below.

Diocese of Long Island, 18 Oct 2010:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
October 20th has been designated as a day of solidarity, witness and prayer for those who have died and those who have been injured and victimized by hate crimes directed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We have been asked to wear the color purple as a sign of that solidarity and witness, and so I encourage you to wear purple on the 20th as we stand together against the sinfulness of hatred and bigotry that has taken hold in our country and as an expression of our mourning for those who have been injured or died.

Beyond our participation of the events and symbolism of October 20, 2010, I am asking you to change the world. My pastoral request is that each of you commits your heart, mind and body to living in the midst of our neighborhoods and communities as people who are committed to the message of Jesus Christ. If we seriously live the gospel life, keep the promises of the Baptismal Covenant and make a commitment to turn our hearts to God, in fact we can change the world, begin to alleviate fear of others and create an atmosphere in society in which, by following our lived example, people will begin to respect the dignity of every human being.

I believe the church must lead this effort in a way that calls upon religious people and religious leaders, to live the message of faith that each teaches. The world can be changed by our living. Our words alone, our disdain, our anger, our expressions of disbelief at the actions of other, cannot and will not, serve to change the world. Our society has become accustomed to statements made following such horrible events. The words all begin to sound similar in a chorus of heart-felt feelings that almost seem to anticipate the next series of atrocities.

I am calling less for words and more for action to counter violence and degradation with faithful living, unconditional loving and the Christ-like acceptance of all God's people.

This effort must begin in our homes, our schools, our workplaces and our churches. This effort must be lived person to person. We must remove the hypocrisy of focusing on the inhumanity in the wider world while ignoring the inhumanity and lack of Christian concern in our midst. At the very least, there must be an end to the use of the gospels to dishonor, and victimize other children of God.

It is time to change the world by seriously living the Christian life in its fullness and setting aside the propensity to use the faith to win arguments, win votes or divide and conquer.

We can change the world by being Christian, always in all places and with all people. We can address violence, with love, hatred with acceptance, and death with faith in a living God, in Jesus Christ.

Let us endeavor to change the world on behalf of all those who have suffered and died because of who they were and how they lived in the image of God. Let us endeavor to change the world for the sake of all those who seek a relationship with Jesus Christ and long to see that relationship lived in the midst of God's people. Let us endeavor to change the world for the sake of all God's people. Let us truly be the church together for the world.

Faithfully, In Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island

Diocese of Newark and New Jersey, Joint Statement, 8 Oct 2010:

We write as Christian pastors who are privileged to serve as bishops of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Newark and in the Diocese of New Jersey in order to express our grief, alarm, compassion and outrage over the suicide of Tyler Clementi. We join our voices with the voices of all those concerned in Ridgewood, where Tyler grew up, at Rutgers University, where he was a freshman and across our nation. Another gay young person has died by suicide. This tragic loss of a promising life would appear to be directly related to an invasion of Tyler’s privacy and a violation of his personal life. Much remains to be considered by law enforcement authorities and the courts in order to determine whether this is also a case of bullying, a felony or a hate crime – or a combination of the three. Whatever that legal determination may be, we join with other Christian and religious leaders, with the LGBT community and with all people of good will who take their stand against hatred, bigotry and bullying; against every expression of physical and verbal violence; and against any violation of the dignity of LGBT persons. When the rights of any – especially the members of vulnerable groups who have so often been scapegoated – are threatened, the rights of all are endangered.

We want to call attention to another, potentially deeper, issue here. It is the invasion of intimacy. Intimacy is a holy place within every human being; an innermost sanctuary where we develop our ultimate beliefs and values, nurture our closest relationships and maintain our deepest commitments. No one has the right to disclose that intimacy for someone else without consent. Such a violation is tantamount to the desecration of a sacred space. It is, in fact, a sacred space. It is the territory of the soul.

Technology, however, now provides tools to record, seize and disclose the most intimate matters of our lives without our consent. Identities can be stolen, hearts broken and lives shattered. Technology has placed powerful tools in human hands. Will they be used for building-up or for breaking down our neighbor? Tyler Clementi’s death certainly poses some important legal issues, but it also raises some critical moral concerns. Hubris has outstripped humility. And that is a serious problem. We can do better. We must do better, with God’s help.

In our Episcopal tradition, whenever we reaffirm our faith in worship, we are given a challenging question: “will you respect the dignity of every human being?” And we answer, “I will, with God’s help.” It is an important commitment. Whatever our religious tradition, we can agree on the need to respect one another’s dignity. With God’s help, we can stand together and stand up against bullies who would damage and destroy the lives of LGBT persons, their partners and families and friends. With God’s help, we can offer safety, support and sanctuary to all LGBT persons who are at risk. With God’s help, we can remind our society that every LGBT person is made in the image of God. The world needs our witness.

The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Bishop of Newark
The Rt. Rev. George E. Councell, Bishop of New Jersey

Diocese of New York, 8 Oct 2010:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Diocese of New York

No doubt you are aware of the recent widely reported incidences of bullying and invasion of privacy that resulted in the suicides of five young people in California, Indiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Texas. The tragic story of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University student who jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge last week, may have struck closest to home. But each of these deaths strikes at the body of Christ, and calls us as Christ’s disciples to answer cruelty and intolerance with loving compassion.

The Episcopal Church has long affirmed the dignity, equality and inclusion of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That these latest deaths should occur so near to the anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s murder in Wyoming 12 years ago (Oct. 12, 1998) reminds us that there is much work yet to do to instill these values in the communities we serve.

Last month, New York Gov. David Paterson signed the Dignity for All Students Act, which bans harassment and discrimination against students based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, religion, disability and other characteristics, and requires the state’s school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies.

I urge all institutions to be responsive to calls for help and relief by any and all who are threatened and treated with contempt.

Our faith communities must also do our part to uphold our young people, particularly those most vulnerable to intimidation and threats of violence in their schools and neighborhoods. We can begin by condemning the attitudes of intolerance and acts of aggression that deliver too many youth into despair.

I urge you to remember lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in your prayers. May Christ comfort and heal the hearts of those most affected by these recent tragedies. And may their memories inspire us to more vocal expressions of justice, compassion and love.

The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of New York

A Message from Integrity NYC Metro on the Anniversary of the Death of Matthew Shepard

2010-10-12T22:38:00.000-04:00

The Passion of Matthew Shepard
by Father William Hart McNichols

We address this message to you on the anniversary Matthew Shepard’s death The brutal murder of this young gay man (coincidentally an Episcopalian) in 1998 sparked a conversation with mainstream America about violence against LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people.

This past weekend, members of your Integrity NYC Metro Leadership Team had the privilege of meeting with over 300 Christians from more than 12 denominations at the Believe Out Loud Power Summit in Orlando, Florida. This extraordinary opportunity for worship, witness and networking is just part of an historic nationwide ecumenical inclusive church movement that is still unfolding. It was the birthplace of numerous local and regional initiatives about which you will be hearing in the next few months.

Our collective and individual joy was tempered by the continuing barrage of news stories about violence and prejudice towards LGBTQ persons, much of it in our own area. In just the past few weeks we have seen a number of suicides, three separate acts of anti-LGBTQ violence, and a string of hateful rhetoric by a high-profile political candidate.

None of these are new phenomena. LGBTQ people of all ages (and those perceived to be “queer” simply by the way they present themselves) are far more likely to commit suicide than other populations. Violence against our communities persists, in part, because it is still considered “okay” by many in our society to make hurtful and biased statements about us, and in many cases they do so without censure.

Much progress has occurred in the years since Matthew’s murder. Some feel the burst of violence we are witnessing be may be a reaction to that progress. Much remains to be done. To that end, Integrity, the leading voice for full inclusion within the Episcopal Church, has joined with its ecumenical partners in adopting the Believe Out Loud program to create visible and intentional congregational welcome. An Integrity representative will be contacting your congregation in the coming months to discuss this program and encourage you to consider taking part. We hope you will see this -- as we do -- as a witness of our baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being.

Hudson - Jersey City Pride - Saturday, 28th Aug, 11:00am to 9:00pm

2010-08-19T12:46:00.002-04:00

Integrity NYC Metro and Oasis will have an informational table at this year's Jersey City Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, 28th August.

We definitely need persons to staff the table. If you are free on that day we could really use the help from about 11:00am to about 7;00pm or so. The first ever Jersey City Pride Parade kicks off at noon and we need to be set up before then. The parade will go directly past our booth.

For those coming from New York, the PATH trains run differently on the week-ends than during the week. My suggestion would be to get the PATH at the World Trade Centre, take it one stop to Exchange Place. The Exchange Place station is right in the middle of the Pride Festival Grounds. Then just walk up Montgomery Street until you find us.

Let us know if you can help out.

General information about the day can be found at:

http://www.jclgo.org/

Paul J. Lane

Diocesan Organizer

Integrity USA - Diocese of New York

newyork@integrityusa.org

Christian Paolino

Diocesan Organizer

Integrity USA - Diocese of Newark

newark@integrityusa.org

Believe Out Loud Workshop - Province I & II, Danbury CT, 23-24 Jul

2010-07-02T15:33:00.004-04:00

About Believe Out Loud:

Many unchurched lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] people in your community are spiritually searching. They are looking for a faith community where they will be welcomed and affirmed as beloved children of God. You can encourage them to visit and join your parish by becoming a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation.

A Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation is a mission or parish of our denomination that publicly welcomes and affirms LGBT people and that has completed a simple, three-phase process. If your parish qualifies, I invite you to register as a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation

Believe Out Loud is a "franchise" being utilized by Integrity USA and endorsed by OASIS, TransEpiscopal, and various diocesan level LGBT committees and ministries to designate Episcopal Parishes that are welcoming, inclusive, and celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people - people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Believe Out Loud is being utilized by multiple denominations as a standard for identifying and gauging inclusive churches. PCUSA, ELCA, UMC, UCC, Disciples of Christ, and some American Baptists have already begun utilizing this process, though they may call it by different names.

The Workshop:

Start Time: Friday, July 23, 2010 at 12:00pm

End Time: Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 5:00pm

Location: St. James Episcopal Church

Street: 25 West St

City/Town: Danbury, CT

Who Should Attend?

Any Episcopalian who wants to learn how he or she can help make their parish and diocese become more welcoming and affirming of LGBT folk. Current and prospective chapter leaders and diocesan organizers are especially encouraged to register. Although this event is primarily for those who live in Province 1 and 2, participants from other states are welcome.

Trainers

The workshop will be facilitated by:

Neil Houghton, Vice President for Local Affairs

John-Albert Moseley, Province 1 Coordinator

Chap James Day, Province 2 Coordinator

Lodging:

You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations. A courtesy block of 16 rooms has been reserved for July 23rd at the following hotel. The rate is $109 single or double. Mention "Integrity" when making your reservation. Reservations must be made by June 25th to receive the quoted rate.

The Ethan Allen Hotel
21 Lake Avenue Extension
Danbury, Connecticut 06811-9956800-742-1776 toll free
203-744-1776 local

A few local Integrity members may be willing to host guests in their homes at no cost. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please indicate this when you register.

Cost:

There is no registration fee for this workshop. However, you are responsible for your own travel, lodging, and meal expenses unless otherwise stated.

Scholarships:

A limited number of $150 scholarships are available to help defray participant's travel and lodging costs. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please indicate this when you register.

Meals Included:

The following meals will be provided:

Buffet Dinner on Friday, July 23rd

Continental Breakfast on Saturday, July 24th

Boxed Luncheon on Saturday, July 24th

If you have special dietary needs or preference, please indicate this when you register.

Accessibility:

The meeting venue is wheelchair accessible. If you require other accommodation [such as an ASL interpreter, please indicate this when you register.

Air Travel & Ground Transportation:

The Westchester County Airport [HPN] is the closest to Danbury. Several budget airlines serve this location.

Danbury is approximately 45 minutes by car from the airport.

Danbury is accessible from Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Take Metro-North's New Haven Line (red) to Stamford, CT and transfer to the Danbury connector. The trip is estimated at a little over 2 hours. The Danbury Station is walking distance to St. James Church.

For fares and schedule, consult the MTA website.

Registration

Click here - > Registration

Questions:

If you any questions, please contact...

John-Albert Moseley, Province 1 Coordinator

860-604-0730

john-albert.moseley@yale.edu

Chap James Day, Province 2 Coordinator

(347) 840-1700

chap@integrityusa.org

Pride March Thank You

2010-07-02T14:49:00.000-04:00

A message from Paul Lane:

As the organizer of the Pride March contingent for the Committee on LGBT Concerns of the Diocese of New York, I would like to thank everyone who helped make this year's LGBT Pride March such a success.

The marchers, who came from at least four diocese and made us one of the larger groups in the March. The benefactors, parishes, organization and individuals, who came through to fund the float. The folks at Integrity NYC Metro and Oasis Newark who were instrumental in getting the word out. Our wonderful DJ Brett. Our group marshals: Stephen, Erlinda, Lou and Mark. The Church of the Transfiguration, who made our out of town marchers feel welcome at their 11:00 a.m. Eucharist. The churches along the way who provided water for all the marchers, Marble Collegiate, First Presbyterian, especially the Episcopal Church of the Ascension (who added just a twist of lemon) and the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, who welcomed us at the end of the March both spiritually at Evensong and physically at the reception that followed.

Our visibility is very important. Our presence in the March is a wonderful way to reach out to the LGBT community, many of whom have had very negative experiences with "church" in the past, letting them know that is a church (among others) that welcomes them and is dedicated to "respecting the dignity of every human being".

Planning for next year's March will start in September. Anyone interested in helping can contact us at info@lgbt.dioceseny.org

Again, many thanks to all.

Paul J. Lane
Pride March Organizer
Committee on LGBT Concerns
The Episcopal Diocese of New York

Diocesan Organizer of New York
Integrity USA

Steering Committee Member
Integrity NYC Metro

To see some photos of the 2 block contingent, please see these two Albums:

Pride March 06-27-10 by Millard Cook

Heritage of Pride 2010 by Christian Paolino

Trans Day of Action - 25 Jun 2010, 4pm at City Hall Park

2010-06-20T15:37:00.005-04:00

Co-Sponsored Event:
Where: City Hall Park
When: 25 Jun, 4pm-7pm

The 6th Annual NYC Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice Points of Unity

Initiated by TransJustice of the Audre Lorde Project, a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color Center for Community Organizing.
June 25, 2010

We call on our Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) community and on all of our allies from many movements to join us for the 6th Annual Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice. We as TGNC People of Color (POC) recognize the importance of working together alongside other movements to change the world we want to see. We live in a time when oppressed peoples including communities such as people of color, immigrants, youth and elders, people with disabilities, women and TGNC people, and poor people are disproportionately underserved, face higher levels of discrimination, heightened surveillance and experience increased violence at the hands of the state. We are in solidarity with communities in Arizona organizing to fight the ongoing policing of our identities as they resist and oppose SB-1070 that legalizes unchecked racial profiling by police of anyone they “suspect” is undocumented.

It is critical that we unite and work together towards dismantling the transphobia, racism, classism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia and xenophobia that permeates throughout our movements for social justice. Let’s come together to let the world know that TGNC rights will not be undermined and together we will not be silenced! These are the points of unity, which hold together the purpose of this important march:

We demand that TGNC people have equal access to employment and education opportunities. We are outraged by the high numbers of TGNC people who are unemployed. Many TGNC people continue to face blatant discrimination and harassment from employers due to systemic transphobia. Few TGNC people have access to opportunities for learning in a safe school environment. TGNC people demand that all employers and educational institutions implement non-discrimination policies that respect the rights of all workers and students and that they comply with the NYC Human Rights Law that prohibits discrimination against gender identity and expression.
We demand that all people receiving public assistance entitlements including TGNC People of Color, be treated with respect and dignity. We are in solidarity with all people living on public assistance. The NYC agency responsible for the administration of public welfare, the Human Resources Administration (HRA), finally passed the procedure for Serving Trans and Gender Non Conforming clients, but this is not enough! We demand full implementation of the procedure including culturally competent trainings for all employees.
We demand the full legalization of all immigrants. TGNC people deserve the right to access competent and respectful immigration services. We demand that the consulates of all countries respect and honor our identities and issue passports and other documentation that accurately reflects who we are. We oppose the guest worker program, the Real ID Act, enforcement provisions to build more walls and give greater powers to the Department of Homeland Security, increased barriers for asylum seekers, and other anti-immigrant policies that continue to divide our communities. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous-identified Two-Spirit people and the sovereignty of the First Nations, on whose land we now see the US attempt to enforce arbitrary boarders.
We are in solidarity with all prisoners, especially the many TGNC people behind the walls who are often invisible even within prisoner’s rights movements. We call attention to the under-reported accounts of severe violence and rape that our community faces at the hands of correction officers and other prisoners, in psychiatric facilities, and group homes. We demand an end to the torture and high level of discrimination TGNC prisoners face. We demand that all TGNC prisoners receive competent and respectful healthcare. We oppose the continued growth of the prison industrial complex that continues to target our communities, yet we recognize that TGNC people need access to services and facilities that lessen our vulnerability to violence within the present jails and prisons. We are opposed to the closing of the “gay and Trans housing” unit on Rikers. We call attention to the criminal injustice system that increasingly puts POC, immigrants, people with disabilities, TGNC people and poor people behind bars - further criminalizing our communities and our lives.
We demand that TGNC people have access to respectful and safe living spaces and community spaces. Many TGNC people face severe discrimination from landlords and housing administrators displacing us from our homes due to gender identity or expression. A disproportionate number of TGNC people have been or are currently homeless. However, many homeless TGNC people continue to face discrimination and violence when trying to access shelters and other assisted living programs. NYC law and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) state that people will be placed in shelters according to that person’s gender identity and that discrimination based on gender identity will not be tolerated. We support Queers for Economic Justice in their demand that all DHS shelter administrators provide adequate Trans sensitivity trainings for all personnel and enforce clear non-discrimination policies that respect the dignity and safety of all homeless people. We oppose the ongoing profit driven development of our neighborhoods. We support FIERCE’s campaign to counter the displacement and criminalization of LGBTQ youth of color at the Christopher Street Pier and in Manhattan's West Village.
We oppose the US “War on Terrorism” as an excuse to legitimize the expansion of the U.S. as an imperial super power and to justify a national security strategy that is really meant to militarize our boarders and heighten surveillance and control over people living in the U.S., separating our communities by fostering feelings of hate, xenophobia, and violence. Every day we see more and more of our basic human rights like jobs, education, housing, privacy, self-determination and the right of dissent slipping away from all of us. We must demand the immediate removal of all U.S. troops from all countries under occupation and demand an end of use of U.S. dollars to cultivate and sponsor wars against people in the U.S. and abroad.
We demand justice for the many TGNC people who have been beaten, assaulted, raped, and murdered yet these incidents continue to be silenced, misclassified or blamed on the victim. The police and the media continue to criminalize us even when we try to defend ourselves. Hate crime laws will not solve the problem but will give increased power to the state to put more people in jail. Instead we call for a unified effort for all of us to look deeper into the root causes of why these incidents happen. As a society that seeks social justice we seek to find ways of holding people accountable and coming to a joint understanding of how we can make our communities safer for all of us. Like many other oppressed communities such as POC, immigrants, people with disabilities and poor people, TGNC people are targeted, profiled and brutalized by the police. We demand an end to the profiling, harassment, brutality and murder that occurs at the hands of the police! These incidents of violence do not occur in isolation, and are aggravated by racism, sexism, classism, ableism, xenophobia, misogyny, ageism and homophobia.
We are in solidarity with the family of Sean Bell, who are still tirelessly working towards justice after the police were acquitted of charges. We are in solidarity with the Jersey 4, 4 Lesbian women arrested in the West Village for defending themselves from a man that assaulted them. We are in solidarity with Miriam, a transgender woman who was pushed out the window of her 4th floor apt and left for dead. We commemorate the memory of Amanda Milan, Sakia Gunn, Ruby Ordeñana, Gwen Araujo, Erika Keels, Victoria Arellano, Lawrence King, Saneesha Stewart, Ashley Santiago, Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar, April Green and the many other brave souls we have lost, who struggled and lived their lives fearlessly day in and day out, being true to who they were. They keep the fire of struggle burning within all of us.

On June 25, 2010, TGNC People of Color and allies will take on the streets of New York City once again and demand justice to let the world know that the Stonewall rebellion is not over and we will continue fighting for social and economic justice, raising our voices until we are heard. We call on all social justice activists from communities of color, the LGBT movement, immigrant rights movement, the anti-war movement, the reproductive justice movement, disability justice movements, youth and student groups, trade unions and worker organizations, religious communities and HIV/AIDS and social service agencies, both local and organizations around the country to endorse this call to action and to build contingents to march in solidarity together on June 25, 2010.

Endorsed by the following Organizations:

2-Spirit First Nations Collective, African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change (AALUSC), Ali Forney Center, ALLGO, Anti-Violence Project, Astraea Foundation, Axios Eastern Orthodox LGBT Christians, Barangay NY, BiNET USA, Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Butch Voices, CAAAV, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, casa atabex ache'- the house of womyn's power, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), Community Kinship Life (CKlife), Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST), Day One, DC Trans Coalition, El/La Para TransLatinas, Femme Menace Action Club, Femme Sharks, FIERCE!, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FIRE), FIST, Freedom Train Productions, GAPIMNY, GATE - Global Action for Trans* Equality, Girls for Gender Equity, GLAAD, GLOBE, GRIOT Circle, Hetrick-Martin Institute, Human Right Campaign, Idriss Stelley Foundation, Inner Child Experience, Integrity NYC Metro, Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE), Jews For Racial and Economic Justice, Jim Collins Foundation, Justice Committee, Justice League Activate!, Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Lambda Legal, Latinos/as Unidos de New York(LUNY), LGBT Center N.Y.C., MCCNY, Movement Support Project, Ms. Foundation, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National INCITE! Coalition, New York City Anti-Violence Project, New York Transgender Rights Organization (NYTRO), Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, OUTmedia, Peter Cicchino Project, Poly Patao Productions (P3), Pride Goes East, PRYDE, Queer Black Cinema International Film Festival, Queer People Of Color Action/Working Class Queer People, Queers for Economic Justice, Q-Wave, Radical Women, Rev. Janyce L. Jackson, Liberation In Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Riot Grrrl Ink, SAGE, SALGA N.Y.C, Sanctuary Collective, SF Education Not Incarceration, SF TAPA (Transgenders Against Police Abuse), Soulforce, SWANK (Sex Workers Action New York), SWOP-NYC (Sex Workers Outreach Project-NYC), Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Texas GSA Network, The Transgender Law Center, TransCEND Boston, Transgender Health Empowerment,Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex Justice Project, Washington Heights Corner Project

Upcoming Pride Celebrations

2010-06-20T14:54:00.000-04:00

A Message from Paul Lane

The Committee on LGBT Concerns of the Diocese of New York, along with Integrity NYC Metro and Oasis Newark invite everyone to join us in the 2010 LGBT Pride March on Sunday, June 27th 2010. This year we have a float with music. The float is very basic. Our people will add the color, so dress accordingly and don’t forget the sunscreen. Please bring your parish banner or a sign identifying your parish.

Our meeting place is on East 38th Street, between Madison and Park Avenues. Everyone should be there and ready to go at 12:30 p.m. The March NYC Pride will do their best to get us moving shortly thereafter. Due to security regulations, you may not join the March en route.

If you will be unable to attend your local Sunday service you are warmly invited to join with Integrity NYC Metro and Oasis Newark in worship at the Church of the Transfiguration, One East 29th Street for their 11:00 a.m. Eucharist. Meet Chap Day in front of the church after the service and walk the 9 short blocks to the March staging area together. (about 10 minute walk). Bishop Andrew St. John and the folks at Transfiguration are excited to have us for this service!

We will be looking for folks to help carry an Episcopal banner, the OASIS banner, and the Integrity banner in shifts, and want all of our parishes to be represented.

After the March, please join with your fellow marchers at a Festive Choral Evensong at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, Hudson Street south of Christopher, at 6:30 p.m. The Rt. Rev. Herbert A. Donovan will preside. Rev. Altagracia Perez will preach. Refreshments will follow on the grounds.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Paul Lane at pride@lgbt.dioceseny.org.

Paul J. Lane

Pride March Coordinator, Episcopal Diocese of New York Committee on LGBT Concerns
New York Diocesan Organizer, Integrity USA
Board Member, Integrity NYC-Metro

SUMMARY DETAILS:

Integrity Eucharist at Transfiguration
Where: 29th St between 5th Ave and Madison Ave
When: 11am - 27 Jun 2010

Episcopal Contingency at Heritage of Pride (Mustering Spot)
Where: 38th St between Madison Ave and Park Ave
When: 12:30pm - 27 Jun 2010

Annual Gay Pride Evensong at St Luke in the Fields
Where: Hudson St at Grove St (South of Christopher St)
When: 6:30pm - 27 Jun 2010 (get there at 6 for a good seat)

A Visit by Bishop Christopher Senyonjo

2010-06-08T15:17:00.000-04:00

The story below was provided by Paul J. Lane, Diocesan Organizer for Integrity in the Diocese of New York. The photo shows Paul on the left, Bishop Christopher in the center, and Chap James Day [Integrity's Province 2 Coordinator] on the right.

The aroma of the incense hung heavily in the hot, humid air as the Ugandan prelate mounted the steps of the pulpit in the old village church, St. Luke in the Fields, in New York’s Greenwich Village last Sunday [June 6, 2010].

The Right Reverend Christopher Senyonjo, the retired Bishop of the Diocese of West Buganda, Uganda, took as his subject the second reading of the day: Galatians 1:11-24; Paul discussing his conversion from his former life as a persecutor of Christians. The congregation listened in rapt attention as the bishop spoke of his own "conversion" and how, by listening to the stories of LGBT people, he came to believe that LGBT Christians are full members of the body of Christ. He told of how he also has been persecuted and how, if a new bill proposed in the Ugandan Parliament becomes law, he himself may be jailed for his inclusive stance. He also spoke of how, in Uganda, openly LGBT persons are not able to receive any treatment for HIV/AIDS.

The Rev. Mary Foulke, Senior Associate for Pastoral Care and Outreach at St. Luke’s "was delighted to welcome Bp. Christopher to St. Luke’s and to make this connection with those around the world who embrace a critical Biblical theology in support of liberative practices of welcoming and standing up with those on the margins. Bp. Christopher is a wonderful example of many grassroots priests, bishops and lay leaders in the Southern Hemisphere that are doing great work and who don’t get the press or attention that others with more conservative American support seem to attract."

Paul J. Lane, the Chair of the parish’s LGBT Life @ St. Luke’s Committee and Diocesan Organizer for Integrity for the Diocese of New York says that "as a parish, this is only the beginning of our relationship with Bp. Christopher and Integrity Uganda. Our goal is to be able to raise $1000.00 for Bp. Christopher’s ministry and we began that journey today. The stories of our LGBT brothers and sisters around the world must be brought to the attention of those of us who live in more accepting societies." St. Luke’s history as been one of full inclusion as well as support of such organizations such as Integrity USA and Changing Attitude Nigeria, having in the past hosted Mr. Davis Mac-Iyalla, the exiled leader of CA Nigeria.

After the service, Bp. Christopher was an honored guest at the annual parish picnic, where he was able to speak directly to many parish members, including a group of seminarians from his own alma mater, Union Theological Seminary.

Integrity USA, a 35-year-old LGBT advocacy group within The Episcopal Church, is the sponsor of Bishop Christopher visit.

Rally To Protect Homeless LGBT Youth - 14 Jun, 6:30 pm at Union Sq

2010-06-02T15:06:00.002-04:00

Co-Sponsored Event
Where: Union Square
When: 6:30pm, 14 Jun

On Monday, June 14th at 6:30PM, numerous prominent LGBT and progressive leaders and organizations will come together at a highly anticipated rally at Union Square in support of the LGBT Homeless Youth community. Comedian, singer, actress, author and out lesbian Sandra Bernhard will speak along with Iraq Combat Veteran and gay rights activist Dan Choi, as well as youth representatives from various organizations serving young LGBT people.

As LGBT youth find the courage to come out of the closet at younger ages, thousands are being rejected by their families and forced out of their homes. Most homeless LGBT youth describe having suffered violence and harassment in their homes due to their sexual orientations and gender identities. As many as 40% of the homeless youth in the United States are LGBT. Homeless LGBT youth are subjected to violence and harassment on the streets and in mainstream youth shelters. They face tremendous risk of HIV infection, drug addiction, and criminalization.

This phenomenon of thousands of LGBT youth being forced from their homes due to homophobia, stripped of economic support, and made to endure homelessness represents the most terrible cruelty and intolerance currently directed at the LGBT community. “Any community has an obligation to protect its youth when they are being hurt and attacked,” says Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. “We call on the LGBT Community to stand up for our youth suffering on the streets, and advocate that they receive the protection and care that all young people need and deserve.”

We call on the members of the LGBT Community, our straight allies, and on all decent people who believe that youths should not be thrown to the streets for being LGBT, to rally in support of the following goals:

To show solidarity with homeless LGBT youth, to demonstrate outrage that so many young members of our community face family rejection, violence, and homelessness, and to call on the adult members of the LGBT and allied community to demonstrate increased concern, support and advocacy for our youth.
To advocate that local, state, and federal government funding be made available to provide the housing and supportive services needed by homeless LGBT youth so they can escape the streets, and that efforts be funded to prevent LGBT youth from being subjected to violence and rejection in their homes.
To advocate that protecting our youth from abuse, rejection, and homelessness be recognized as a major priority in our local and national LGBT advocacy agendas.

The rally is endorsed by many significant local and national community organizations, including: Ali Forney Center, Anyone But Me, Broadway Impact, Broadway Speaks Out, Bronx Community Pride Center, The Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Center for American Progress, The Center for Anti-violence Education, Chris Ryan NYC, CitizeNYC, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, Covenant House New York, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund/Give a Damn Campaign, Deconstructive Theatre Project, The Door, Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, FIERCE, Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats (GLID), Gay Men of African Descent, GLSEN, GMHC, GetEQUAL, Green Chimneys Children's Services, Hetrick Martin Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Integrity NYC, The LGBT Community Center, Make The Road New York, Manhattan Young Democrats, National Youth Advocacy Coalition, New York AIDS Coalition (NYAC), New York City Anti-Violence Project, The NYC Association of Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Organizations, Out Astoria, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays National, Queers for Economic Justice, Safe Space NYC, Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, Take Back Pride, Talkaboutequality.org, True Colors Residence and West End Intergenerational Residence.

Additionally, the rally is endorsed by many prominent community leaders, including: US Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY, Carl Siciliano, Sandra Bernhard, Lt. Dan Choi, Joe Jervis, Frankie Grande (Mr. Broadway 2007), Brendan Fay, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, NYC Council Member Lewis Fidler, Ryan J. Davis, Ally Sheedy, Cathy Renna, Marti Thomas (Mr. Broadway 2008), Reverend Irene Monroe, Peter Staley, David Mixner, NYS Assemblymember Micah Kellner, U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), David Badash, Anthony Hallock (Mr. Broadway 2009), Kai Wright, Rod McCullom, Sassafras Lowrey (Editor of "Kicked Out), NYS Senator Tom Duane, NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, Charlie Williams (current Mr. Broadway), and NYC Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

IntegrityNYC-Metro - News Update

2010-05-28T14:28:00.001-04:00

Just a few announcements as we head into Pride Month.

1. It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of David Casey. David was instrumental in the resurrection of the Integrity Chapter in New York City, and has served as our Convener since its inception. He is pursuing other opportunities in Southeast Florida, and we wish him the best of luck.

2. Integrity NYC board has officially voted to change the name to Integrity NYC Metro. This was done to reflect the geographic diversity present in our chapter, especially those who attend from outside the 5 boroughs of New York. This is an intentional name change to celebrate our diversity.

3. Integrity NYC Metro welcomes the following members to the Board: Millard Cook, Paul Lane, and Christian Paolino. Paul Lane also serves as the Integrity USA Diocesan Organizer for New York, as well as serves independently on the Diocese of New York's LGBT Concerns Committee. Christian Paolino is also serving as the acting Diocesan Organizer for Newark, and serves in OASIS Newark. We will be looking forward to adding more people to the board, and are beginning a search for a new Convener.

4. Integrity NYC Metro will be participating with OASIS Newark, and the LGBT Concerns Committee of New York in the 41st Annual Pride March on the 27th of June. Stay tuned for details.

The Diocese of NY's Welcoming Church Workshop at Christ Church, Tarrytown

2010-05-03T02:09:00.025-04:00

A Message from Integrity NYC-Metro's newest Board Member Millard Cook:

Dear Friends and Family,

I spent the first part of the day yesterday in Tarrytown attending the "Welcoming Church" workshop at Christ Church. I had a lovely train ride up (and back) with amazing views of the Hudson River and of New Jersey across the way. And I do not think I had ever seen most of Tarrytown previously--certainly I had never been to Christ Church before.

I really enjoyed the workshop and find it to be challenging and thought-provoking. I discovered many resources that I had not known of previously and plan to spend some time exploring them. The three things that touched me most were the stories of individuals to find a real church home, the stories of congregations to become really inclusive and finally some new insight into the status of the struggle-on a diocesan, national, and Anglican Communion level.

Many (I would like to think most) of our parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of New York are welcoming. That is a big step forward and must certainly be acknowledged. And yet, there is a gap. Not all are really inclusive. And there is a difference! It is one thing to say that "anyone is welcome to attend" and entirely another to say that the gifts, talents, and resources of every person are wanted and needed. It takes courage to invite "others" to become active, and ultimately even to become involved in leadership of a parish. The question of to what degree the "other" is fully integrated into the parish is not always an easy one to answer.

The other question, and a far-more challenging one for me, is the degree to which the parish publicly indicates that it really is both welcoming and inclusive. What language is used? What symbols are displayed? How is the message effectively communicated?

I attended this workshop because I have been asked to serve on the Steering Committee of the New York Chapter of Integrity. And so I was very pleased to learn more about the amazing work that has already been accomplished in the EDNY--I could not say enough good things about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Committee. And, I was really astonished by Christ Church--clearly there are some wonderful things happening there.

On a final note, although this was a workshop to explore the degree to which LGBTQ people are welcomed into congregations and then are included in the life of the community, I constantly found myself thinking that the very same methodology could be used for any group. The same issues exist for any group of person who is perceived (at least by some) as "different" or "other." And if the goal is for parishes to be truly diverse, welcoming and inclusive--that takes a lot of intentional, difficult, and perhaps even painful work. One of the Integrity slogans that I like most is "All the Sacraments for All the Baptized." What a wonderful goal.

With Much Love,

Millard

A native of the Beech Mountain Community of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Millard came to St. Bartholomew's after a varied and colorful past in which he served in ministry, as an educator, and as a technical support trainer and technician for relational databases. Along the way he earned a B.A. in history (Appalachian State University) two masters degrees in theology (M.A. in Systematic Theology and the M.Div. from St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA) and two masters degrees in history (M.A. and M.Phil. in Early Modern European history from Fordham University). For 15 years Millard was a Benedictine monk of St, Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe (the oldest Benedictine monastery in the US) and served for 12 years as a Roman Catholic priest (mostly in the Archdiocese of New York). A dedicated student of Romance languages, he earned minors in French and Spanish and after high school lived for a semester in France. He was worked hard to maintain his fluency in conversational French and Spanish. Millard has been a parishioner of St. Bart's for almost three years and describes the day that he was received by Bishop Catherine Roskam as one of the most meaningful experiences of his adult life. Millard is the son of Janice Storie Davis and the younger brother of Jackie Miller and Debbie Nobles-all of NC. He is a proud uncle of three nephews and of six great-nephews and nieces and an avid amateur photographer, reader, and music lover (everything from Southern Gospel to Pop Latino). In 2009, Millard was accepted as a postulant in the Brotherhood of St. Gregory.

This May Millard has joined the Steering Committee of Integrity NYC-Metro.

Integrity USA will be hosting intensive workshops focusing on building more Inclusive and Welcoming Churches over the next few months, called Believe Out Loud. The Province II workshop will be hosted in Danbury, CT and co-run with Province I. This workshop is for congregations that wish to start or continue their Welcome program with resources from a national Episcopal program. Click here for Registration Details.

Pride and Shame in the Anglican Communion

2010-03-20T02:37:00.000-04:00

A personal reflection from Integrity Province II Coordinator Chap James Day:

I remember when Bishop Robinson received the consent to be bishop at General Convention. I was studying abroad with about two dozen or so students from my college at Corpus Christi College in Oxford. I had followed the newsfeeds through the whole debate at convention, sharing the news with the others, most of whom were Presbyterian (PCUSA) and though sympathetic to my hopes, did not have a dog in the fight. Still they joined me for a pint at one of the pubs to toast what would be one of the first pivotal moments for GLBT Christians in the 21st century. After the pint, we went to evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, and later spoke with some of the clergy who told us how proud they were for the Anglican Church, especially in light of what had happened with Jeffery John just months before. It was a day to be proud to be an Episcopalian and an Anglican, and a newbie openly gay person.

I had heard that this would cause the Church to split—that the Communion would crumble, and I watched for the signs of it. I read of the grumblings of more traditional Anglicans—many of which joined voices with other splinter groups that had left well before Robinson was called to be bishop. I also heard the positive voices and Alleluias from the progressive Anglicans who were taking ownership of this time for the achievement that it was in reclaiming our place at the Table.

As the consecration played out, and the Lambeth Commission was called to review what had happened in the Church, we saw people coming in who had felt disenfranchised and unwanted. We also saw many so obsessed with this one issue leave, and the start of many more battles over property and the very soul of the Church. I was blessed to meet the members of the Lambeth Commission while working at Kanuga. I overheard their conversations as I served them food and drink while they stayed there, and I observed their devotion as they prayed at the Chapel of the Transfiguration each day. I also remember the results of their recommendation in the form of the Windsor Report.

I read the report, and many commentaries trying to explain what it meant, and what the implications of the report were for the GLBT members in the Anglican Communion as well as those traditionalists that felt disenfranchised. I felt shame. The GLBT clergy had begun to “come out” and the greater Communion family just did not want to hear it—they did not want to accept that there was a Gay Son among the Bishops, and they sure as hell did not want any more.

Just like a family, some shunned our new bishop, some accepted, some disowned, and some celebrated. More importantly, some tried to reconcile and to educate on why the family needs to accept. There were family members like those involved in Integrity and CFLAG that knew that our Communion-wide need to accept it’s GLBT sons and daughters was important beyond pious notions of what is a sin or not a sin. It was about restoring life to the outcast and unwanted—saving lives and restoring lives—healing the broken hearted—and strengthening the strained “bonds of affection”.

In Columbus we saw the election of the first female Primate in the Anglican Communion—proof of how the need and push for acceptance and equality shows progress in momentous achievements like that. We also saw one of the more ghastly calls for restraint that made no one happy with regards to the still outcast GLBT members of the Church. It is hard to celebrate the achievements of an oppressed sexual minority with the shadow of continued oppression of another minority.

It was at that point that I joined Integrity. I wanted to join the fight that celebrated the achievements of women in the Church and said “And ALSO now GLBT!” The first hurdle was to deal with the restraints that were asked and later confirmed in New Orleans. One of the most disturbing images of these restraints was our new Presiding Bishop’s image of a Lenten fast on continued consecrations. I had had always heard of the fast as giving up something that was bad for you and taking on something good for the world. That sure did not seem like the case with regards to GLBT Episcopalians.

In Anaheim, we moved forward, pushed by Integrity and the many, many allies that also saw this restraint as antithetical to what it means to be a Christian family—another day to be proud to be an Episcopalian. The legislation that was passed was eyed by the patriarch of the family suspiciously… some of our more distant cousins wished to disown us even further claiming that we had gone our own way to ruin. We had whole dioceses vote to disassociate themselves with the Church, often supported by our cousin provinces.

This week we saw yet another momentous day for GLBT Episcopalians—one that will surely continue to rock the boat—in the consent to the election of Mary Glasspool . Again, it happens legally under the cannons of the Episcopal Church that were strengthened by the legislation in Anaheim last year. Again, it has caused the head patriarch of the family to eye us with suspicion. And Again I am proud—but this time I have a huge amount of Shame.

The shame has nothing to do with the great news of LA, but with the disturbing response of Archbishop Rowan Williams. I do not presume to understand what it is like to be a titular head of a denomination so vastly spread across the world, socio-economic strata, and political and theological spectrums. What I do not hear is the same response at words of hatred against us his GLBT members, or the continued efforts of foreign provinces to usurp property in the Episcopal Church. Most deeply ashamed am I of his restrained responses towards the near holocaust-level hatred that is fueling the “Kill Gays Bill” in Uganda.

One of the signs of the Spirit moving in the Church is that this consent comes on the heels of statements of inclusion and support from a Patriarch so wise that non-believes will turn to listen to him, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He is like that wise old family member that knows that the love of the God and the true bonds of affection that bind a family together are stronger than sexuality or morality. He understands that it is crucial to our faith to accept GLBT Christians into the fold and to celebrate with Easter joy when one like Mary Glasspool is called to be a Bishop among us. He warns us of the demoralizing and demonic destruction that awaits those who shun the outcast, hate those who differ, and seek legislation to exterminate that which we do not want to understand.

I only wish Archbishop Williams would listen to Archbishop Tutu and realize that we too are God’s loved children, that we too are called by the Spirit to serve and lead the Church, and that we deserve to solemnize our love in the Church’s sacraments. Williams, it seems, does not see this, Uganda does not want to see this…and that should make us all ashamed and outraged.

Tutu sees this—Los Angeles sees this—and those that consented to Mary Glasspool’s election see this, and that should make us all proud and filled with an Easter joy.

The Human Rights Crisis in Uganda Seminar - Tues 23 Mar, 7pm at Riverside Church

2010-03-15T17:58:00.003-04:00

Other Sheep and Maranatha of Riverside Church are Hosting this Seminar

Political Research Associates Rev. Dr. Kapya Kaoma, author of "Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia," and Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG) leader Frank Mugisha will discuss the intersecting of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, U.S. church politics, and the Institute on Democracy and Religion.

Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Time: 7pm
Location: The Riverside Church, Manhattan, New York
Room: MLK 411

Other Co-Sponsors of this Event include:

Believe Out Loud: Episcopal Congregations

Integrity NYC

Dignity NYC

Dignity USA

Metropolitan Community Church of NY

Presbyterian Welcome

Silence to Speech Productions

Lavender and Green Alliance

Read the full announcement at Other Sheep eNews Archives

A Statement from the Diocesan Committee on LGBT Concerns and the Diocesan Social Concerns Comission

2009-12-03T20:25:00.000-05:00

As people of faith, we are saddened and disappointed by the New York State Senate’s vote against marriage equality for same-sex couples. The failure to enact this legislation means that families headed by same-sex couples, including families with children, will continue to be denied the same economic security and legal protections that heterosexual married couples have. It is disheartening and is not in keeping with the resolutions of our own Episcopal Church that gay and lesbian persons “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens” (GC Resolution A-71, 1976).

Nevertheless, we ask that the people of the Episcopal Diocese of New York diocese, both straight and gay, lay and clergy, continue to keep faith and put their energy into seeing that marriage equality happens in the future. You may want to contact your state senators about their votes. (A listing of the votes of all New York State Senators can be found below.) It is especially important to contact those senators who voted for the legislation. They are our allies, and many spoke eloquently and courageously on behalf of equal treatment for all New York families. They deserve our thanks and support.

In calling your senators and in continuing to advocate, be sure to let them know that the Episcopal Diocese of New York remains on the record as supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples, as per our resolution at the 2008 Diocesan Convention. Although the governor and the senate leaders were told of this, we should continually remind them as we go forward, so as to balance out the voices of other religious groups that fought against marriage equality.

We need to keep the faith and continue to honor our covenant to respect the dignity of every human being.

Peace,

Stephen McFadden

Chair, Diocesan Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns

Episcopal Diocese of New York

The Reverend Mark Hummel

Chair, Social Concerns Commission

Scroll Down: The vote of each state senator is below.

Eric Adams (D) — YES

Joseph Addabbo (D) — NO

James Alesi (R) — NO

Darrel Aubertine (D) — NO

John Bonacic (R) — NO

Neil Breslin (D) — YES

John DeFrancisco (R) — NO

Ruben Diaz (D) — NO

Martin Malave Dilan (D) — YES

Tom Duane (D) — YES

Pedro Espada (D) — YES

Hugh Farley (R) — NO

John Flanagan (R) — NO

Brian Foley (D) — YES

Charles Fuschillo, Jr. (R) — NO

Martin Golden (R) — NO

Joseph Griffo (R) — NO

Kemp Hannon (R) — NO

Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D) — YES

Shirley Huntley (D) — NO

Craig Johnson (D) — YES

Owen Johnson (R) — NO

Jeffrey Klein (D) — YES

Liz Krueger (D) — YES

Carl Kruger (D) — NO

Andrew Lanza (R) — NO

Bill Larkin (R) — NO

Kenneth LaValle (R) — NO

Vincent Leibell (R) — NO

Tom Libous (R) — NO

Elizabeth Little (R) — NO

Carl Marcellino (R) — NO

George Maziarz (R) — NO

Roy McDonald (R) — NO

Hiram Monserrate (D) — NO

Velmanette Montgomery (D) — YES

Thomas Morahan (R) — NO

Michael Nozzolio (R) — NO

George Onorato (D) — NO

Suzi Oppenheimer (D) — YES

Frank Padavan (R) — NO

Kevin Parker (D) — YES

Bill Perkins (D) — YES

Michael Ranzenhofer (R) — NO

Joseph Robach (R) — NO

Stephen Saland (R) — NO

John Sampson (D) — YES

Diane Savino (D) — YES

Eric Schneiderman (D) — YES

Jose Serrano (D) — YES

James Seward (R) — NO

Dean Skelos (R) — NO

Malcolm Smith (D) — YES

Daniel Squadron (D) — YES

William Stachowski (D) — NO

Toby Ann Stavisky (D) — YES

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) — YES

Antoine Thompson (D) — YES

David Valesky (D) — YES

Dale Volker (R) — NO

George Winner (R) — NO

Catherine Young (R) — NO

Memorial Service and New Homeless Shelter

2009-11-25T15:20:00.001-05:00

[New York City - Manhattan] Integrity joined with The Latino Commission on AIDS, Committee on Solidarity of Jorge Steven Lopez, The LGBT Community Center of New York, The Office of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Dignity NY, PFLAG NY and the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields for a Vigil, Memorial Service, and Community Mobilization in Memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. Jorge Lopez was a gay/trans teen who was brutally murdered in Puerto Rico last week.

Memorial services were held across the continental US as well as Puerto Rico on Sunday. In New York City, The Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields and Integrity were both invited by the wider community to take leadership roles in the organizing and running of the events.

Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember-Elect Daniel Dromm (both of the LGBT community) spoke against the hatred against our community, which is often harder on the LGBT community of color. They called for more education and community involvement. The Rally traveled by candelight to the doors of St. Luke in the Fields where participants were greeted by Integrity members and The Rev. Mary Foulke of St. Luke in the Fields. There was standing room only as the service began.

Daniel Leyva, the primary organizer of the event spoke about how important it is that the religious community that is supportive of the LGBT community to speak out about these injustices. Earlier this year, Senator Ruben Diaz, also a Pentecostal minister, led a rally where he brought several thousand Pentecostal ministers and leaders to New York to speak out against the LGBT community and especially in response to Marriage Equality. Mr. Leyva reiterated that not all the religious are like Senator Diaz's group, and he praised the Episcopal Church and Integrity.

[New York City - Astoria Queens] Episcopal Community Services of Long Island partnered with The Ali Forney Center to meet basic emergency needs, increase coping and decision making capacities, and assist in planning for the re-integration into community living, of homeless and runaway youth who identify as LGBT in the New York City area to open the St. Andrew's Center in Astoria, NY on Monday 23 Nov.

Bishop Larry Provenzano and his wife were in attendance at this opening as were Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember-Elect Daniel Dromm (both members of the LGBT community). The Rev. Charles McCarron and lay leader Michael Meaney (donations coordinator for the project) were instrumental in this partnership with the Ali Forney Center. "I believe that the Ali Forney Center at St. Andrew's is a wonderful example of how different groups can work together toward the same goal. The young people we serve are perhaps the most marginalized of the homeless, yet they are young enough to change their lives with some compassionate and non-judgmental help. As Gay New Yorkers we should all be proud of the work that the Ali Forney Center has been doing for years and I am pleased that the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island has joined in this important work. It would be fantastic if more people could help the Ali Forney Center to grow and accomplish even more on behalf of our GLBT youth. One of the quotes I put up on a wall in the center is something I think works for the youth and for the volunteers as well, 'The purpose of life is a life of purpose'." said Michael Meany, who organized donations and volunteers to get the project done.

"It really meant a lot to this community to see the Church, or Episcopal Church, stand with the most vulnerable of our community and dedicate time and talent, and almost 500k in funds. I am so proud of the Diocese of Long Island and grateful to Michael Meaney, Father McCarron and Bishop Provenzano for all their work," said Chap Day, Province II Coordinator for Integrity USA who was in attendance. "Bishop Provenzano and the Diocese of Long Island are a beacons of hope to the LGBT community here in Queens, and an example of community cooperation that I hope other dioceses will mimic."

There is an ongoing homeless youth crisis in New York City and nation-wide. In New York City, that number is believed to be between 12,000 and 15,000. Approximately 3,000 to 8,000 homeless youth in New York City are LGBTQ. This calculation is based on research that demonstrates that 20 to 40 percent of all homeless youth identify LGBTQ.

The Ali Forney Center is named for Ali Forney. Ali Forney was a homeless queer teen who was forced to live on the streets of New York during the 1990s. Ali was dedicated to the safety of other homeless queer youth; he was a committed HIV prevention worker, and aggressively advocated that the NYPD investigate a series of murders of the homeless queer youth he had befriended. Ali was an inspiration to those who knew him. In December of 1997, Ali was murdered on the streets. His tragic death called attention to the atrocious conditions for homeless LGBT youth in New York. Ali's murderer has never been identified.

The dedication ended with a community reading of a prayer Ali Forney wrote:

I believe that one day, the Lord will come back to get me. Hallelujah. If I live right, Hallelujah, I will go on to that righteous place. I believe that one day, Hallelujah, all my trails, all my tribulations, they will be over. I won't have to worry about crying and suffering no more. I won't have to worry about being disappointed, because my God, Hallelujah, is coming back for me. Whether I am a man with a dress and a wig, My God will love me for who I am! I might not walk like I'm supposed to walk. I might not have sex with who I'm supposed to have sex with. My God will love me for what I am! So don't worry about me, worry about yourself. Because as long as God believes in me, I'm not worried about what folks say, Hallelujah.

You Can Help With This Project: An Invitation From Michael Meaney:

At the coming season of Our Lord's birth there are special ways to help. There is no holiday line in the budget so we depend on generous donations. As we shop for ourselves and gifts, it would be fantastic to remember the sacrifice Our Lord made for us and try to make some sacrifices for others. Christmas is a particularly difficult time for our teens at the center, perhaps the most marginalized of all the homeless. In a season often associated with family it is easy to see why young people would have feelings stirred up. We are asking for gift cards in only ten and twenty dollar denominations to McDonald's, Target and CVS only. We want to limit ourselves to these three places so teen jealousy does not appear. These gift cards will give our teens some buying power that they do not usually experience. Please send out an email to your family and friends asking for help as well.

Gift cards can be sent to Michael Meaney c/o Zion Episcopal Church 243-01 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11363. Contact me for other donation destinations. It would be best if donations could be received early, before December 15th, so we know what we have to work with. The Ali Forney Center at St. Andrew's will have 16 residents for the holidays and Ali Forney has some 65 residents in their living shelter system to treat this holiday season. coordinating this all can be a difficult task for the Ali Forney team, so we ask that gifts are limited to the pre mentioned items.

Vigil, Memorial Service & Community Mobilization in Memory of Jorge Steven López Mercado

2009-11-20T19:57:00.002-05:00

Sunday 22 November
5pm Vigil at Pier 45 (Christopher Street Pier)
6:30pm Memorial Service at St. Luke in the Fields (Hudson St and Grove St)

Integrity will be joining several other organizations in participation in this event. We hope you will try to join us in solidarity with the López Mercado family and others across the country.

Jorge Steven López Mercado, a gay/trans teenager was found beaten, decapitated, dismembered, and burned about a week ago in Puerto Rico because of his sexuality. The killer is claiming "gay panic" after he discovered that Mercado, who was in drag, was a male. The killer met Mercado while looking for women in an area known for prostitution. Activists are demanding that the alleged perpetrator be charged under the new U.S. federal hate crimes law which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Hundreds of people took part in a march through San Juan last night to demand an end to homophobia. The López Mercado family fully accepted the openly gay teenager--Mercado's ex-boyfriend continues to speak publicly on the family's behalf.

New York Congressmembers José Serrano and Nydia Velázquez have both condemned the gruesome murder. And New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office has co-sponsored this vigil.

[PR Integrity USA] - Disaffected Anglicans Choose Wrong Side of History

2009-10-22T10:06:00.000-04:00

From Walking With Integrity

October 22, 2009
For Immediate Release

LOS ANGELES, CA--The recent announcement that the Vatican would set up a special canonical structure to accept disaffected Anglicans, choosing to leave over the inclusion of women and the LGBT faithful, is viewed by Integrity as another sad indicator of the church hierarchy’s misguided commitment to staying on the wrong side of history.

"There is some clarity in all of this, however," said Integrity Preisdent David Norgard. "Anglicans will now have a clear choice: a church that welcomes all or a church that excludes some.

"It is also ironic that this announcement comes just days after the Vatican unveiled plans for an exhibit honoring Galileo--who was condemned by the church 400 years ago," said Norgard. "Let us hope for the sake of the gospel we share, that our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters don’t have to wait 400 years for their church to get on the right side of history on the full inclusion of women and the LGBT baptized in their work and witness.

"Integrity will continue to work for the full inclusion of all the baptized in all the sacraments within the Episcopal Church and to offer the good news of congregations and dioceses whose welcome to all is growing the church.

"God is not finished with the Episcopal Church yet. But we are deeply grateful to be part of a church working toward full inclusion.”

END

Press contact:

Louise Brooks, Director of Communications
626-993-4605
tvprod@earthlink.net

A Hate Crime and the National Equality March

2009-10-12T23:46:00.001-04:00

[Province II] - WASHINGTON, DC/COLLEGE POINT, NY - Members of Integrity from several chapters in Province II attended the National Equality March in DC on Sunday 11 Oct. Representatives from Integrity Rochester and Integrity NYC met with delegates from Province III and Integrity DC to march together. There was a notable amount of Episcopalians throughout the crowd, and Integrity Vice-President of Local Affairs Neil Houghton, was one of the religious delegates noted at the Invocation given at the beginning of the program. An audible cheer went up from the Episcopalians when Neil was announced.

Chap Day, Province II Coordinator for Integrity USA attended with a group of activists from Queens NY, including Integrity NYC members from Queens, the Gay Peruvians, Queens Pride Committee, the ISO, and at-risk LGBTQ homeless youth who are in a program called Generation Q, as well as with Daniel Dromm, the openly gay District Leader of 39th Assembly District A, and a Democratic nominee for New York City Council, Distict 25.

"This event was one for local organizers to get motivated and empowered. The youth who attended from Queens NY saw community organizing at its best. They got to interact with positive forces on all levels from IntegriyNYC, to elected officials like Danny Dromm, and to celebrities like Cynthia Nixon and Lady Gaga. The message was one for those who will be taking the baton and need to be told that they can make a difference for the good," commented Micheal Mallon, a member of IntegrityNYC and Queens Pride Committee.

It was disheartening, that the delegation from IntegrityNYC returned home to learn that on Friday night a hate crime had occurred in College Point, Queens. A 49 year old gay man was beaten late Friday night/early Saturday morning, and is now in a medically induced coma. His family did not release the information until Monday. Organizers from Integrity NYC, Daniel Dromm's office, the ISO, Queens Pride, the Gay Peruvians, and Generation Q who met to organize for DC are now working together for a Vigil and local action.

"It is upsetting that this is the type of event we're now having to organize for; the high of empowerment on Sunday, and now the low of demoralizing hate and fear the next, and this is why our mission is so important," remarked Chap Day.

Attached Photo by Jon Nally (iNYC).

L-R: Paul Lane, David Casey, Michael Mallon, The Hon. Daniel Dromm, Brendan Spillane, Chap Day, Omar Olaya

Transgender Rights Forums in Queens and Brooklyn

2009-09-29T11:19:00.000-04:00

There are two forums in the NYC area that will be discussing the violent hate-crimes that have recently happened, especially towards transgender people in our community. ESPA Pride in the Pulpit has asked us to share this information.

Transgender Hate Crimes: Victims, Their Families and Advocates Speak Out!
Wednesday October 7th, 7:00 PM
Brooklyn Law School’s Forchelli Conference Center
205 State Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Queens Transgender Rights Forum:
Tuesday October 13th 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Queens Pride House
76-11 37th Avenue. Suite 206
Jackson Heights, New York

[PR Integrity USA] - Integrity President to be Honored by Diocese of Los Angeles

2009-09-25T07:28:00.003-04:00

Outgoing IntegrityUSA President Susan Russell will be honored on Sunday 27 Sept by being named Canon in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Susan has appeared on countless panels and national broadcasts, advocating eloquently and tirelessly for the full inclusion of gay men and lesbians in the Church. Bishop Sergio Carranza will preside at the service, which begins at 4 p.m. Canon Jim White will preach. The evensong and reception are open to all.

IntegrityNYC joins many in thanking Susan for her hard work in this Church and with inter-faith collaborations. We also join in congratulating Susan and the people of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

The following is a Press Release from Integrity USA as posted on "Walking With Integrity" on Friday, September 25, 2009 - Original Post.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 25, 2009

The Reverend Susan Russell, Integrity's soon-to-be past-president, will be made an honorary canon of the Diocese of Los Angeles in recognition of her advocacy for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the work and witness of the Episcopal Church at a festival Evensong on Sunday, September 27 at St. John's Cathedral.

“Susan is a major opinion maker in the Episcopal church and her steadfast ministry has made history in this denomination. We celebrate the recognition of her work, dedication, and grace with the Diocese of Los Angeles,” said the Reverend David Norgard, newly elected Integrity President. Norgard's three year term as president of the 33 year old Episcopal LGBT advocacy organization begins on October 1st when Russell steps down after six years in office.

"As a native of Los Angeles and a daughter of this diocese," said Russell, "it is a high honor to be recognized in this way by the church of my birth and baptism. But more than just a recognition of my ministry, I hope that Sunday's service will be be a beacon of hope to all LGBT people who wonder if that sign outside saying "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" really means it. Because in the Diocese of Los Angeles, we do."

"I am deeply grateful to be part of a diocese that sees activism as an asset and does not shy away from being a prophetic voice on behalf of "the least of these" who Our Lord calls us to serve in His name. We have come very far indeed from the church I grew up in -- where girls couldn't be acolytes, much less priests or honorary canons! But there is still much work to do -- and I look forward to all that we will do together here in the Diocese of Los Angeles as we move forward together into God's future."

Russell currently serves as a Senior Associate at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Ordained in 1996, she served congregations in Altadena and San Pedro prior to joining the All Saints staff in 2002. In addition to her tenure as Integrity President, she also served as a member of the National Board of the Episcopal Church Women (2000-2003), is a member of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion Council and serves as a spokesperson for California Faith for Equality. In 2008 she was featured in the award-winning short documentary film "The Constant Process" -- produced and directed by Mormon filmmaker Douglas Hunter.

The Rt. Reverend Sergio Carranza will preside at the 4:00 p.m. service, which will include music by the St. John's Choir and a sermon by Canon Jim White. St. John's is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles 90012.

For further information contact:
Louise Brooks, Communication Director
Integrity USA -- 626.993.4605
lebrooks@earthlink.net

TransEpiscopal: Today, in Your Hearing

2009-09-22T19:47:00.002-04:00

From TransEpiscopal:

As Congress gears up to begin hearings on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) tomorrow (September 23, 2009), I am grateful to recall how decisively The Episcopal Church declared its support for transgender civil rights in general, and a fully inclusive ENDA in particular, this summer at its 76th triennial General Convention.

Continue Reading HERE.

iNYC Celebrates Strides at General Convention

2009-09-21T04:06:00.009-04:00

IntegrityNYC hosted a Solemn Eucharist at St. Luke in the Fields Church in Manhattan's historic Greenwich Village. About 60 people from across New York City and New Jersey gathered in thanksgiving for the strides made this summer by the Episcopal Church's General Convention on LGBTQ issues.

The Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of New York, presided; David Casey (Grace), Convener of IntegrityNYC, preached; The Rev Hugh Grant, Curate, and The Rev Caroline Stacey, Rector (St. Luke's) assisted; The Rev. Dn. Kent Curtis (All Saints), served as Deacon; The Altar Guild and Acolyte Guild of St. Luke's offered their time and talents in the service; Shauna Leeks (St. Barts) and Michael Cudney (Holy Apostles and iNYC Steering Committee) read the lessons. Ms. Leeks, Wayne Seifried (Ascension), Chap Day (St. Luke's, iNYC Steering Committee, and Province II Coordinator Elect), and Michael Mallon (St. Luke's and iNYC Steering Committee) served as Ushers; and John Bradley (St. Lukes and Polyhymia) and David Shuler (St. Luke's) provided music.

"America is not the same place it was 50 years ago...or even 10 years ago; and neither is the Episcopal Church" proclaimed David Casey. "When we get All the Sacraments for All the Baptized, we will still not be done! We will still have to deal with homophobia and hetero-sexism in the same way that Women in the Church are still facing Sexism and People of Color in the Church are still facing racism." pulling from the Gospel of Mark, David pointed to the marginalized youth, especially those outside of the Church who will still need our help, support and love.

A collection was taken in honor of "The Church". The Church is a ministry offered by St. Luke's to the LGBTQA Youth in Greenwich Village. Greenwich Village is a destination for thousands of LGBTQA young people who come from all over the city and beyond looking for a safe place to express themselves without fear of homophobic violence or moral condemnation. In 2001, St. Luke’s began opening their doors to these young people on Saturday nights by offering a hot meal, workshops in the visual and performing arts, and the services of social workers and caring adult volunteers. Today the program serves 20-30 young people each week and more than 600 youth ages 14-21 are currently enrolled. The Reverend Mary Foulke, who oversees the program, estimates that at least 1/3 of the attendees are homeless.

An intimate reception followed in St. Luke's Laughlin Hall. Pictures were taken by Jon Nally.

The Rev. Hugh Grant and David Casey greet attendees.

The iNYC Steering Committee and Bishop Roskam
L-R: Chap Day, David Casey, The Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Michael Cudney, Marlin Mattson, and Michael Mallon (not pictured Rachel Furer, Dale McNeil)

Celebratory Eucharist - 20 Sep, 4pm - St. Luke's

2009-09-14T00:52:00.004-04:00

Details:

Sunday, 20th September 2009 (4:00pm)
Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson St (at Grove)

This Summer General Convention passed some amazing resolutions.

IntegrityUSA was there the entire time advocating among the delegates to do the right thing, and they came through!

iNYC is hosting this Celebratory Eucharist in thanksgiving for these resolutions and in gratitude to the Diocesan delegates who helped make these strides possible!

This is our time to Celebrate the welcoming and affirming Episcopal Church in our own area! Come join us!!!

Celebrant: Bishop Roskam, Diocese of New York
Preacher: David Casey of iNYC
Acolytes: St. Luke in the Fields
Music: John Bradley and David Shuler

The Resolutions:
C056 – Authorizes “generous pastoral support” for blessing marriages, unions & partnerships and collection of liturgical resources for consideration at GC2012
C048 – Urges support of fully inclusive ENDA legislation pending in Washington
D012 -- Support for Transgender Civil Rights
D025 – Supports inclusive ordination processes for ALL orders of ministry
D032 -- Non-discrimination clause including gender identity and gender expression for lay employees
D076 -- Support for immigration equality for gay couples
D090 -- Church paper work to be made more accessible to flexibility in gender identity and pronoun preference
C023 – Urging support for repeal of DOMA (“Defense of Marriage Act”) passed in Deputies and was referred by Bishops to Executive Council – where we expect affirmative action will be taken to take the voice of the Episcopal Church to Washington on this important issue.

Please RSVP Below:
Facebook
Socializr

In the News - Congregation Embraces Transgender Minister as His Secret is Revealed

2009-09-01T07:55:00.009-04:00

The Portland Tribune, Regal Courier
By: Christine McFadden
Date: 30 Aug 2009

PORTLAND - The Rev. David Weekley grows uncomfortable in his chair.

As soon as he raises the topic of gay rights to his conservative clergyman friend one day at lunch, he knows it’s a mistake.

He knows that the United Methodist Church long ago retained the right to turn away openly gay clergy members.

So Weekley listens to his friend espouse the opinion of the church, and buries his secret deeper. No one can ever find out that Weekley, a married father of five in Southeast Portland and a Methodist clergyman of 27 years, was born female.

Until now, there has been just one openly transgender Methodist clergyman in the U.S. to retain his ordination (That man, Drew Phoenix, 50, had his ordination challenged by members of the church after coming out publicly in 2007 to his congregation in St. John’s of Baltimore United Methodist Church in Maryland.)

Today, Sunday, Aug. 30, Weekley – who leads the congregation at the Epworth United Methodist Church in the Sunnyside neighborhood in inner Southeast Portland – became the second.

Read the full article at theRegal Courier

August 2009 Mixer - A Success

2009-09-01T07:33:00.004-04:00

iNYC: IntegrityNYC had a good turn out last night at the August Mixer at Nowhere Bar. Thanks to all that were able to make it! There was a good dozen of us who hung out almost to 9pm. If you missed it, don't worry we will have more events like this in the future.

And speaking of that: We do have a Celebratory Eucharist planned for 20 Sep at 4pm at St. Luke in the Fields. We have an Episcopal presence (details to come shortly), and all we'll lack is YOU.

If you are interested in helping with the Eucharist, we will be looking for Readers, Ushers and some volunteers for the Choir. Email Chap Day to volunteer, or for details.

Please save the date, and expect to see a Socializr, Facebook invitation soon.

In the News - Lutheran Assembly Approves Ministries of Gays and Lesbians in Committed Relationships

2009-08-22T15:13:00.010-04:00

Episcopal Life Online
By: Episcopal News Service Staff
Date: 21 Aug 2009

[Episcopal News Service] The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on August 21 approved opening the ministry of the church to pastors and other professional workers living in committed same-gender relationships.

The resolution passed by a vote of 559 to 451 and overturns previous church policy that prohibited participation of gays and lesbians in church ministries unless they were celibate.

Read the full article at Episcopal Life Online.

iNYC welcomes all Lutherans Concerned and all ELCA folks to join us at our Celebratory Eucharist on 20 Sept at St. Luke in the Fields.

[PR Integrity USA] - Integrity Responds to ELCA Assembly Actions

2009-08-21T20:30:00.000-04:00

The following is a Press Release from the desk of Susan Russell as posted on her Facebook Page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2009 -- 05:30PM/PDT

Integrity rejoices at the news from Minneapolis that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today adopted all four of the resolutions before their Assembly regarding the fuller inclusion of the LGBT baptized in the work and witness of the Lutheran Church.

“Today’s action in Minneapolis is not just good news for gay and lesbian Lutherans, it is good news to all who strive for peace and justice and are committed to respecting the dignity of every human being,” said the Reverend Susan Russell, president of Integrity USA.

“For decades the faithful have prayed for justice to roll down like waters for the LGBT baptized in the Lutheran and Episcopal Churches. The Summer of 2009 has become that watershed moment we have prayed for.”

“We are delighted that our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ are joining The Episcopal Church in moving forward in mission with a commitment to include all God’s beloved equally. We look forward to opportunities to continue in our call to common mission with our Lutheran colleagues as we join together in proclaiming the Good News of God in Christ Jesus available to all.”

“We believe that when taken together with the actions of our Episcopal Church last month in Anaheim, we are seeing a spiritual groundswell sending the message that there are communities of faith that actually practice the compassion they preach. Our deepest hope is that these actions will encourage those who had given up on the church to give it another chance. Our doors are certainly open to welcome them – and we look forward to the mission and ministry ahead of us as the Body of Christ in the world.”

Celebratory Eucharist - 20 Sep, 4pm - St. Luke's

2009-08-20T18:29:00.007-04:00

Details:
Sunday, 20th September 2009 (4:00pm)
Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson St (at Grove)

Save the Date for a Celebratory Eucharist in thanksgiving for the passing of inclusive resolutions at General Convention, and in gratitude to our Diocesan Delegates.

If you are interested in contributing to this service (reader, usher, choir, planning, volunteering) or if you have questions, please Email Chap James Day .

Welcome Back Mixer - 31 Aug, 6pm - Nowhere Bar

2009-08-20T17:56:00.005-04:00

Details:
Monday, August 31, 2009 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)
Nowhere Bar
322 E 14th St (near 2nd)

Welcome back from Summer! Whether you traveled or had a stay-cation, we welcome you back to another year with IntegrityNYC.

To herald everyone back to the city, iNYC will be hosting a mixer at Nowhere Bar on Monday, 31 August at 6pm. Bring Friends!

RSVP on Socializr or Facebook

After Anaheim Integrity Leadership Conference - Sep 9-12 in St. Louis, MO

2009-08-03T10:25:00.006-04:00

2009 is special year for Integrity in many ways. We're living into our new organizational structure and we're facing potentially pivotal outcomes from General Convention. Therefore, we're convening our national and local leadership and others for a time of training, renewal, and planning for the future. The core of the conference will be the "Building an Inclusive Church" workshop facilitated by the Institute for Welcoming Resources staff, dedicated time for our leaders to begin planning for the next triennium, and informal time for networking and fellowship among all participants.

Who Should Attend?
* National board members
* Provincial coordinators
* Chapter conveners
* Diocesan network coordinators
* Congregational circle moderators
* Proud Parish Partner rectors or representative
* Lifetime members
* Past presidents
* Future local leaders
* Anyone who want to build a more inclusive church at the parish, diocesan, provincial, or national levels

That means all of YOU!

Registration is only $100!

PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE BEFORE Friday, August 7 in order to guarantee a hotel room at our negotiated rate of $126 (single occupancy) and $63 (double occupancy) at the Omni Majestic Hotel. That price is a negotiated price, and includes taxes and fees.

For more information, please follow this link from IntegrityUSA: After Anaheim

[PR Integrity USA] - Diocese of Los Angeles Takes Another Step Forward for Inclusive Anglicanism

2009-08-02T21:38:00.007-04:00

The following is a Press Release from Integrity USA as posted on "Walking With Integrity" on Sunday, August 2, 2009 - Original Post

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Integrity rejoices at the Diocese of Los Angeles' diverse slate of qualified candidates for the December 2009 election of two new bishops suffragan.

"Coming so soon after the slate announced by the Diocese of Minnesota," said Integrity President Susan Russell, "today's announcement by the Diocese of Los Angeles is another sign that the 'season of fasting' at the expense of the vocations of gays and lesbians in the Episcopal Church is at an end."

"Just a few days ago we celebrated the 35th anniversary of the ordination of the first women to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church," said Russell. "Thirty five years ago it was hard to imagine that we would come to a place where the inclusion of gifted women on a slate of candidates for bishop would become the expected rather than the exception. And we believe that we are journeying to a place where the same will be true for gay and lesbian candidates."

"It is now up to the Diocese of Los Angeles to discern--together with the Holy Spirit--which of these excellent candidates will make the best bishops to lead them forward in mission and ministry. Integrity's hope is that in both Los Angeles and in Minnesota the work of discernment can proceed without outside interference and with the focus where it should be: on finding the bishop best suited to pastor the people and to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ Jesus to the church and to the world."

PRESS CONTACT

(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President
president@integrityusa.org
714-356-5718 (mobile)

[PR Integrity USA] - Integrity Applauds Slate of Candidates for Bishop of Minnesota

2009-08-01T21:43:00.003-04:00

The following is a Press Release from Integrity USA as posted on "Walking With Integrity" on Saturday, August 1, 2009 - Original Post

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Integrity applauds the Diocese of Minnesota for the stellar slate of qualified candidates released today to replace retiring Bishop James Jelinek. "The Diocese of Minnesota is leading the way for the rest of The Episcopal Church," said Integrity President Susan Russell, "as they move us forward into a future where the resolutions we passed at our recent General Convention become a reality."

That reality--which was stated in Resolution D025--is "that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church."

Integrity is delighted that The Episcopal Church has opened the way for dioceses like Minnesota to field the best possible slate of candidates for the episcopate. "We hope that other dioceses will recognize that "discern for all people" really means ALL" said Russell, "and that the actions of our General Convention will put a sad chapter of discrimination against the LGBT baptized behind us."

It is now up to the Diocese of Minnesota to do the discernment work they have been called to do. We extend congratulations to all the candidates--any one of whom will make a fine bishop for The Episcopal Church--and will pray for the Diocese of Minnesota as they discern together who God is calling to be their bishop.

PRESS CONTACT

(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President
president@integrityusa.org
714-356-5718 (mobile)

"We Will Not Be Silent" Community Rally in Jackson Heights

2009-08-01T01:14:00.010-04:00

iNYC was a co-sponsor of the We Will Not Be Silent Community Rally in Jackson Heights. Our very own Michael Mallon attended the event. There were many other community organizations and organizers. There were about 200 people including politicians showing support and showing solidarity denouncing the acts of violence faced by the trans community in New York City.

Want to read more about the Transgendered Episcopal movement? Why not check out TransEpiscopal!

Here are a few pictures from the Rally. If you click on the images, they will enlarge.

Michael Mallon, Father Louis Braxton, Jr (Carmen's Place) Brendan Fay (Civil Marriage Trail Project), Melissa Sklarz (SDNYC), Jeremiah Frei-Pearson (WQfME, LICA), Jennifer Gamper (Carmen's Place), Marisa Ragonesa (Generation Q)and other organizers

Mark Elyaqim Mosheh Adam (OUT Astoria), Gary Paul Gilbert (LGDCQ), Sebastain Maguire (QLGPC), Robert Pinter (Stop the False Arrests Campaign), & Michael Mallon (QLGPC, SDNYC, iNYC, & OUT Astoria)

Deirde Feerick (City Council Candidate) and Brendan Fay (founder of Civil Marriage Trail Project)

Michael Mallon and Erik Bottcher from the New York City Council

[PR Integrity USA] - Integrity Responds to Archbishop of Canterbury's post-GC2009 Statement

2009-07-27T06:46:00.001-04:00

The following is a Press Release from Integrity USA as posted on "Walking With Integrity" on Monday, July 27, 2009 - Original Post

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a statement this morning entitled "Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future" and subtitled: Reflections on the Episcopal Church's 2009 General Convention from the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Bishops, Clergy and Faithful of the Anglican Communion. In it, +Rowan Williams does what he believes he is called to do as an "Instrument of Unity" for the whole communion: He tries to keep as many as possible at the table doing the work of the gospel. Integrity does not envy him that task.

Integrity regrets the Archbishop's categorization of TEC's commitment to full inclusion of the LGBT baptized as a "rights" issue rather than a "theological" issue -- believing that it falls sadly short of recognizing all the theological reflection that has both moved and motivated this church over the years.

"We are frankly tired of being told we 'haven't done the theology,'" said Integrity President Susan Russell, "when the truth is that there are those in our wider Anglican family who do not agree with the theology we have done. But what we can do is keep doing it. We can keep reaching out. We can keep working together with our communion partners on mission and ministry all over this Worldwide Anglican Family of ours with those who will work with us. And we can stay in conversation with those who won't.

Because we recognize that those who have been waiting for the casting-out-of-TEC-into-outer-darkness are not getting what they want. And as we continue to move forward in mission and ministry with those who embrace historic Anglican comprehensiveness, we believe those "outer darkness" threats are going to ring more and more hollow until they fade away altogether.

And meanwhile, we can live into the liberated-for-mission message our General Convention sent home from Anaheim and bless those who come to us asking for the church's blessing on their already-blessed-by-God relationships and raising up into ALL orders of ministry those who God calls into vocations of deacon, priest and bishop.

Because, as the closing word's of +Rowan Williams' statement assure us:

If the present structures that have safeguarded our unity turn out to need serious rethinking in the near future, this is not the end of the Anglican way and it may bring its own opportunities. Of course it is problematic; and no-one would say that new kinds of structural differentiation are desirable in their own right.

But the different needs and priorities identified by different parts of our family, and in the long run the different emphases in what we want to say theologically about the Church itself, are bound to have consequences. We must hope that, in spite of the difficulties, this may yet be the beginning of a new era of mission and spiritual growth for all who value the Anglican name and heritage.

As American Anglicans, we've "rethought structures" before (see also: "1789" and the birth American Episcopal Church) and lived to tell about it! And -- at the end of the day -- that may in fact be the good news and great hope we have to offer our worldwide Anglican Communion family as we move forward together into God's future."

Contacts:
Louise Brooks, Director of Communications, tvprod@earthlink.net, (626) 993-4605

Greetings in Christ

2009-07-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

Several inclusive parishes have been reached out to regarding becoming a P3: Proud Partner Parish. I encourage you to review this website and look at what the local chapter of Integrity has done and is doing. Please feel free to contact IntegrityNYC at the email to the right with any questions you may have.

I hope you will prayerfully consider officially joining our cause.

"We Will Not Be Silent" Community Rally

2009-07-23T00:28:00.005-04:00

Details:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 (2:00pm - 4:00pm)
Jackson Heights Post Office
37th Avenue and 78th Street
Jackson Heights, NY

Two transwomen were brutally attacked on the streets of Queens.

Leslie Mora was attacked on June 19th in Jackson Heights and beaten with belt buckles- suffering wounds in her scalp and legs.

Carmella Etienne is attacked on July 8th in St Albans with rocks and bottles & suffers a major gash in her leg. Attackers threatened to slash her throat.

We speak out against discrimination & violent attacks towards our transgender sisters and brothers.

We unite in building communities of tolerance & inclusion.

We work for the passage of GENDA in NY State.

We extend solidarity, care & compassion for victims of transphobic hate crimes.

For information or to co- sponsor:
Melissa Sklarz : (347) 886-7961
melis0213@aol.com

Brendan Fay: (718) 721-2780
brendan@stpatsforall.com

Getting to the Rally
By Subway :Take the 7,E,F, G & R to 74th St

By Bus: The Q32 bus runs between Penn Station in Manhattan and Roosevelt Avenue. Buses Q19, Q19B, Q33, Q47, and Q66 also serve Jackson Heights

Co-Sponsored By:
New York Trans Rights Organization (NYTRO)
Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
Campaign to Stop the False Arrests
Civil Marriage Trail Project
Civil Rights Front
Dignity NY
Integrity NYC (iNYC)
International Socialist Organization (ISO)
Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens (LGDCQ)
Make the Road NY
Metropolitan Community Church NY (MCCNY)
Out Astoria
Proud Righteous Youth Demanding Equality (PRYDE)
Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee (QLGPC)
Queens Pride House
Queens County Young Democrats
St Pats For All
Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC (SDNYC)

RSVP Here

Integrity Celebrates Virtual Clean Sweep on GC2009 Legislative Agenda By Susan Russell, President of Integrity USA

2009-07-18T07:03:00.001-04:00

The following is a message from Susan Russell, President of IntegrityUSA as posted on "Walking With Integrity" on Saturday, July 18, 2009 - Original Post

Integrity Celebrates Virtual Clean Sweep on GC2009 Legislative Agenda
By Susan Russell, President of IntegrityUSA

I’m going to write more about “General Convention in General,” but here’s a legislative wrap up (coming later in the day than I’d meant it to but I’ve decided to give up waiting for the official GC2009 resolution web pages to come back up online – will just add the links to the citations later.)

Heading to Anaheim, Integrity had two primary “agenda items:”
* Move the Episcopal Church beyond B033 and reopen ordination processes to all the baptized;
* Move the Episcopal Church forward on the blessing of same sex marriages and unions.

We saw those goals realized in the adoption of the following resolutions:
* D025 – Supports inclusive ordination processes for ALL orders of ministry
* C056 – Authorizes “generous pastoral support” for blessing marriages, unions & partnerships and collection of liturgical resources for consideration at GC2012

As noteworthy as the content of the resolutions is the context. These resolutions passed not by narrow margins after rancorous debate. They passed by overwhelming consensus after respectful dialogue that left no doubt that those who gathered in Anaheim are committed to an inclusive Anglicanism that keeps at the table all who desire so to do.

D025 -- Ordination
It can – and has – been said that D025 does not “repeal” B033 – and that is, of course, true. There will still be bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees who will choose to “exercise restraint” when consenting the election of a bishop whose “manner of life” would cause concern to the wider Anglican Communion. (And we all know that is code for “partnered gay or lesbian bishop.”) Nevertheless, the inclusive and expansive language of D025 states “this is where we are in 2009” – and frees bishops and standing committees to focus on the theological orientation rather than the sexual orientation of qualified candidates to the episcopate.

Furthermore, by stating unequivocally that “God has called and may call any individual in the church to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, in accordance with the discernment process set forth in the Constitution and Canons of the church” – D025 actually states for the first time as an official resolution of the Episcopal Church that the extra-canonical requirement of celibacy of gay and lesbian candidates for ordination is not the mind of this church.

From the letter by the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies to the Archbishop of Canterbury:

Nothing in the Resolution goes beyond what has already been provided under our Constitution and Canons for many years. In reading the resolution, you will note its key
points, that:
* Our Church is deeply and genuinely committed to our relationships in the Anglican Communion;
* We recognize the contributions gay and lesbian Christians, members of our Church both lay and ordained, have made and continue to make to our common life and ministry;
* Our Church can and does bear witness to the fact that many of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters live in faithful, monogamous, lifelong and life-giving committed relationships;
* While ordination is not a “right” guaranteed to any individual, access to our Church’s discernment and ordination process is open to all baptized members according to our Constitution and Canons; and
* Members of The Episcopal Church do, in fact, disagree faithfully and conscientiously about issues of human sexuality.

C056 -- Blessings
What the Episcopal Church adopted in Resolution C056 is a broad local option for the blessings of the marriages, unions and partnerships of same sex couples and a call to the church to work together toward common liturgical expressions of those blessings.

The Rev. Sam Candler (Atlanta), chair of the committee that presented the resolution, called it "an elegant blend of theological care, ecclesiastical breadth and pastoral generosity."

The Rev. Dan Martins (Northern Indiana) had this to say about C056: “If there was ambiguity surrounding D025--and I have contended that there is -- there is none here. This convention has abrogated every positive gesture it has made toward the Anglican Communion since 2003. Everything we did three years ago in response to the Windsor Report is down the drain.”

In other historic action, the General Convention adopted resolutions supporting the enactment of anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation protecting transgender people at local, state and federal levels. Both houses also adopted resolutions adding "gender identity and expression" to its nondiscrimination policy for hiring lay employees and calling for the revision of church paper and electronic forms to allow a wider range of gender identifications. In review:

C056 – Authorizes “generous pastoral support” for blessing marriages, unions & partnerships and collection of liturgical resources for consideration at GC2012
C048 – Urges support of fully inclusive ENDA legislation pending in Washington
D012 -- Support for Transgender Civil Rights
D025 – Supports inclusive ordination processes for ALL orders of ministry
D032 -- Non-discrimination clause including gender identity and gender expression for lay employees
D076 -- Support for immigration equality for gay couples
D090 -- Church paper work to be made more accessible to flexibility in gender identity and pronoun preference
C023 – Urging support for repeal of DOMA (“Defense of Marriage Act”) passed in Deputies and was referred by Bishops to Executive Council – where we expect affirmative action will be taken to take the voice of the Episcopal Church to Washington on this important issue.

Finally, Integrity applauds the amazing work of ALL our allies in advancing resolutions on a broad range of critical gospel issues. Unlike our last two General Conventions, where the resolutions regarding human sexuality so consumed our legislative process that there was precious little left for anything else, this 76th General Convention worked long, hard and diligently to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God” – acting on everything from lay equity in pension plans to ending torture; on labor issues and human rights violations; on universal health care and climate change; on human trafficking and ending the blockade in Cuba.

One of the most moving moments for me came on the last day of legislation when Frank Wade reminded us that our actions in the House of Deputies were -- in their own way --offerings being laid at the altar of our God who calls us to this work of justice, compassion and love. The reminder that “liturgical” and “political” are words that share a root – and that both the work of the people – was a holy container for this holy work we have been about for the last ten days in Anaheim.

There are miles to go before we rest – before the kingdom come on earth IS as it is in heaven. But BIG steps forward were taken by The Episcopal Church at this General Convention. And for that, we rejoice and are glad!

Gay Pride Parade 2009

2009-06-28T18:18:00.005-04:00

OASIS Newark joined forces and co-marched with Integrity NYC in the NYC Gay Pride 2009.

This is the 2nd year that we've marched since iNYC was resurrected. The Diocesan LGBT Concerns committee helped organize the other Episcopal groups so that we all registered to march together in the parade. Not only did the Diocese of New York have a sizable contingency but so also did Holy Apostles, Saint Luke in the Fields, Saint Bartholomew's, Saint Michael's, Holy Trinity, and Christ Church Belleville NJ, as well as members from churches in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.

Ascension offered a water ministry to the parade marchers as they passed by their church on the route. Saint Luke in the Fields hosted its annual Gay Pride Evensong, which many of the iNYC and OASIS marchers attended. This was a great showing of love from the Episcopal Church in New York and New Jersey. Neil Houghton, the Northeastern Regional Vice-President was also in attendance, as well as Bishop V. Gene Robinson who joined the whole contingency after preaching at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and to Chap Day for being the iNYC Group Marshal.

Here are some photos of iNYC: Integrity NYC and OASIS Newark marching in New York City's annual Gay Pride Parade.

More photos can be found on Neil Houghton's blog "Many Things to Say"

Gay Pride Eucharist

2009-06-28T17:09:00.003-04:00

Here are some images from the Eucharist at Gay Pride 28 Jun 2009.

Click on the images to enlarge them.

David Casey, iNYC Convener offers the Prayers of the People
Chap Day, acolyte and Stephen McFadden from the Diocesan LGBT Concerns Committee

The Rev. John Denaro, Celebrant

There were about 3 dozen people in attendance at the Street Eucharist. Thank you to all who stepped up to assist with reading the lessons, and a special thanks to St. Luke in the Fields, for providing everything necessary for the Eucharist including bulletins, and especially to Paul Lane for organizing it.

Voices of Witness Africa Screening

2009-06-25T19:20:00.002-04:00

Holy Apostles hosted a screening of Voices of Witness, a documentary that shared to voices of LGBT Christians in Africa. Integrity NYC was proud to be part of this event. You can read more about the Voices of Witness Africa project as well as watch the Trailer, by clicking HERE. To donate to this cause, you can use the Integrity USA website HERE, and select Voices of Witness in the Special Projects section. Chap Day attended on behalf of iNYC and Neil Houghton attended on behalf of Integrity USA.

Rally for Marriage Equality Event

2009-06-02T02:28:00.001-04:00

The Rally for Marriage Equality in Astoria was amazing. The NYC Parks estimated the attendance at 2500 people! Several Episcopalians were guest speakers including Father Louis Braxton, Jr (Carmen's Place), Lauren Marcewicz & Caroline Peacock (St. Luke in the Fields), and Chap Day & Michael Mallon (St. Luke in the Fields, iNYC, and OUT Astoria). There were also many politicians and community organizers. iNYC is a constitutent member of Western Queens for Marriage Equality (WQfME), and was a co-sponsor of this Rally. The NYS Senate is scheduled to vote on Marriage Equality this session, but the Senator from Astoria (George Onorato) says he will not vote in favor of Marriage Equality, despite his district having a large number of LGBT citizens and overwhelming support for Marriage Equality.

Here are some pictures.

2500 people in support of marriage equality

Lauren Marcewicz and Caroline Peacock (St. Luke in the Fields), and their daughter are residents of Astoria asking for marriage equality of their senator, George Onorato.

That's a lot of people

Father Louis Braxton, Jr (Carmen's Place) has been an outspoken LGBT cleric from the Episcopal Church in the Astoria area. Carmen's Place is an LGBT youth homeless shelter in Astoria. Last year several of the youth were attacked on the street, and Father Braxton stepped in to help them and was hit with a garbage can by the perpatrators.

Michael Mallon and Chap Day, both members of the iNYC Steering Committee live in Astoria and are members of OUT Astoria, an LGBT social network.

Meet the Diocese of New York Deputation to General Convention

2009-06-01T05:53:00.000-04:00

Details:
Monday, June 15th, 6:00 p.m.
Diocesan House, Donegan Hall
1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY

Wednesday, June 24th, 7:00 p.m.
Christ Church
20 Carrol St
Poughkeepsie, NY

The General Convention deputation will be holding meetings in preparation for the Convention in Anaheim CA in July. Part of the purpose of these meetings is to give members of the Diocese an opportunity to share their concerns and opinions on matters coming before the General Convention.

The meetings are open, and anyone can come without notice. If you would like to come, it would help us plan better if we know to expect you.

Please contact the Rev. Jerry Keucher, Deputation chair, if you have any questions. jerrykeucher@gmail.com

Rally for Marriage Equality

2009-05-15T16:56:00.000-04:00

Details:
Sunday, May 31, 2009 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)
Athens Park in Astoria (take the N/W train to 30th Avenue)
30th Avenue & 30th Street
Astoria, NY

Come show your support for equality, meet up with fellow Queens citizens, enjoy music from Broadway stars, and hear from government officials and members of our community who support marriage equality. Performers at the rally have appeared in: Rent, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song, The King and I, Spelling Bee, Good Vibrations, and Mary Poppins, and on the television shows Guiding Light and Hi-5.

State Senator George Onorato (D), who represents much of Western Queens, currently publically opposes marriage equality but this rally in support of equality has a chance to help change his mind. Queens Senators Huntley (D), Addabbo (D) Padavan (R) also currently oppose marriage equality. We need to change their minds.

This rally is sponsored by Western Queens for Marriage Equality. Western Queens for Marriage Equality is a coalition of groups including: Democracy for New York City, Long Island City Alliance, New York State Young Democrats, Queens County Young Democrats, the Jewish Alliance for Change, IntegrityNYC, Marriage Equality New York, Broadway Impact, Civil Rights Front, the New York Civil Liberties Union, Civil Marriage Trail Project, West Queens Greens, OUT Astoria, Astorians United Against Hate Crimes, Astorians United for Peace and Justice, and NewYorkEquality.com

Western Queens for Marriage Equality is a coalition group that believes marriage is a human right that should be available to all New Yorkers, regardless of sexual orientation. In the words of Mildred Loving, the woman whose courage made interracial marriage legal throughout America, marriage is about "the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. [We] support the freedom to marry for all."

RSVP Here

Western Queens for Marriage Equality

2009-05-08T16:50:00.000-04:00

The Steering Committee of IntegrityNYC has decided to co-sponsor Western Queens for Marriage Equality. WQfME is a coalition of several organizations working for the promotion of Marriage Equality especially in the 12th Senate District where their representative, Senator George Onorato has openly said he will vote against Marriage Equality. The organizers reached out to IntegrityNYC, and we couldn't say no to helping in this effort. A rally is being planned for the end of May, and several Episcopalians will be participating in it.

iNYC Gay Pride Contingency Request

2009-05-05T19:53:00.004-04:00

Details:

Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 (11:30 PM)
At 54th St between 5th Ave and Madison Ave (Closer to Madison Ave)

Integrity NYC is registered to march in NYC Gay Pride 2009. Newark's OASIS will be joining the contingency and marching with iNYC!

If your parish is not registered, you are welcome to join us! You can march with us even if you are from an outer borough or NJ, as iNYC is not bound by Diocesan lines.

If you have questions, you can contact the iNYC parade organizer (group marshal), Chap Day (chap@outastoria.com).

LINEUP: 11:30. We will probably kick off around 12:30 or 1 o'clock if they keep to the schedule.

St. Luke in the Fields is organizing a Eucharist at the meeting place for all who wish to participate. They will also have a vehicle for those with trouble walking.

I SUGGEST you bring Sunscreen. We will have a Bathroom pass that can be used to step out of the parade and get back in.

If you do not know who I am go to my Facebook page. I will be wearing a RUBY RED Marshal shirt.

RSVP HERE

The Anaheim Appeal - 3 May 2009 at St. Bart's

2009-04-15T16:48:00.005-04:00

Click Image to Enlarge It

RSVP HERE

Pre-Diocesan Convention Rally

2008-10-15T19:36:00.004-04:00

Are you ....

A Delegate to the New York Diocesan Convention?

A member of the clergy?

On the Vestry??

A Concerned Parishioner???

If so, please come to the Church of the Holy Apostles on Tuesday, October 28th to hear about what YOU can do to help support the Resolution on Civil Marriage Equality in New York State. There will be a Eucharist at 615pm, followed by the rally / presentation at 7pm

Find out more about the resolution, the pre-convention caucuses and more!

Special thanks to the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns for crafting the resolution.

RSVP Here

Welcome Back BBQ Photos

2008-09-06T20:45:00.006-04:00

There was quite a showing at St. Luke in the Fields for the Welcome Back BBQ. Despite the threat of rain, we had a grand time. Thanks to St. Luke in the Fields for hosting the event, and especially to Paul Lane and the LGBT Life Committee at St. Luke's.

Here are some photos.

Paul Lane

Jacob Miles and Michael Mallon

Rachel Furer, Stephen McFadden, Paul Lane, David Casey

Jacob Miles, Michael Mallon, Marlin Matteson, Weiban Wang, Rachel Furer

Welcome Back BBQ

2008-08-15T19:45:00.002-04:00

Details:
Saturday, Sep 6, 2008 (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
at St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson Street @ Grove Street

To kick off our second year, Integrity NYC is partnering with St Luke in the Fields to have a "Welcome Back from the Summer" BBQ!

Come one, come all for a time of fellowship, networking and to hear about what's on tap for the Fall!

$20 donation requested. Proceeds will defray the costs of the BBQ and go towards the work of iNYC.

Looking forward to seeing everyone! Special thanks to St Luke's for providing a space for us.

RSVP Here

Doing the Lambeth Walk

2008-05-15T20:19:00.000-04:00

Details:
Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 (6:00 PM)
at Church of the Ascension
5th Avenue and 10th Street

Brenda Harrison, Lambeth Administrator for Inclusive Church, and Lambeth Administrator for Changing Attitude will be in New York on Tuesday, June 3rd to give us an update on planning for the inclusive presence and specifically the LGBT presence Lambeth. She will also speak to the importance of hearing voices from Africa and other non western Provinces, and anything else that might be of interest.

She would also welcome the chance to hear our thoughts on Lambeth in general.

Location is at the Church of the Ascension.

The parish's regularly scheduled mid-week Eucharist is at 6pm, Brenda's talk will follow at around 645pm (ish!)

Come one, come all! Bring your friends.

RSVP Here

NYC Pride March 2008

2008-05-15T20:07:00.006-04:00

The Episcopal Diocese of New York invites everyone to participate in the annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride March, Sunday, June 29th 2008.

The meeting place for the March is 53rd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. Please be there and ready to march at 1:30p.m.

For those for whom walking such a great distance might prove a challenge, The Church of St. Luke in the Fields has sponsored a Trolley. Space is limited, so please let us know if you would like a seat on the Trolley. The Trolley will be ready for boarding on 53rd Street beginning at 12:30p.m.

All are welcome to participate in the Pride March, but please only RSVP to this invitation if you wish to march with iNYC. If you are marching with your parish or the Diocese and would like some Integrity identification, buttons with the Integrity NYC logo will be provided.

Integrity New York City will sponsor a Street Eucharist on 53rd Street prior to the March at 12:45p.m. We are honored to have the Most Reverend Carlos Touché-Porter, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Mexico as celebrant.

After the March, we hope that you will join us at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, located at 487 Hudson Street just below Christopher Street, for a Festive Choral Evensong at 6:30p.m. The Most Reverend Carlos Touché-Porter, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Mexico will preach. A reception will follow on the grounds.

RSVP Here

Tea With Susan Russell Photos

2008-04-12T21:06:00.001-04:00

There was an amazing crowd at Jacob's apartment. Afterward, several people joined the Steering Committee for an impromptu dinner with Susan Russell. Here are a couple photos for your enjoyment. We were also joined by Neil Houghton, VP for Northeast Region from Integrity USA.

It is hard to tag the people below, but Chap Day, Elizabeth Jacobs, Winnie Varghese +, Jacob Miles, Michael Mallon, Neil Houghton, David Casey, Susan Russell +, and Mark Hummell + are among those below.

Tea With Susan Russell

2008-04-01T20:25:00.001-04:00

Details:
Saturday, Apr 12, 2008 (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
at Home of Jacob Miles
302 West 12th Street, Apt 14A

The Reverend Susan Russell, President of Integrity USA will be in New York at the Desmond Tutu Center near General Seminary for a conference on the proposed Anglican Covenant. She will also be spending some time with us on Saturday, April 12 from 4pm – 6pm to talk about Integrity's witness at the Lambeth Conference as well as her thoughts on the conference at the Tutu Center. In conjunction with this, we are participating in Integrity's Canterbury Campaign and will be accepting donations to support our witness at Lambeth.

RSVP Here

Present Day Experiences of Gay Christians in Kenya and Nigeria - Follow Up

2008-02-27T06:33:00.004-05:00

This event was very informative, and well attended by a large mix of people. David Casey, Chap Day, and Michael Mallon were among the iNYC attendees. Davis MacIyalla spoke earlier that day at St. Luke in the Fields.

Here is an official statement from Davis' experience in New York as told to Steve Parelli by Mac-Iyalla, February 27, 2008, Bronx, NY

How I came to be invited to speak at The Riverside Church
When I told Steve I was coming through NYC on my way to a speaking engagement I had in California, and that I would like to stay with him a couple days, he arranged with Maranatha, the LGBT group at The Riverside Church, a forum on The Present-day experiences of Gay Christians in Kenya and Nigeria. I have known Other Sheep since 2006 when I first met Steve in Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequently, I spent a brief time with Steve in 2007 when I came to the United States for a tour. When Other Sheep and Maranatha invited me to speak as a panelist at a forum to be held at The Riverside Church, I was honored, and did not hesitate to accept their
invitation.

The panel participants and what we talked about
The event was a success. Emmanuel Kamau of Kenya and Jose Ortiz of the States, who spent last July and August in Kenya, joined me as panelists. Together, we shared with our American counterpart what it is like to be gay and Christian in a hostile environment.

My gratitude to Other Sheep and Maranatha; special thanks to Steve and Jose for their hospitality
I am grateful to Other Sheep and Maranatha for the opportunity to speak. I am also grateful for the offering they took on my behalf. Too, I want to express my gratitude for the hospitality Steve and Jose showed my while I was here by keeping me in their home, providing for my daily needs, and for seeing me to and from the airport.

My second visit to St. Luke's in the Field
In addition to The Riverside Church meeting, I was able to worship and speak in St. Luke's in the Field in the Village, Manhattan. I spoke here in 2007 and so I was returning to be with friends I had made there on my previous visit. It was wonderful to be with them again. They are so loving
and welcoming. I will always want to return and visit again St. Luke's in the Field.

Davis accompanied iNYC's Chap, Michael, and Tim Martin to dinner following the event.

A full account of the Event can be found on the Other Sheep & Maranatha Riverside website.

Church Crawl

2008-02-15T20:31:00.000-05:00

Details:
Sunday, Mar 9, 2008 (11:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
at Church of the Ascension and Grace Church

iNYC is proud to announce our first Parish Crawl which is taking place in Manhattan on Sunday, March 9, 2008. We will be visiting the Church of the Ascension for their 11am service and Grace Church for their 6pm service. Itinerary for the day is as follows

11am Principal Service, Church of the Ascension: Fifth Avenue at 10th Street, Holy Eucharist at Main Altar, with full choir and sermon

12pm Coffee Hour, Church of the Ascension. This is our chance to mingle with parishioners of Ascension and spread the Good News of God’s inclusive love for GLBT Christians in the Episcopal Church and to talk about iNYC.

1pm-ish .. Brunch on our own + free time

6pm Evening Service, Grace Church in New York: 10th Street and Broadway, Holy Eucharist in the Chantry, with sermon.

7pm Wine and Cheese Reception, Grace Church in New York.

Please RSVP Here for your attendance to either or both of these services. It is asked that if you are attending only one of the Churches, that you please leave a comment as to which one you are attending.

Present Day Experiences of Gay Christians in Kenya and Nigeria - 17 Feb 2008 - Riverside Church

2008-02-02T06:18:00.001-05:00

Details:
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Riverside Church
490 Riverside Dr, Rm MLK 411
Manhattan

Other Sheep and Maranatha of Riverside Church are hosting a panel of three LGBT persons from Kenya and Nigeria. The panel includes Jose Ortiz, Emmanuel Kamau, and Davis Mac-Iyalla the Anglican founder of Changing Attitude Nigeria.

Co-Sponsors:
iNYC: Integrity NYC
Metropolitan Community Church NY
Presbyterian Welcome
Empire State Pride Agenda: Pride in the Pulpit

O Joy - iNYC Christmas Event

2007-12-01T02:55:00.000-05:00

Details:
Wednesday 12 Dec 2007 (6:30pm)
Home of Jacob Miles
302 W 12th St. (@ 8th Ave.), New York,

O, Joy!

Come network with other fabulous men and women at the
Integrity Episcopal NYC (iNYC)
Christmas Event

Agenda:
Advent Intercessions
Seasonal Socializing
Refreshments
Brief Reports

If you care about full equality and full inclusion for everyone and you want to be part of a high-energy group who feel the same, then this is the short, free, fun, no-obligation event for you.

Come, bring friends, evite whomever you like.

RSVP Here

iNYC Innaugural Mixer

2007-09-15T15:02:00.000-04:00

Details:
Thursday, 4 October 2007 (6:00 PM)
Home of Jacob Miles
302 West 12th Street @ 8th Avenue, New York, NY

"The Episcopal Church Welcomes You"
And that really does mean you!
But it's up to you to help keep in that way.

Integrity USA is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group of The Episcopal Church.

invites you to come network with people from Greater New York and learn what recent developments in The Episcopal Church mean for you, whether you're an Episcopalian or not.

If you care about full equality and full inclusion for everyone, this is the short, free, fun, no-obligation reception for you.

Come, bring friends, evite whomever you like.

RSVP Here