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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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)

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

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