The Wellspring:OASIS Diocese of Newark

Marriage Equality "A Top Priority" for NJ Legislature

2012-01-09T14:10:00.001-05:00

The leadership of both houses of New Jersey's legislature announced this afternoon in Trenton that marriage-quality bills will be introduced in both houses and considered "a top priority" for this session. Senate President Steve Sweeney, who calls abstaining from the vote in 2010 the "biggest mistake" of his legislative career, is now championing the bill. Episcopal Bishop of Newark, the Right Rev. Mark Beckwith, has campaigned actively in favor of marriage equality in New Jersey. On Saturday, the OASIS is co-sponsor of an event organized by Lambda Legal called Marriage Equality: Take the Power.

More from Freedom to Marry

Parish Spotlight: St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange N.J.

2012-01-02T11:51:00.002-05:00

The Episcopal Church of St. Andrew & Holy Communion in South Orange, N.J., and its rector, the Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye Wilson, were profiled in today's Newark Star-Ledger.

Read all about it:

Flinging the doors open wide, South Orange rector welcomes everyone into her lively and diverse community

Newark Star-Ledger

Portraits of NYC's Homeless LGBT Youth

2011-12-22T17:06:00.001-05:00

The Huffington Post 's Carl Siciliano profiled a series of young LGBT people who are living on the streets of New York City, vying for a chance at the few available shelter beds. An estimated 40% of the 3,800 homeless young people (13-18) in NYC identify as LGBT. Many have been ejected from their home situation due to homophobia or misguided fears about their orientation "spreading" to other children. Many turn to prostitution as a means of survival. Some found temporary solace among the Occupy Wall Street protestors. Despite their dire circumstances, many speak of future goals: education, legitimate work, a normal life.

If you are in a position to do so, please considering support of the Ali Forney Center, which provides services to at-risk LGBT youth in NYC, or The Church, a Saturday evening program at the Episcopal Church of St. Luke-in-the Fields, just off Christopher Street where many LGBT youth from NYC and NJ congregate.

Parish Spotlight: Church of the Redeemer, Morristown, NJ

2011-10-08T20:01:00.001-04:00

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.

Redeemer has long been a Sponsoring Congregation of The OASIS. The congregation is a Proud Parish Partner supporting the work of Integrity, and is 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."

The OASIS 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.

NOM's Former Social Media Strategist: Organization's Grassroots Support "An Illusion"

2011-04-13T00:07:00.000-04:00

Louis Marinelli, the social media strategist for the National Organization for Marriage who stunned people on both sides of the marriage-rights debate when he announced he is changing sides, wrote in his blog that NOM's grassroots base is largely "an illusion" and the reality is a handful of people funded by -- and presumably directed by -- anonymous donors.

Marinelli, who organized a publicity tour for NOM this past summer, said the group encountered lackluster support which was overshadowed at most stops by pro-LGBT counterprotests.

The illusion that makes up NOM’s base of support
Two Cents and a Couple of Copecks - Louis Marinelli

NJ Lawsuit Begs Question: Who is a Man?

2011-04-12T10:26:00.000-04:00

A Camden County transman's lawsuit against his former employer opens up a set of new legal and ethical questions: What is the ultimate definition of male vs. female, and who gets to decide?

El’Jai Devoureau, who was born biologically female but has identified as male his whole life and is legally so on official records, was fired from his job at a drug treatment center after he refused to answer his boss's questions about whether he has had gender-reassignment surgery. The job he was doing is restricted to men only because it involves witnessing men providing urine samples for drug tests.

A Lawsuit’s Unusual Question: Who Is a Man?
New York Times

Former GOP Senator: Homophobia in Party "Disgusting"

2011-04-12T10:18:00.001-04:00

Former senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) called out members of his party for homophobia and sexism. Speaking on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Simpson railed against rhetoric and efforts to thwart the rights of women and gay people.

Bishop Christopher to UN: Decriminalize Homosexuality

2011-04-10T09:58:00.001-04:00

Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, who has sacrificed his personal livelihood and safety to speak out on behalf of LGBT Ugandans, addressed the United Nations on Friday. Among his key points was that de-criminalizing homosexuality is key the fight against HIV/AIDS. Currently 70 nations consider homosexuality a crime and seven enforce it with the death penalty. Uganda's parliament was presented last month with a bill that would have made it the eighth. Efforts by Bishop Senyonjo and others raised awareness around the world, which led to pressure on Uganda's government to table the bill. Those in favor of it also are encouraged by Western influences: evangelical ministers including Rick "The Purpose-Driven Life" Warren and Scott Lively have toured Uganda in recent years emphasizing scriptural messages that are favorites of anti-gay rhetoric.

Driving Force at NOM Has Epiphany on Civil Marriage

2011-04-08T14:05:00.001-04:00

Louis Marinelli, who was the driver of both the "2010 Summer of Marriage Tour" RV and the National Organization for Marriage's social networking presence has told the blog Good-As-You in an exclusive interview that he has had a major epiphany on the subject of same-sex marriage and now supports civil marriage rights for same-sex couples.

In addition to driving the motorhome used for the tour, Marinelli created the Twitter feed and Facebook pages which NOM eventually adopted as its own.

While he still feels that homosexuality is "wrong" and a health hazard, Marinelli now sees religious and civil marriage as two separate things and feels same-sex couples are entitled to the rights and protections afforded by a civil marriage license. While he still considers himself part of NOM, he feels the organization should focus on religious marriage.

Marinelli's views changed, ironically enough, because of the personal encounters he had with gay and lesbian people he met during the NOM tour. He started to see them as "real people" and that "instead of trying to destroy American culture, they just wanted to take part in it." He became alarmed by the hateful rhetoric his social networking efforts had attracted and has distanced himself from some of the more vocal opponents of gay rights. He came out in favor of Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal in December.

Some of his shifts are more nuanced; for instance, he still takes issue with the LGBT community "tacking onto" the black civil rights movement, saying that gay rights is not the civil rights movement, it is a civil rights movement.

Is the Kill-the-Gays Bill in Uganda Dead on Arrival?

2011-03-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

There is cause for cautious optimism as a report in the Box Turtle Bulletin blog states that Uganda's "Kill-the-Gays Bill" appears to have been shelved. It had been on the table for discussion by the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, but it appears that someone, possibly President Museveni himself, directed that it be dropped because most of its key provisions are addressed in other existing legislation.

Needless to say, David Bahati, the bill's sponsor whose name it unofficially wears, is furious and is not likely to give up his personal anti-gay agenda easily. Bahati is a member of "the Family" (sponsors of the National Prayer Breakfast) and has connections to ex-Episcopalians at Truro Church in Virginia. Prominent U.S. evangelical preachers, including Scott Lively and Rick Warren, have traveled to Uganda and helped fan anti-gay sentiment among the country's Christians.

Apple Yanks Exodus "Ex-Gay" App

2011-03-23T14:51:00.001-04:00

Apple quietly removed an iPhone/iPad app created by "ex-gay" group Exodus International from its iTunes online store after over 150,000 people signed a petition complaining about it.

The creators of the petition are a Vermont think tank called Truth Wins Out, a name deliberately similar to "Love Won Out," the name of an ex-gay "ministry" created by Focus on the Family and later sold to Exodus International, creators of the now-removed app.

Truth Wins Out cites a document called "Just the Facts" crafted by the nation's leading mental health and educational bodies (including the American Psychological Association and the National Education Association) that condemns "ex-gay" therapy as misleading and generally harmful. It points out that Apple's policy is to reject racist or bigoted content, and questions a double standard. Among other complainants is Dr. Gary Remafedi, a professor of sexuality at the University of Minnesota, who told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Wednesday that Exodus misquoted his research to make its case that homosexuality is an adolescent phase that can be arrested with therapy.

In a November blog post, TWO quotes an Exodus statement in which the group states it will target young people (beginning in middle school) with its message that sexual orientation is a choice which can be influenced through prayer. Given the rash of highly-publicized suicides of gay or gay-perceived youth who were victims of bullying last fall (which Exodus has tacitly acknowledged its programs "might" encourage), TWO seeks to educate the public about what goes on at these "ministries". In a series of videos within the same blog post, ex-clients report being placed in close contact with sex offenders and being asked intimate questions about their anatomy by counselors.

Patrick McAlvey was also an Exodus client at the age of 19. He visited Exodus’ Lansing affiliate Corduroy Stone where he was counseled by Mike Jones. During counseling, McAlvey was asked about the size of his member and made to engage in erotic cuddling. He spoke out about the experience in a Truth Wins Out video

Apple cited the same logic for removal as a previous incident involving an app called "The Manhattan Project" arguing against same-sex-marriage, which Apple stated would "offend a large segment of the public." That petition only required 7,000 signatures to get Apple to change its mind.

Same-Sex Blessings Conference

2011-03-21T23:48:00.000-04:00

On March 18th/19th, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church hosted a meeting in Atlanta of 200 members of the House of Deputies (clergy and laity elected to represent their diocese) to discuss implementation of same-gender blessings as mandated in a resolution passed at the church's General Convention in 2009. The conference was sponsored by a grant by the nonprofit Arcus Foundation and was streamed live over the Internet for further participation and transparency.

The Episcopal News Service posted a report on the meeting here. The Very Rev. Nicholas Knisely, Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, offered praise for the collaborative structure of the meeting but expressed concern that outside funds were required to make it possible. Nick blogs at entangledstates.org.

Deputies leave historic meeting eager to discuss same-gender blessings with wider church
Episcopal News Network

Thoughts on the Atlanta meeting
The Lead - Episcopal Cafe

Catholic Dad Weighs In on Prop 8

2011-03-15T12:07:00.000-04:00

The former director of Catholic Charities in San Francisco and the father of a partnered gay son, Brian Cahill speaks out against the Catholic Church's continued support of Proposition 8, the bill that still prevents same-sex marriages in California despite being ruled unconstitutional in federal court.

My gay son: the face of church's lack of respect
San Francisco Chronicle

Transgender Man Installed as UCC Minister

2011-03-14T19:16:00.001-04:00

The Denver Post reports on the installation of the Rev. Malcolm Himschoot as Pastor of the Parker United Church of Christ, a growing congregation in the Denver metro area. Comments were refreshingly tilted towards the positive at press time.

Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams"
Denver Post

Giving to LGBT-Advocacy Organizations Drops... And They Keep Making Progress

2011-03-10T09:56:00.001-05:00

According to the Movement Advancement Project's 2010 National LGBT Movement Report, giving to LGBT advocacy organizations dropped nearly 20% in 2010 due to a combination of the economy and an off-year at the ballot box. The full report is downloadable from within that article.

However, the majority of the major LGBT social justice groups included in the report are still quite vibrant and functional due to reduced spending, effective fund raising and sound management.

The recent major wins in the legal arena speak to their effectiveness. But -- as MAP Executive Director Ineke Mushovic pointed out in a March 2 column -- the LGBT population can and should be doing more to support these groups which are fighting many battles on our behalf, especially if we want the recent winning streak to continue.

LGBT Movement Makes Major Advances, But Are They Sustainable?
Ineke Mushovic in the Huffington Post

How Religion Can Help (and Hurt) Our Understanding of Marriage and Family

2011-03-10T09:38:00.000-05:00

How Religion Can Help (and Hurt) Our Understanding of Marriage and Family
The Rev. Barbara Crafton in the Huffington Post

In her comments on the Obama administration's decision to cease Federal defense of DOMA in court, Barbara Crafton describes a yearning for the "traditional family" that conveniently overlooks a glaring reality: the Bible's understanding of what makes a family was no closer to the Right's Leave it to Beaver ideal than our contemporary one.

By Grace Alone

2011-02-26T23:12:00.000-05:00

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.

USA Today Column: Anti-Gay Rhetoric Rings Hollow With Americans

2011-02-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

A column by Tom Krattenmaker in USA Today portrays conservative Christians being backed into a corner as the American public's perspective on LGBT people is being reshaped by real-life experience. Groups that continue to plug homosexuality as evil risk losing the loyalty of their members when this rhetoric contrasts with their experience with LGBT people in their own lives.

In addition, a series of books about scripture and sexuality are painting a very different picture than the black-and-white "reality" the Christian right has traditionally presented.

On gay rights, keep fighting or adapt?

Break the Silence Concert: More Details

2011-02-15T10:57:00.001-05:00

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).

Uganda Update

2011-02-11T16:55:00.001-05:00

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.

Meanwhile, supporters of the bill to make homosexuality a capital crime in Uganda are using the murder to drum up more support for their cause.

Back at home, Bishop Gene Robinson wrote a guest column in the Washington Post entitled "Words Do Matter" in which he points out the connection between the violence in Uganda and religious figures on these shores, including Scott Lively and Rick "purpose driven" Warren. David Bahati, the author of the aforementioned bill, is a member of a group called "The Family" who sponsors the National Prayer Breakfast. President Obama attended the event, despite an outcry from many progressives. He did so last year as well, and used the occasion to remark on the draconian law in front of its author.

In a slice of good news this week, a 29 y.o. lesbian woman who was under threat of deportation from England back to Uganda has been granted a reprieve while her case is reviewed, thanks in part to 30 members of the British Parliament and an on-line petition.

Break the Silence Concert

2011-02-09T16:19:00.001-05:00

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.

PLEASE SHARE/PRINT/DISPLAY!

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

Teenager Comes Out to Entire School in MLK Day Speech

2011-01-25T17:51:00.002-05:00

Originally scheduled to sing at a Martin Luther King Day event at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, California, Kayla asked if she could speak to her student body instead. Here is her story.

25 years ago the idea of a high school student making a speech like this was about as inconceivable as Dr. King getting elected president in 1968. When we get frustrated at the seemingly glacial pace of progress, let's remember how far we've come.

"We ain't what we should be, we ain't what we gonna be, but -- Thank God -- at least we ain't what we was."

- UNKNOWN

If someone knows who that quote is attributed to, please comment!

Finding Jesus... At A Drag Show

2011-01-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

As we mentioned in a recent post, Jay Bakker (son of Jim and Tammy Faye) has started his own LGBT-friendly congregation in New York City. However, as he tells the Huffington Post, he still had some of his own demons to deal with when invited to a performance by Ru Paul. He tells the Huffington Post what happened next.

Lessons in Grace from Maurice Mannion-Vanover

2011-01-23T23:31:00.002-05:00

The New York Times reports on the death of Maurice Mannion-Vanover, a young man whose short life -- anything but what society would call "traditional" -- has much to teach us all. He and his family belong to St. Luke's: Montclair.

Against All Odds, A Beautiful Life

"It Gets Better" Jersey Style

2011-01-23T22:18:00.001-05:00

Students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry - New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J., contribute a video to the "It's Getter Better" program.

Ecumenical Prayer Meeting this Saturday in Oradell

2011-01-20T13:24:00.001-05:00

Join Us For An Evening
of
Fellowship & Faith
Saturday
January 22, 2011
at
5:30 PM at
The Church of the Annunciation
343 Kinderkamack Road
Oradell, NJ 07649

Bring Your Own Bible

B.Y.O.B

Join us as we
share and grow in faith
Together!

Music, Fellowship & Faith

All are welcome!

Child care will be provided!
Entertainment for the children!
Fellowship for all to include light fare!

Contemporary & Non Denominational
Adult Prayer Meeting

Public Transport:

RAIL - Pascack Valley Line - Oradell Station
BUS - 165, 762

Short Films Encourage Acceptance by Families

2011-01-18T14:08:00.000-05:00

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.

Remaining Awake During a Great Revolution

2011-01-17T01:15:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last Sunday sermon was preached from an Episcopal pulpit? He offered these words at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter & Paul (AKA the National Cathedral) in Washington DC on March 31, 1968, four days before he was assassinated.

As the nation attempts to make sense of the Tucson shootings and the degree to which the polarization of our ideals and politics played a role, Dr. King's words remain keenly relevant, especially for those of us whose permission to be full participants in society remains a commodity controlled by others. Thanks to Fr. Ron Pogue for the link. Read his thoughts here.

A "Great Gay Awakening" in the Evangelical Movement

2011-01-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

Today's Huffington Post article by Cathleen Falsani discusses the LGBT-welcoming ministry of Jay Bakker (son of Jim and Tammy Faye), and points out several others within the Evangelical movement who are having having a re-think of their understanding of the Bible's teaching (or lack thereof) of homosexuality as we understand it.

At the Believe Out Loud Power Summit in Orlando this past October, we met Justin Lee of the Gay Christian Network, an organization that empowers and supports LGBT Christians. The group's annual conference in Denver last month drew hundreds of attendees.

Meanwhile, busily undoing our work of reconciliation in Schenectady a city councilman and a couple of preachers are raising a stink about some affirming billboards targeting gay African-Americans sponsored by local LGBT group In Our Own Voices, as reported in the Albany Times-Union.

Gay Athletes Speak Out

2011-01-15T12:28:00.000-05:00

The other day we shared a blog called Born This Way, which is a collection of childhood photos, self-submitted, that suggests that non-normative mannerisms and interests associated with same-sex attraction are evident way before a child is thinking about such things.

Today, perhaps as a counter to that, we offer a blog (Three Kids, Three Time Zones, One Mission) written by three male varsity athletes who happen to be gay. These young men are not ashamed of their orientation, but at the same time they seek to let the world know that not all gay folks will talk, act or have the interests we have been socialized to expect they will. They invite other LGBT athletes, out or not, to share their stories, and some have done so. Not surprisingly, the world of competitive sports is not an easy place to be LGBT, and the scarcity of out athletes means it can be quite isolating. Brad, Robert, and Ben seek to change all that.

They say "a mother knows"....

2011-01-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

A new blog called "Born This Way" challenges the notion that same-sex attraction or the interests or mannerisms associated with it are either learned or magically appear at adulthood. LGBT folks share childhood images of themselves and describe how they began to realize they were "different".

A Tale of Two Heroes

2011-01-13T22:52:00.000-05:00

Daniel Hernandez, the gay assistant of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who helped save her life, was hailed by President Obama as a hero. 35 years ago, the gay man who saved Gerald Ford from a similar attack had a very different experience.

The Lead offers some commentary on a Los Angeles Times editorial comparing the two stories and their aftermath.

St. Aelred's Day Message from Integrity NYC-Metro Convener Mary O'Shaughnessy

2011-01-13T00:38:00.000-05:00

On this Feast of St. Aelred , the patron of Integrity, below is a message from Mary O'Shaughnessy, the newly-elected Convener of Integrity NYC-Metro:

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

To learn more about what Integrity NYC-Metro is planning, or to get involved, please visit us at http://www.integritynycmetro.org.

For Gates of Hope: Speaking the truth in love

2011-01-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

Our Bishop, the Right Rev. Mark Beckwith, recounts his encounter in December with the Right Rev. Christopher Senyonjo, a retired bishop from Uganda whose ministry to LGBT persons in his country has come under attack under the anti-gay fervor being stirred up in part by Western churches.

For Gates of Hope: Speaking the truth in love

The Wellspring - December 2010

2010-12-23T14:48:00.002-05:00

THE WELLSPRING

DECEMBER 2010

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In This Edition:

Bishop Beckwith, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo Discuss LGBT Crisis in Uganda
Integrity NYC-Metro is Born, Partnering with The OASIS
The OASIS & Integrity at Diocesan Convention
World AIDS Day Observances

Bishop Beckwith, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo Discuss LGBT Crisis in Uganda

On Saturday, December 18th, the Right Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop of Newark, and a small group met with the Right Rev. Christopher Senyonjo, the retired Bishop of Western Buganda in the Anglican province of Uganda, about the implications of a proposed new law commonly known as "The Bahati Bill" or the "Kill the Gays Bill" on the lives of LGBT people in his country. The bill, which may come up for a vote after the Ugandan elections in February, would impose sentences of life imprisonment and, in some cases, the death penalty for people in the East African country who engage in consensual sex with someone of the same sex.

Bishop Christopher, 78, is soft-spoken and engaging, and hardly comes across as a threat. He's also married to a woman and has children and grandchildren. However, because he counsels LGBT people and is unwilling to tell them they are sinful and must change, he has been singled out as one of the "top 100 homos" by a vigilante newspaper ironically known as The Rolling Stone (no relation to the music magazine in the USA) and has been a regular target of harassment and threats.

Bishop Christopher has spent the last few months touring the United States in an effort to raise awareness of the dire situation for LGBT Ugandans and raise funds for the St. Paul's Center for Reconciliation and Equality, a facility he opened to minister to a host of marginalized and disadvantaged communities. IntegrityUSA, the national organization by and for LGBT Episcopalians and their allies, has sponsored Bishop Christopher's tour, and he has been accompanied by The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, Integrity's Vice-President for International Affairs.

The author of the Ugandan bill, David Bahati, recently visited the Washington DC area and was interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, calling his handiwork "a beautiful piece of legislation" that will protect children and families. He asserted that US $15 million has been invested in Uganda for the purpose of "recruiting children" into same-sex activity but would produce no evidence to back his claims.

While he was in New York, Bishop Christopher met with members of the United Nations about a resolution on extra-judicial killings, from which LGBT people as a group were recently removed as a protected class. Happily, a new vote this week reversed that decision. The day after meeting with us, Bishop Christopher preached at the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields in New York and hosted a question-and-answer period about his work.

The meeting in Newark was the subject of an article in the Star-Ledger on Sunday, December 19th.

Anyone who would like to contribute to Bishop Christopher's ongoing work in Uganda may do so c/o the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields, 487 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Please put "Bishop Christopher" in the memo.

(From left) Mr. Michael Petti (Warden, Christ Church: Belleville); Mr. Christian Paolino (Diocesan Coordinator for Newark, IntegrityUSA, and commissioner of The OASIS ), The Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye Wilson (Rector, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange); Mr. Michael Francaviglia (Secretary to Convention & Diocesan Council); Bill Lorentz, Esq. (St. George's, Maplewood); The Right Rev. Christopher Senyonjo (Bishop of Western Buganda - Retired, and Chair of the St. Paul's Center for Reconciliation & Equality); Matthew Piermatti, Esq. (St. Paul's: Montvale, Civil Union Task Force member); The Right Rev. Mark Beckwith (Bishop of Newark); The Rev. Karen Rezach (Priest Associate, Christ Church: Short Hills and commissioner of The OASIS)

Integrity NYC-Metro is Born, Partnering with The OASIS

Once known -- as was The OASIS -- as a shelter for LGBT Episcopalians in a largely hostile environment, Integrity, the national LGBT organization of the Episcopal Church, is also adapting to the changes in the church and the country. Executive Director Max Niedzwiecki, Ph.D., installed in October, outlined an exciting new vision for the organization.

Locally, a once-dormant Integrity chapter has spread its wings. Based in New York City but now known as Integrity NYC-Metro, the group is intentionally reaching out to congregations and groups in northern New Jersey, downstate New York and Long Island and working to boost local ministries to the LGBT community. The Chapter Convener, Mary O'Shaughnessy, has already made it a point to learn about our diocese and how Integrity and The OASIS can work together, and in fact the two organizations partnered on an Episcopal presence at Hudson Pride in Jersey City this August and have a number of events already planned for 2011.

Please visit www.integritynycmetro.org for details. If you are interested in participating in outreach to the diocese and church-seeking LGBT people, please contact the chapter at integritynyc@gmail.com. There is also a mailing list and a Facebook group if you would like to be kept informed.

The OASIS & Integrity at Convention

137th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Newark will be held on Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel, Parsippany. OASIS and Integrity-NYC Metro will be sponsoring an information table and a reception on Friday night. Please watch for updates as Convention approaches and stop by to say hello and find out what we're up to!

World AIDS Day Observances

Ministering to those affected by HIV/AIDS remains a focus for the Episcopal Church. Out Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, offered this statement on World AIDS Day, December 1st. Locally, there were three Episcopal observances of World AIDS Day in the area.

At St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Clifton, The Rev. Peter DeFranco led a prayer service beneath a panel of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Mr. Gary Paul Wright, a stalwart of the HIV/AIDS response in New Jersey and founder/chairman of the African American Office of Gay Concerns, gave the keynote address. Members of The OASIS and an HIV/AIDS support group known as Positive Connection were in attendance.
At the Church of the Annunciation in Oradell, the Rev. Dr. J. Barrington Bates and the Rev. Dr. Allison Moore (Rector at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Fort Lee) officiated at an interfaith worship service followed by a buffet dinner and musical program in community with Friends for Life, an HIV/AIDS support organization that moved to Annunciation after eighteen years in residency at Good Shepherd.
Finally, the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields in Greenwich Village was the setting for the annual World AIDS Day Eucharist sponsored by Episcopal Response to AIDS, an organization that writes grants to parish-based and diocesan HIV/AIDS-related ministries in the area. The Rev. Hugh M. Grant celebrated the Eucharist and the Rev. Mary Foulke, both resident at St. Luke's, offered the Sermon. At the reception afterwards, ERA announced its 2011 grant recipients.

The Rev. Peter DeFranco at the World AIDS Day Observance at St. Peter's Episcopal Church: Clifton

AIDS Walk New York: Never Too Soon

Episcopal Response to AIDS is a direct recipient of funds raised at AIDS Walk New York and stages one of the largest teams in the event, preceded by a Eucharist in Central Park. As New Jersey programs receive ERA grants, Diocese of Newark congregations and individuals are encouraged to join the ERA Team for the march on May 15, 2011. You may still march as a parish and wear your own shirts, but in fellowship with other Episcopalians and while raising money for our church's programs. If there is interest in traveling to the walk from New Jersey as a group, please contact The OASIS.

Keep in touch!
If you are not on the OASIS email list and would like to be, please click here to sign up, and/or join our Facebook page.

Thank you and have a blessed Christmas!

Jersey City Pride

2010-09-25T10:34:00.001-04:00

For the past ten years, gay and lesbian organizations in and around Jersey City have staged their own Pride festival on the last weekend in August. This nicely brackets the summer and allows them to avoid competing with the statewide celebration in Asbury Park and the original commemoration of the Stonewall riots in New York, both of which take place in June.

A seventeen-month-old Long Island boy was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend because he "acted like a girl". Tinky-Winky aside, do we really expect a toddler to be aware of rigid gender roles, much less adhere to them??

This event centers around three blocks or so of Exchange Place, a street that ends at the Hudson River in the heart of the city's financial district. As the surrounding office towers are mostly abandoned on weekends, the streets can be closed with a minimum of disruption, and there's plenty of parking to be had. For the first time, this year's celebration also included a short parade from City Hall a little bit further inland.

Several organizations of the Episcopal Church have taken part in these events at various times. The OASIS, the LGBT ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, has sponsored a table where area parishes are invited to give out information and meet community members. This year the OASIS, as well as the NYC-area chapter of the its national equivalent (Integrity) and the Episcopal Response to AIDS all shared the time and expense for this outreach. It also gave us the opportunity to discuss plans for some future collaboration.

What none of us had really given much thought to was the possibility of any conflict. Surely we were past this; our immediate area has become pretty comfortable with LGBT issues, with the majority of the population even supporting marriage equality even if the governor and legislature do not agree.

So I was somewhat surprised when -- dispatched to the pharmacy for twine and duct tape to keep our rented canopy grounded against the fresh breeze coming off the river -- I saw a handful of people with placards and a bullhorn organizing themselves on a street corner a block or so from the festivities.

Truth be told, they've been there before. They showed up several years ago and walked up and down the sidewalks on the perimeter of the event using a bullhorn to bray their various threats of hellfire and damnation at the passing crowd. After a quick ecumenical "Situation Room" discussion, the various church groups responded in a way that we knew would probably infuriate them, but could not be labeled as combative or even really acknowledging their hateful rhetoric: We followed the same path up and down the street, just INSIDE the event, and sang hymns, loudly. Hymns such as "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know", "God Loves All the Little Children" and so forth, in an effort to counter their efforts.

Don't leave home without it!

The only problem is, we quickly discovered that we didn't collectively know much beyond the first verse of anything, and in some cases the Methodists knew one version that might be different than what the Episcopalians or Lutherans remembered. Thus was born one of my bright ideas, that -- as is typical -- gets immediately forgotten until the next time it would come in pretty darn handy. I had made up my mind that I would put together a handful of common, public-domain hymns that suited the occasion and have copies of the lyrics ready to facilitate the singing.

Then, for the next few years, the protesters didn't come, and I forgot about it. But I can see that -- maybe as a hallmark of the progress we've made with the general public mindset -- this event is back on their radar. And apparently, once they figured out where the church tables were, they parked on the nearest corner and kept the commentary up all afternoon. Interestingly, there were two "groups" of them this year... the hellfire gang were joined by one or two people from a more "compassionate" crowd: they represented an "ex-gay ministry" ... something the American Psychological Association and most other credible witnesses describe as pointless and more likely harmful. When it was that guy's turn with the bullhorn he kept telling us how we didn't have to be this way, we could change like him, etc. I recently met a young man who endured eight years of this "therapy" only to realize that sexual orientation is not something that can be "cured", and luckily today he is learning to celebrate and live into the identity he is meant to have.

One event-goer was apparently either prepared or resourceful, because he appeared with a sign that said "I'm with stupid" and an arrow and followed the protesters up and down the street.

Truth be told, with a few exceptions nobody was really paying very much attention to them, and everyone -- even the cops -- were getting annoyed with the bullhorn after a while. We were too busy networking and trying to keep our tent from blowing away to "gracefully engage" them, let alone regale them with ecumenical hymnody.

As the afternoon wore on, the commentary got more random and dejected, wandering between taxes, the speaker's kids and Lady Gaga. I'm not really sure what they were trying to accomplish, but I don't think they won over any supporters, and the tone was in stark contrast to the merriment going on all around them. Nobody present seemed to be experiencing the shame and misery they kept insisting are part and parcel to same-sex attraction.

Would that everybody would be so lucky. In the weeks since, news (and by news I mean blogs and the independent press, since these stories never seem to make the papers) broke of yet another teenager who committed suicide after enduring years of bullying. This follows on the heels of another case, this one in Minnesota, in which the mother reports she had been asking the school to intervene for years. They are hardly alone, as a recent survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network shows that nearly nine out of ten LGBT teens endure harassment at school.

Does anybody else find it ironic that supposed Christians, trying to portray themselves as "compassionate", would come to a LGBT event and preach conversion to a crowd that is apparently pretty much okay with its sexual identity? The underlying message is, of course, that to be LGBT is to be somehow broken or "less-than", and unfortunately, despite logic, experience and the advice of medical experts, this message continues to imbrue our young people's collective consciousness, courtesy of trusted role-models including preachers, teachers and coaches, and apparently with the tacit approval of parents and other community leaders who refused to stick out their necks when this was pointed out as a problem.

And this abuse does not always wait until a child reaches the age where (s)he even knows what sexual identity is, let alone aware that his or her mannerisms, speech or clothing might be advertising it. In a heartbreaking story this summer that didn't seem to make it past the Huffington Post, a seventeen-month-old Long Island boy was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend because he "acted like a girl". Seventeen months old. Tinky-Winky aside, do we really expect a toddler to be aware of rigid gender roles, much less adhere to them??

These are sobering reminders of how much work remains to be done, and they stand in sharp contrast to the joyous community gathering I witnessed. I can only hope that -- whatever it was they were trying to accomplish -- the protesters couldn't help but notice that what they were witnessing was not a depraved orgy, nor a gathering of unhappy deviants crying out for help. It was ordinary folks of all persuasions, enjoying the freedom to be who they were and love whom they love. Even if they didn't get to hear us sing.

Are You Ready to Believe Out Loud?

2010-07-29T12:15:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, folks from Delaware to Maine attended the Province I & II workshop of Believe Out Loud at St. James' Episcopal Church in Danbury, CT. This workshop was designed to acquaint Integrity diocesan organizers and any other interested parties with the Believe Out Loud program and help them develop an action plan to implement Believe Out Loud in their parish or diocese. It was led by Neil Houghton, the VP of Local Affairs of Integrity; John-Albert Mosley (Province I Coordinator) and Chap James Day (Province II Coordinator).

Believe Out Loud is a cooperative effort among seven major mainline denominations and numerous smaller churches. Its goal is to identify and promote individual faith communities who have taken the steps to be intentionally welcoming, as well as to help additional communities along the road to full inclusion. It dispenses with the 'eighties model of "going to be gay over there" and as such does not promote separate worship or other events for the LGBT community within a congregation or diocese. Rather than a club or committee, it is a mindset not just for the LGBT members, but for the entire parish, that everybody who seeks Christ belongs and is entitled to full participation. There are multiple resources available through the Believe Out Loud program and its partners to help achieve this goal, including educational tools for the areas where the church has historically been not so successful (e.g. transgender issues).

Certainly a large percentage of our parishes (in Newark) are living into this vision or are somewhere on the road to it. The OASIS enjoys the support of some fifty Sponsoring Congregations. Many people feel we have reached the point where LGBT folks can take for granted that they will be welcomed into parish life, and thus we can now say "mission accomplished". However -- as was witnessed at this workshop -- there are many LGBT folks out in the world who are either unchurched or "damaged-churched" and do not believe there is a place for them in a worship community. One of the goals of this program is to counteract that idea with a consistent brand that folks can look for. Another is to provide the educational tools to help parishes be prepared and at ease when LGBT people do visit or seek to join their communities. Even a congregation that is comfortable with gay issues may have less experience with bisexual or transgender people. Materials and resources are available to help overcome assumptions and fears and understand what pastoral needs members of these communities may bring to the table.

In order to officially be called a "Believe Out Loud Congregation" there is a three-phase self-analysis a parish undertakes. Typically the vestry can do this as a group. It can be an eye-opener as one sees one's surroundings through the eyes of a newcomer.

One theme generated a lot of discussion, as it is a common response when the question of being more visibly welcoming is posed: "We're fine with gay people coming here, but we don't want a reputation as 'the gay church' in town." Participants and the program leaders offered a variety of interesting and sometimes humorous ways of addressing this fear.

The Integrity Diocesan Organizer will be available to any congregation that wishes to embark on this process. Some of our parishes will "test out" of the process by demonstrating they are living into the goals of the program already, or take what few steps would be required to bring them to this level. For others the process may take longer, or they may decide they are just not "there" yet.

This was en enriching and invigorating look at the next steps churches can take to live boldly into their baptismal promise: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of EVERY human being?

It's time to believe out loud!

Presiding Bishop's Message on World AIDS Day

2008-12-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The first day of December is marked as World AIDS Day, and has been observed since 1988. Episcopalians join billions of people around the world to remember the devastation caused by the AIDS pandemic over the past generation, and to recommit to ensuring a future without AIDS for generations still to come. As our church year begins, it is especially appropriate to remember, pray, and work together to alleviate the suffering inflicted by this disease and its consequences.

As Episcopalians, we understand that we are part of a body that has AIDS – both the Body of Christ and the larger body of the family of God. More than half of our worldwide Anglican Communion lives in countries destabilized by epidemic rates of HIV infection, including several dioceses of The Episcopal Church. Parish communities in the United States have been responding to HIV and AIDS for more than 25 years.

In the United States, this year’s commemoration comes in a moment of transition for American democracy. A new President and new Congress will shape this nation’s response to HIV/AIDS at home and around the world. Many significant challenges face America’s leaders in the coming years.

We must find ways to build on successes in fighting HIV and AIDS in the developing world. American leadership since 2003 has brought life-saving treatment to more than 1.7 million people in sub-Saharan Africa (in contrast to 50,000 in 2002), while supporting more than 33 million counseling and testing sessions and providing prevention services for nearly 13 million pregnant women. Still, more than 6,000 people continue to die each day as a result of the pandemic, and infection rates in some of the hardest-hit places continue to grow. Earlier this year, Congress and the President pledged significantly increased funding, and renewed strategies, for the global fight against AIDS. It will be up to the new Congress and Administration to keep the promises that have been made by their predecessors.

The incoming Administration of President-elect Obama is soliciting suggestions from citizens for national priorities in the year ahead at www.change.gov. I urge all Episcopalians living in the United States to ask President-elect Obama and his Administration to make the fight against AIDS at home and around the world a priority, even in difficult economic times. The security and well-being of the world depends on health and healing for all. You can join your voice with those of other Episcopalians who will take action in the months and years ahead to advocate for strong U.S. responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic by signing up for the Episcopal Public Policy Network at www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn.

I commend to Episcopalians the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, www.neac.org, a grassroots group that has been working in Episcopal communities for more than two decades to support caregivers, give guidance on prevention, and advocate for a more compassionate AIDS policy. In particular, I draw your attention to the online quiz NEAC has developed for Episcopal communities to commemorate this World AIDS Day.

Christians around the world marked the First Sunday of Advent yesterday as a season of hope and expectation, remembering that the "Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). On this World AIDS Day, I pray that the God who tents with humanity will raise us up to work together to make the divine dream of healing and abundant life for all creation a reality – may your kingdom come, O Lord, and speedily.

Your servant in Christ,
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church

Other Sheep: Interdenominational Group Supports Kenyan Priest's Work with LGBT Community

2008-11-12T23:49:00.004-05:00

Other Sheep is an interdenominational, multicultural ministry to sexual minorities. Its story began in Latin America, the brain child of the Rev. Dr. Tom Hanks, a Presbyterian missionary from St. Louis (he jokingly refers to himself as "the Original Tom Hanks). It is focused on bringing the message of inclusion to areas of the world where it has not been heard.

Today Other Sheep works with existing LGBT ministries and helps to form new ones, particularly where none exist. The organization helps connect people and organizations to strengthen them through networking and information sharing. It operates 74 resource centers in the developing world, where it provides positive material related to sexual diversity, the Bible and Christian life. A team of theological scholars, including Hanks, writes and teaches in English and Spanish about the subject of sexuality in the Bible. Men and women who feel called to ministry but are unable to fulfill that call within their own denomination, or who feel called to work with sexual minorities, are sought out, mentored and encouraged.

Steve Parelli, (Other Sheep's Executive Director and himself a former Baptist minister) and his partner José Ortiz met the Rev. Michael Nzuki Kimindu during a missionary trip to Africa in 2007. Rev. Kimindu is an Anglican priest in Nairobi, Kenya. A married heterosexual man with children who spent nearly 20 years as a chaplain in the Kenyan military, Rev. Kimindu is an unlikely advocate for the rights of LGBT people. During his military chaplaincy, he counseled a chronically-depressed young serviceman whom no-one could seem to help. Through their conversations, the young man revealed his attraction to other men. Kimindu's acceptance and encouragement turned the young man's life around.

Kimindu wrote a scholarly paper about his observations about human sexuality within military culture. Having retired with the rank of Major, he organized and leads a weekly fellowship for LGBT people in his home and monthly meetings of P-FLAG. Upon learning about Other Sheep's visit to Kenya from a colleague they encountered at Nairobi's Anglican cathedral, he eagerly reached out to Steve & José, anxious to meet Christians who shared his beliefs in LGBT inclusion. Steve's recollection of that encounter is here.

Today Rev. Kimindu is the Other Sheep Coordinator for East Africa. Upon learning of Kimindu's involvement with a LGBT organization, the Archbishop of Kenya (the Most Rev. Benjamin M. Nzimbi) inhibited him from his leadership duties at St. Luke's Church, where he is resident. He also received a cut in pay, but was determined to continue his important work for this vulnerable population. He is exploring the possibility of affiliating with the LGBT-majority Metropolitan Community Church. He has also attracted the attention and support of Changing Attitudes, the organization, led by Davis Mac-Iyalla, that is working towards acceptance of LGBT people within Africa's Anglican churches.

In October, Steve and Jose met with members of The Oasis Commission to discuss the needs of this fledgling ministry, which include a digital camera and a more current computer so that Rev. Kimindu can share information more easily with the rest of the organization and help tell the story of LGBT people in Kenya. The Oasis is considering contributing toward the purchase and donation of both items.

Meanwhile, on November 10th, Rev. Kimindu was expelled from the clergy chapter meeting at Nairobi's cathedral, according to the Anglican LGBT support group in Africa, Changing Attitudes. This despite what appears to be a softening stance towards his work by the Archbishop of Kenya, according to the Changing Attitudes article.

Louie Crew to Lead Discussion of Biographic Film July 12th

2008-06-23T19:47:00.000-04:00

Christ Episcopal Church in Belleville, NJ, has announced a benefit showing of the film Not That Kind Of Christian on Saturday, July 12th at 7:00 P.M. The showing of the film is free (There is a $10 suggested donation) and all proceeds will benefit Integrity, to help support its presence at the Lambeth Conference in August. Dr. Louie Crew, founder of Integrity and one of the persons interviewed in the film, will be with us to lead discussion following the showing of the film. Refreshments will also be served.

Not That Kind Of Christian (2007) is a feature documentary, written and directed by Andrew Grossman, that explores gay and lesbian Christians' struggle for acceptance in the Episcopal Church, the "schism" their defiant activism threatens to bring to worldwide Anglicanism, and the ways in which activists such as these can profoundly shape our personal liberties at the highest institutional levels. While the film celebrates the achievements made by queer Anglicans as they fight to transform an oppressive Christian tradition into a modern force of liberation, it never excuses the prejudices and abuses of organized religion, particularly in an era when the word "faith" is merely code for the nationalistic and homophobic violence organized religion often fosters. As the film's devoutly Christian (and male) interviewees offer an internal critique of Christian patriarchy, the film ultimately implies that our best cure for homophobia should come from within the Church, the institution most responsible for propagating homophobia.

Integrity is a nonprofit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] Episcopalians and our straight friends. Since our founding by Dr. Louie Crew in rural Georgia in 1974, Integrity has been the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church and our equal access to its rites.

The Lambeth Conference is the gathering of all bishops and primates of the Anglican Communion, of which is Episcopal Church in the United States is a part, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This two-week conference will be held this year in August at Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church is a very controversial topic and Integrity will be there to be sure their presence is heard.

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OASIS Plans for Heritage of Pride NYC June 29th

2008-06-12T18:22:00.001-04:00

The Episcopal Diocese of New York has invited The OASIS to participate with them in the annual LGBT Pride March on Sunday, June 29th 2008.

The meeting place for the March is 53rd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. Step off time is expected to be 1:30 PM

Integrity New York City will sponsor a Street Eucharist on 53rd Street prior to the March at 12:45 PM. The Most Reverend Carlos Touché-Porter, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Mexico, will be celebrant.

After the march (at 6:30 PM) there will be a Festive Choral Evensong at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, located at 487 Hudson Street just below Christopher Street. The Most Reverend Carlos Touché-Porter, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Mexico, will preach, and a reception will follow on the grounds.

What's the Episcopal Church Doing Marching in Pride Parades

2008-05-28T08:27:00.002-04:00

Our friend Susan Russell, who blogs over at An Inch at a Time, quoted from last Sunday's Sermon at St. Paul's in Tustin, CA to answer just that. Seeing the church engaging in this evangelism (because that's what it is!) was enough to bring at least one long-lapsed Christian to our doors.

Check it out here.

Meanwhile, the Pride events in our area are as follows:

Sunday, June 1st - New Jersey Pride in Asbury Park
The OASIS will be sharing a table with Christ Church: Belleville
Visit jerseypride.org for details
Week of June 7th - Newark-Essex Pride in Newark
Visit newarkessexpride.org for a full list of events
Week of June 22nd - NYC Gay Pride 2008
OASIS plans TBD - check our website for details
Visit hopinc.org for a full list of events
Saturday, August 23rd - Jersey City Pride
The OASIS will be sharing a table with Christ Church: Belleville
Visit jclgo.org for details

Hiker's Mass & Pot Luck Supper to Celebrate OASIS 19th Anniversary

2008-05-22T08:28:00.004-04:00

You are cordially invited to attend the OASIS 19th Anniversary Hiker’s Mass and Pot Luck Supper, to be held Saturday, June 7, 2008. The plan for the day is follows:

Assemble at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of St. David's Episcopal Church, 91 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon NJ (map and directions below)
We will travel as a group to Shepherd Lake State Park, Ringwood, NJ
There are two Hiking Trails – one is very easy (about 30 minutes each way), one moderately easy (about 45 minutes each way) – both lead to same destination
Eucharist will be held at a scenic overlook, The Rev. David DeSmith, Presiding
Pot luck at St. David’s Church following the hike
In case of inclement weather the anniversary Eucharist and pot luck will still be held at St. David’s Church and parish hall at 4:00 PM. Check our page or call St. David's at (973) 838-6696 the morning of the event if you are unsure if the event has been changed.

All are welcome!

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TRANSIT OPTION: NJ Transit's 194 bus from New York calls at the Meadtown Shopping Center, which is under a mile from St. David's. You would need to be on the 10:10 a.m. departure from Port Authority to be at the event on time. There is a bus back to the city at approximately 6 p.m. Please contact NJ Transit directly at njtransit.com or 800-772-2222 for details. Schedules are subject to change.

Bishop of San Francisco Comments on Marriage Ruling

2008-05-16T09:57:00.000-04:00

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, has issued the following statement concerning today's California Supreme Court decision regarding same-gender relationships:

Today's Supreme Court decision on same-gender relationships is important because it reflects our baptismal vow to "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being" and our commitment to justice and mercy for all people.

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has been a leader in working for the rights of all people in the State of California, and that work is honored in today's ruling. The canons of our church, under "Rights of the Laity" (Canon 1:17.5), forbid discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disabilities or age. We affirm equal rights for all.

We will continue to advocate for equality in the future and will do so at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, which will meet in Anaheim in 2009.

I celebrate and give thanks for this decision of the court and look forward with joy and excitement to a future of justice and mercy for all people in the State of California and the Episcopal Church.

To paraphrase St. Paul, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord.

J. Jon Bruno
Bishop of Los Angeles

Screening For the Bible Tells Me So

2008-03-28T10:58:00.003-04:00

The OASIS and the Gay/Straight Alliance at Christ Church: Ridgewood will offer a screening of For the Bible Tells Me So, an award-winning documentary about the lives of gay and lesbian Christians and their families, including New Hampshire bishop Gene Robinson and the daugther of former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt.

WHEN: Friday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Christ Episcopal Church, Franklin Ave. & Cottage Pl., Ridgewood, N.J.

Public Transit Nearby:
- Bus Routes: 163, 164, 175, 722, 746 - .2 miles
- Railroad: Main Line & Bergen Line to Ridgewood station - .4 miles
COST: Suggested donation of $5 for refreshments
Panel Discussion will follow

Let My People Go: A Service of Liberation

2007-11-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

Come join us Sunday, January 13th, 2008, at 3pm for a celebration of Lessons & Carols Commemorating the U.S. Bicentennial of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Right Rev. Mark Sisk, Episcopal Bishop of New York, will be joined at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine by actors, dancers, musicians, readers and a mass choir in an inter-denominational, cross-diocesan celebration.

On display will be multimedia scenes from slavery in New York from the New York and Brooklyn Historical societies, and clips from the New York Reparations Committee's resource guide to Katrina Browne's documentary Traces of the Trade.

Supporting organizations include the Diocese of New York, the Diocese of Long Island, the Diocese of Newark, the Diocese of New Jersey, the Riverside Church, Episcopal Social Justice Ministries, the Episcopal Church's Washington office, and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The Cathedral is located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue in New York City.

World AIDS Day Service Dec. 1st

2007-11-23T09:50:00.000-05:00

The World AIDS Day Eucharist service for the Episopal Diocese of Newark will take place Saturday, December 1st, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, 608 Broad Street, Newark, N.J.

The celebrant for the service is the Very Rev. C. David Williams, Dean of the Cathedral. The Rev. Joseph Harmon, Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City will preach.

In the midst of the service will musical offerings by the gospel choir of the Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship, a congregation which is resident at the Cathedral.

The plate at the offering will benefit "Loving in Truth" the HIV/AIDS Ministry of Liberation in Truth.

A luncheon will follow at 24 Rector Street, Newark.

A free HIV testing van will be available at both the service and the lunch.

The service is sponsored by the OASIS Commission (the LGBTi ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark), the Justice Ministries HIV/AIDS Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, and the Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship.

A Retreat with Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott

2007-11-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

The OASIS Commission, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for the LGBTi communities, presents a facilitated weekend retreat Jan. 11th-13th with Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott (Author, Feminist Theologian, Scholar and Academician) at beautiful Mt. Paul in Oak Ridge, N.J. The theme of the retreat -- which is available to and appropriate for anyone -- is "Trans-Spirituality, Trans-Religion, Trans-Gender & Transforming"

Dr. Mollenkott offers these definitions: "I understand 'trans-gender' to be an umbrella term for all people who transgress our society's dominant gender paradigm: gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, intersexual, unconventional-heterosexual, and any other transgender people. By 'trans-religious' I refer to the themes of universal compassion and justice common to the great world religions. By 'transforming' I refer to both personal and societial healing."

The facilitated retreat begins with supper on Friday night and continues through Saturday afternoon. Personal retreat and reflection time follows on Saturday evening and Sunday, concluding with lunch.

Retreat cost is $125 including workshops, two nights accommodation and five meals. Advance registration and payment is required. Register at oasisnewark.org today.