Louie Crew to Lead Discussion of Biographic Film July 12th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.