INTEGRITY USA LAUNCHES NEW CHAPTER IN MAINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BANGOR, MAINE – October 2, 2009

Building on legislative successes at the national level, Integrity USA will take another step forward locally as Integrity Maine launches a new chapter of mission and ministry in Bangor at the 190th Diocesan Convention. The theme of the October 23 & 24 convention -- "The Heartbeat of the Church is Mission" -- will include Integrity's presence with a booth in the exhibit hall, a candlelight vigil and the Integrity Eucharist at St. Patrick's Church in Brewer.

Marriage equality will be part of the mission on the minds of Maine Episcopalians as their convention meets just weeks before the state's voters will go to the polls to decide whether to uphold the marriage equality law approved earlier this year, when both houses of the Maine legislature passed the legislation by solid majorities and the governor signed the bill.

Integrity salutes Bishop Stephen Lane as an outspoken supporter of the Maine marriage law. From his statement earlier this year, "If we, as Mainers, believe that faithful, lifelong monogamous relationships are among the building blocks of a healthy and stable society, then it is in our interest to extend the rights and obligations of civil marriage to all Maine citizens. To deny those rights to certain persons on the basis of sexual orientation is to create two classes of citizens and to deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society."

In addition to the work and witness at the Episcopal Convention, Integrity Maine and the Religious Coalition for Equality in Marriage are sponsoring two other upcoming events at the Cathedral of St. Luke State Street, Portland, Maine: Wednesday, October 7 at 7pm a screening of the documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" at the Cathedral of St’ Luke, State Street, Portland, Maine and Thursday, October 15 at 7pm a Panel Discussion on Equality in Marriage with Bishop Gene Robinson and Marvin Ellison of Bangor Seminary.

For further information contact:

Michael B. Thorne
Mthorne2@maine.rr.com
15 High View Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207-899-2539

or

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