Knowing Our History: A Trailblazer in Pumps and Pearls

From Susan Russell's blog, An Inch At A Time
http://inchatatime.blogspot.com/2011/08/remembering-pamela-chinnis.html

It was Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett who taught me that we learn our history in order to back up and get a running start on our future. And you can’t know the recent history of the Episcopal Church in general -- or the history LGBT inclusion in the Episcopal Church in particular -- without knowing about Pam Chinnis.


The first notice of Pam’s passing on August 24th came in an email that evening from House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson:

Dr. Pamela Chinnis, 30th President of the House of Deputies, died this evening at 6:31 p.m. Dr. Chinnis, a lay person, was the first woman to serve as President of the HOD. She is remembered for her many achievements, writings and service to this Church she loved so much. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. May she rest in eternal peace.

And literally within minutes the tributes started pouring in. Elizabeth Kaeton called her “a trailblazer in pumps and pearls.” “No one in a position of leadership in the Episcopal Church was more committed to full inclusion of LGBT people or did more to bring it about than did Pamela Chinnis,” said Kim Byham (Integrity President from 1987-1990) "What a blessing she has been to us all," said Integrity founder Louie Crew.

Integrity President Caro Hall, in the tribute Integrity issued on August 25th wrote:

“Dr. Chinnis’ proactive advocacy for LGBT inclusion literally changed the face of The Episcopal Church. In 1993, as the church looked toward its 1994 General Convention in Indianapolis, Dr. Chinnis became the first President of the House of Deputies to address an Integrity gathering. At that historic meeting she promised to appoint “out” gay and lesbian deputies to legislative committees at the upcoming convention and pledged personal vigilance for "the whole issue of gay and lesbian rights," speaking, she said, "as the mother of a gay son."

And then there was this from Michael Hopkins:

To say Pam was a faithful Christian and Episcopalian is to make a vast understatement. She was gracious beyond the telling, but she also had a backbone of steel. She was supportive of lesbian and gay people in the church long before that was popular, and her commitment to our full inclusion never wavered. She was extraordinarily well thought of among African-American Episcopalians and was one of the primary encouragers of the House of Bishops to do its work on racism that resulted in the Pastoral Letter of 1994, "The Sin of Racism."

And those are just the tip of the iceberg of those offering tributes to and memories of the work and witness of a woman whose commitment to the gospel agenda of justice, compassion and inclusion was such an extraordinary and inspirational example. So let me add mine.

My memories of Pam Chinnis are ones of a strong, graceful, confident presence leading the House of Deputies in Indianapolis (1994), Philadelphia (1997) and Denver (2000). They are of an early and fervent supporter of the ordination of women with deep roots in the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) – who modeled for my generation the power of the laity and the call to challenge the interlocking oppressions of racism, sexism and heterosexism in the Church.

They are memories of her great friendship with then Presiding Bishop Ed Browning and their shared commitment to the ideal of a church where “there will be no outcasts.” They are memories of her support of our Claiming the Blessing collaborative – launched after her tenure as President of the House of Deputies – and of her sharing pitchers of margaritas with our steering committee at a National Cathedral adjacent restaurant in 2002 after our inaugural meeting.

They are memories of a woman of privilege who used her platform of privilege to live out the baptismal promise to strive for peace and justice and to respect the dignity of every human being – even when it earned her the animosity of those determined to maintain the status quo. In stepping out of her comfort zone, as a straight ally she became the target of some of the same slings and arrows aimed at LGBT Episcopalians.

To illustrate, here’s some more history. It is an ENS (Episcopal News Service) report from Pam’s last hurrah as President of the House of Deputies -- the 73rd General Convention held in Denver in 2000.

Nelson Koscheski Jr. of Dallas, a clerical member of the House of Deputies, had scattered salt beneath the tables of deputies from Newark (N.J.), Dallas, Ft. Worth, South Carolina, and other dioceses. He also scattered salt beneath the seat of Pamela Chinnis, president of the House of Deputies and an outspoken supporter of homosexual rights within the Episcopal Church. Deputy Louie Crew, the best-known homosexual activist in the Episcopal Church, protested Koscheski's action.


"The deputation of Newark is sitting in salt," Crew said. He asked that the House of Deputies stand in recess while the salt was removed, and that the deputies use the time to "meditate on what it means to respect the dignity of every human being, including the deputy who spread the salt."Many deputies gathered near the Newark deputation. Holding hands or locking arms, and swaying in unison, they sang "We Shall Overcome," "Jesus Loves Me," "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and "Balm in Gilead."

Koscheski later protested that he meant the salt as a gesture of healing, pointing out that he spread it among both liberal and conservative deputations. The Dallas deputation apologized to the House of Deputies twice. Koscheski resigned the deputation and returned to Dallas.

For the record, salt has historically been a symbol of exorcism – not healing. It is used to expel or protect from evil spirits. Not even the Dallas deputation bought Koscheski’s efforts to “revision” his actions on the floor that dayAnd as part of Integrity’s communication team in Denver that summer I remember the bemused secular media folks in the press room trying to wrap their heads around what came to be known as “the salting incident.” Trying to grasp that a Clergy Deputy to General Convention resorted to an ancient exorcism practice -- scattering salt – to “protect” the Church from “homosexual activists” … including President of the House of Deputies Pam Chinnis.

I also remember – like it was last week, if not yesterday – the legislative progress we made in Denver … passing a groundbreaking resolution (GC2000-D039) which included these two “resolves:”

That we acknowledge that while the issues of human sexuality are not yet resolved, there are currently couples in the Body of Christ and in this Church who are living in marriage and couples in the Body of Christ and in this Church who are living in other life-long committed relationships; and

That we expect such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God.

There were originally eight “resolves” – the eighth and final instructing the SCLM (Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music) to create rites for the blessing of same-sex relationships.

The resolution was crafted knowing that the “8th Resolve” was going to be a bridge-too-far for this convention. And so when it came to pass in the legislative process that it was separated off and failed by a narrow margin, our strategists inwardly celebrated the victory of writing into the record both a de facto recognition that same sex relationships fell within the bounds of our common life and the characterization of those relationships that continues to inform the work of the Episcopal Church over a decade later.

It was -- as I described it in a Denver 2000 press statement --“Not the whole enchilada but it has enough guacamole for me.” Setting the goalpost further than we expected to go and then stepping back to “compromise” for what we wanted to achieve in the first place was a carefully orchestrated strategy which paved the way for further movement forward in 2003. And at GC-2006. And GC-2009.

And like Fredrica told us, re-learning our history helps us get a head start on our future as we work toward GC-2012 in Indianapolis – where compromises will again be made. And progress will again be achieved. And like the Persistent Widow in Luke’s gospel, we’ll keep coming back – again and again – until justice is done, equality is achieved and we don’t have just the whole enchilada but the combo plate … with guacamole.

In a 1992 speech to the Episcopal Women’s Caucus, Pam Chinnis said: "One day we will overcome barriers -- but not in my lifetime or in yours. However small the gains are, or seem to be, we were and are not willing to make peace with oppression." The gains we make from General Convention to General Convention may seem to some to be small ones but cumulatively they have and will continue to move the Episcopal Church forward to more fully becoming the Church God is calling it -- and Pam Chinnis helped lead it -- to be.

“The greatest tribute we could make to the life and leadership of Pamela Chinnis is to complete the work of fully including all the baptized in all the sacraments,” said Caro Hall in Integrity’s statement on Dr. Chinnis’ passing. “As we prepare to gather again in Indianapolis for General Convention 2012, let us not only give thanks for her work and witness -- let us also pray for the power and perseverance to move the church forward in our generation as she did in hers.”

And let us always remember that we stand on the shoulders of Pam Chinnis and other of Giants of Justice as we move forward into God’s future.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
May her soul, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Michael Hopkins Remembers Pam Chinnis

With thanks to Michael Hopkins for sharing with Integrity this reflection -- written for his parish blog -- on the work and witness of Pam Chinnis.

On Wednesday evening Dr. Pamela Chinnis died. I fear that many Episcopalians do not know who she is, which is a tragedy. She was one of the great shapers of the Episcopal Church in the late 20th century.

Pam was the first woman elected as President of the House of Deputies of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. She served the Conventions of 1991, 1994 and 1997. This may seem like not a very big accomplishment in the 1990's, but remember that women were not seated as deputies to General Convention until 1967. That means six Conventions later, one of them is elected President (she was elected at the end of the Convention in 1988). She had served as Vice-president of the House in 1985 and 1988.

In the late 1960's, Pam and others emerged as strong voices promoting the ordination of women. Several of these came out of the Diocese of Washington, where Pam was a member of the Church of the Epiphany (To prove it's a small church, her rector of many years was Edgar Romig, who was best-buddy to our own John Harmon in World War II. Edgar's brother, David, was pastor of Downtown Presbyterian down the street from Two Saints for many years). I was fortunate to know many of these women: besides Pam, Verna Dozier, and Sally Buckley (there were others--my apologies for not remembering names well this morning). Pam was President of the Episcopal Church Women in 1976 when the ordination vote occurred and insured that organization's strong support.

To say Pam was a faithful Christian and Episcopalian is to make a vast understatement. She was gracious beyond the telling, but she also had a backbone of steel. She was supportive of lesbian and gay people in the church long before that was popular, and her commitment to our full inclusion never wavered. She was extraordinarily well thought of among African-American Episcopalians and was one of the primary encouragers of the House of Bishops to do its work on racism that resulted in the Pastoral Letter of 1994, "The Sin of Racism."

I submit that when the history is properly told on the late 20th century Episcopal Church, which may take yet another twenty years or so, Pam Chinnis will be found to have been one of the guiding lights, equal to any bishop or other ordained person who might be named, including her beloved friend and colleague, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning (with whom she is pictured above). I pray that the remembrance of her life and deeds will not fade away, so that she may be for generations to come one of whom it is said and sung, "They were all of them saints of God--and I mean, God helping, to be one to."

Pamela Chinnis: Giant of LGBT Justice

Integrity joins those throughout the Episcopal Church mourning the death of Pamela Chinnis – a prophetic leader who both challenged and shaped The Episcopal Church on issues of justice and inclusion. As the first woman President of the House of Deputies Dr. Chinnis worked tirelessly to combat both sexism and homophobia in the church and presided over many landmark decisions on the road to full inclusion.

“Dr. Chinnis’ proactive advocacy for LGBT inclusion literally changed the face of The Episcopal Church,” said Integrity President the Reverend Dr. Caro Hall.

“In 1993, as the church looked toward its 1994 General Convention in Indianapolis, Dr. Chinnis became the first President of the House of Deputies to address an Integrity gathering. At that historic meeting she promised to appoint “out” gay and lesbian deputies to legislative committees at the upcoming convention and pledged personal vigilance for "the whole issue of gay and lesbian rights," speaking, she said, "as the mother of a gay son."

Other Integrity leaders remembered Pam Chinnis and celebrated her support for justice and inclusion. “I knew Pam not only as President of the House of Deputies, but also as a fellow member of the Diocese of Washington,” said Michael Hopkins (1997-2003). “Pam was an amazing combination of graciousness and conviction. Her commitment to LGBT people was unsurpassed. What a gift she was to the church!”

“No one in a position of leadership in the Episcopal Church was more committed to full inclusion of LGBT people or did more to bring it about than did Pamela Chinnis,” said Kim Byham (1987-1990) "What a blessing she has been to us all," said Integrity founder Louie Crew.

“The greatest tribute we could make to the life and leadership of Pamela Chinnis is to complete the work of fully including all the baptized in all the sacraments,” Hall continued. “As we prepare to gather again in Indianapolis for General Convention 2012, let us not only give thanks for her work and witness -- let us also pray for the power and perseverance to move the church forward in our generation as she did in hers.”

Requiescant in pace: Cynthia Gilliatt

Dr. Gilliatt was a fervent golfer, a lover of 17th century English poetry and a passionate priest whose ministry was marked by a lived commitment to give voice to the voiceless and to respect the dignity of every human being.

We just received word that long-time Integrity leader Cynthia Gilliatt died on Tuesday, August 16th. Pictured below (back row, far right) with the 2000-2003 Integrity Board on a visit to retired Presiding Bishop Ed Browning, Cynthia was an valiant witness to God's inclusive love and a true Giant of Justice.


From the obituary in The Newsleader. com:

HARRISONBURG — The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Ann Gilliatt, 67, of Harrisonburg, passed away on Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Dr. Gilliatt was born Dec. 2, 1943, in St. Louis, and was the daughter of the late Sidney George and Aline Day Gilliatt.

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Ann Gilliatt helped to found and was a major supporter of Integrity/Virginia during its 1998-2004 existence, often driving to Northern Virginia to attend worship services and programs and to provide spiritual leadership and to share her wise counsel. Integrity/Virginia was a worship-based organization that provided safe spiritual space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] people in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.

Cynthia also served as secretary on the Board of Directors of the national integrity organization in 2000-03 and in 2007-09. Integrity/USA continues to work for the equal access to all the rites of the church for all people.

Dr. Gilliatt also was an active member of Safe Zones at James Madison University. Safe Zones is a voluntary network of faculty, staff and students who promote an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Safe Zones was established in 1997 and Dr. Gilliatt was instrumental in its founding and served as a co-coordinator of the program for many years. She was a strong advocate for equal rights and addressed many issues related to sexual orientation through seminars, information sessions and programs.

Dr. Gilliatt was an associate professor of English for James Madison University, Priest Associate at Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Blue Grass.

Dr. Gilliatt was a fervent golfer, a lover of 17th century English poetry and a passionate priest whose ministry was marked by a lived commitment to give voice to the voiceless and to respect the dignity of every human being. She was ordained deacon in 1988 and priest in 1989 in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. During her tenure as english professor, she also served as chaplain to the Canterbury Club at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Harrisonburg.

A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 660 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, with the Bishop of Virginia, The Right Reverend Shannon Sherwood Johnston, presiding. Visiting clergy are invited to vest for the service (white stole). Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church or to First Tee of Harrisonburg, c/o Heritage Oaks Golf Course.

Almighty God, with whom still live the spirits of those who die in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful are in joy and felicity: We give you heartfelt thanks for the good examples of all your servants, who, having finished their course in faith, now find rest and refreshment. May we, with all who have died in the true faith of your holy Name, have perfect fulfillment and bliss in your eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stories from the Pews: Integrity Proud Parish Wins Pride Float Award

A letter From William Weightman
Member
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Frago, ND

Hi Integrity! Just wanted to update you on one of your parishes!

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Fargo, ND, took home the Judges Choice Award for Best Float in the 2011 Fargo Moorhead Pride Parade on Sunday, August 14! The prize included a trophy that will be displayed in the church.

St. Stephen's is an Integrity Proud Parish. The float had the theme of "Love: It's Natural" and was Noah's Ark, complete with animals that science has show to exhibit Homosexual Behavior.

Thanks again for being a great resource and we at St. Stephen's are proud to be an IntegrityUSA Parish!

William Weightman

Congrats to St. Stephen's for their great work!

If youy have a story from your parish that you would like to share, please send an email to tvprod@earthlink.net and we will post your story.

Stories From the Pews: Integrity Georgia's Powerful Witness

By

Michael Wood

Convener, Integrity Georgia

I recently went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic which completely changed me and my life, I hope, forever.

This past June fellow Integrity member Fred Richter and I were part of a mission trip organized by the Rev. Tar Drazdowski of Christ Church Valdosta, which included 30 people from 5 different dioceses of the Episcopal church and 1 diocese of the Roman Catholic church. This trip marked the 10th year that the Diocese of Georgia has come to Campamento Monte De La Transfiguracion in El Pedregal. The team flew nonstop from Orlando to Santo Domingo on June 18th and rode in a chartered bus to our destination in the mountains in West Central Dominican Republic.



Reverend Tar instructed that we were to be “Christ for them, not to them". While Fred and I went primarily as missionaries of our diocese, we did not leave behind that we are active members of Integrity Georgia. Our Georgia chapter is committed to showing Christ's spirit in us, through our presence as neighbors, friends, co-workers, and fellow parishioners at the communion rail. We pray that our witness will reveal the love and light of Christ that we wish to share. Many gay people here and in the Dominican Republic have been turned away by religion. However, Christ has not turned us away. We exist to fill-in that hole in the hearts of gay and straight people that was created by being left at the closed door of religion.

Fred and I were merely present as Episcopalians. We worked together with men and women to build new roofs on small homes, (these homes house 8-15 people and are no larger than most peoples' living room). We also hung new ceilings in a dormitory bathroom; removed an old fence to make room for a newer one. Most importantly we were present and Out. One missioner approached me and Fred to ask us about being Out. Shortly afterward he came out and is our newest member of Integrity! (In Georgia one can still be fired for being gay, so he has to be careful).

I was moved by the joy and caring of the Dominican people. This trip has taught me to appreciate the blessings that God has seen fit to give me. The Dominicans have helped me far more than I could have ever hoped to help them. They are poor in material things but as individuals they are the richest people I have ever met.

 

In addition to our mission outside of  the US, Integrity Georgia, of The Diocese of Georgia, has donated a new sign to the Episcopal Campus Ministry house, as part of our outreach to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

Integrity Georgia has begun work with Episcopal Campus Ministries in Savannah, Statesboro, Augusta, and Valdosta, Georgia to further the ministry of Integrity Georgia.

The Georgia chapter is committed to showing Christ's spirit through its' presence as neighbors, friends, co-workers, and fellow parishioners at the communion rail. Their prayer is that their example will reveal the love and light of Christ that they wish to share.

"Stories From The Pews" is a continuing series about the experiences of Integrity members throughout the church. If you have a "Story From The Pews" that you would like to share, please contact Integrity USA Director of Communications Louise Brooks at tvprod@earthlink.net. We would love to post your story.

Integrity Says "Thank You" to the Church Pension Group

Over the past month, there has been so much good news on the marriage equality front that some of it has received less notice than it should have.

One item that hasn't been celebrated enough is that the Church Pension Group - which handles benefits for Episcopal clergy, lay employees and their families - announced that it will offer "parity of benefits for legally-married same-gender spouses."

Integrity celebrates this milestone towards full inclusion in the Episcopal Church, and looks forward to the day when LGBT people and their families will have full parity in the Church and the wider society.

To learn more about this important policy change, read Integrity's open letter to the Church Pension Group below, visit the Church Pension Group website and read "New York's same-gender marriage law prompts diocesan, pension fund changes" on the Episcopal News Service website.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

August 8, 2011

T. Dennis Sullivan
President and CEO
Church Pension Group
445 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10016

Dear Mr. Sullivan:

I am writing on behalf of Integrity USA to thank the Church Pension Group for deciding to provide “parity of benefits for legally married same-gender spouses.”

Integrity USA is a community of approximately 2,000 dues-paying members, 60 chapters, and 500 affiliated parishes. Our mission is to be a witness of God’s inclusive love to The Episcopal Church and to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.

When Integrity was founded thirty-six years ago by Dr. Louie Crew, equality for LGBT people within The Episcopal Church seemed to be a far-off dream. In 1976, General Convention proclaimed that “Homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church.” However, those who govern the Church have been rather slow to specify how that proclamation should be implemented within our institutional structures and practices.

Your actions provide a concrete witness of God’s inclusive love within The Episcopal Church. You have taken the initiative to specify just what “a full and equal claim” means in a very specific and meaningful way. For that we give you our heartfelt thanks.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Caroline Hall

President
Integrity USA

cc. Mary Kate Wold, President and CEO (incoming), Church Pension Group
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, DD, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Church Pension Group
Integrity USA Membership

Integrity and NGLTF: Our Faith Demands Marriage Equality

Do you think it's about time this country had full marriage equality?

We all know that many of our opponents - the folks who are against marriage for all – use religious language when they argue against us. Now it's time for more of us to tell the world that the Holy Bible and our loving God require nothing less than full equality for all people.

Integrity USA is joining with our partners at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Institute for Welcoming Resources, and colleague groups in other denominations to say that we need to support and defend marriage - for everyone. Over the coming months we'll be reaching out to many of you to see if your parish or chapter would like to become a part of this effort, or if you personally would consider taking leadership in it.

But don't wait for us to come to you! Contact us at info@integrityusa.org, or our colleagues below, and let us know you're interested.

Max Niedzwiecki, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Integrity USA

---------------------------

Greetings Integrity members! We are so excited to share the Faith Partners Organizing Project with you. This project will join with people to close the gap between how political justice organizers or campaigners do justice work and how people of faith do justice work and how both resonate with their outcomes whether in campaigns for LGBT liberation or outside of campaigns. Looking at core differences has the power to make us whole and work as one.

We are looking for more partners from welcoming and affirming congregations across the country, and especially in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina and Oregon. Together, we will be experimenting with new ways that political justice campaigns and faith communities can grow together through faithful social and political engagement. With your participation, we can build networks of faith justice partners from inclusive churches who are working with political justice campaigns to better the lives of LGBT people in their congregations and beyond walls of the church.

Along with Integrity leaders, we’ll be contacting you to talk to you more about our project, and to ask you to participate with us. Please reach out to us with your interests as well. We look forward to learning from and creating with you.

Orelia Busch: 202-639-6306; orelia@welcomingresources.org
Kathleen Campisano: 202-639-6327; kcampisano@thetaskforce.org

Orelia Busch and Kathleen Campisano work with the Institute for Welcoming Resources at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force . Currently, they are working closely with Integrity and other programs that support LGBT-inclusive congregations as part of the Faith Partners Organizing Project.