Resurrection Always Comes, but at a Cost

Dear Friends:

Everywhere we look there are signs of Easter hope - the positive signs coming from the Supreme Court discussions; polls showing that increasing numbers of people support gay marriage;  more and more Believe Out Loud parishes and Proud Parish Partners; two openly gay candidates in Bishop selection processes; and news of the ministry of LGBT Anglicans in San Salvador.

The Rev. Dr. Caro Hall

Jesus’ ministry was to preach and demonstrate the reign of God where prisoners are set free, the blind see, and the lame leap for joy. I am quite convinced that if his earthly ministry were taking place today he would include LGBTQ people coming out and finding their right relationship with God and humanity. Jesus would include us because the reign of God is about becoming who we are truly made to be – as Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is the human being fully alive.” I give thanks this Easter that all over the world LGBTQ people are becoming more fully alive.

Yet Jesus’ ministry resulted in his death in shame and agony. Resurrection comes at a cost. There are many people who bear the marks of the struggle in their bodies and their psyches – including in our movement. I give thanks for those people.

Holy Week serves as a reminder that resurrection is not cheaply won. Jesus did not sail through his last mortal days always confident that he would be able to respond to degradation without retaliating, or that he would be able to bear the betrayal and pain with equanimity. Even as we celebrate the signs of new life and resurrection, we remember that it is only part of the story. Many have died in the struggle.

Even now, only nine states allow us to marry. Forty-one do not. Most Episcopal dioceses allow some form of blessing for same-gender relationships. Many do not. Although our church canons may not allow for discrimination against LGBTQ people, subtle and insidious discrimination still exists. In our society it is often not so subtle and sometimes filled with hate. In ninety-three countries it is still illegal to be gay. In seven of these it is punishable by death.There is much to be done before God’s reign is experienced by LGBTQ people the world over. Our calling is to continue to do the work, despite discouragement and set-backs. Our calling is to follow Jesus in his quest to bring all people regardless of color or sexuality or bank balance or physical ability into the reign of God. Holy Week reminds us that the work is not always easy or fun.

Easter reminds us that resurrection is the gift of God which always comes, because God is faithful. I thank you for your faithful witness to the incredible and unconditional love of God, and wish you and your beloveds a peaceful and joy-filled Easter.

With love in God’s service,

The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall

Inclusive Church UK writes to the Presiding Bishop and Bishop Jon Bruno

Thank you to Scott Gunn at Seven Whole Days and to Giles Goddard, Chair of Inclusive Church UK for passing along this correspondace. We think you should share and share widely!

Scott writes:

I received this message today from my good friend Giles Goddard, writing as Chair of Inclusive Church. This open letter is addressed to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles. It’s important for Americans to know that not all clergy in the Church of England are monolithic in their resistance to creating a church where all are welcome. Since it’s not yet on the IC website, I have included the entire text of the letter. I’m grateful for this voice from the UK. Please read it and pass it along!

Dear Bishop Katharine and Bishop Jon,

We congratulate you and the people of the Episcopal Church on the electoral process which has led to the election of the Revd Canon Diane Jardine Bruce and the Revd Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool as Suffragan Bishops of the Diocese of Los Angeles. We are aware that the process was carried out with great care and prayer, as will the decisions of Bishops and Standing Committees who consider whether to confirm the elections. We wish the elected candidates all joy in their ministries and assure them of our prayers.

The Anglican and Episcopalian tradition is, at its best, one which celebrates the breadth of human experience and welcomes the many ways in which we, as Christians, try to live out our vocations under God. We are therefore deeply sorry that the reaction from the Church of England to the election of Mary Glasspool has been at best grudging and at worst actively negative.

While it gives us no pleasure to dissociate ourselves from the sentiments expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose wisdom in so many areas we deeply respect, we greatly regret the tone and content of his response, particularly in the context of his failure to make any comment on the seriously oppressive legislation being proposed in Uganda.

We wish you to know that there are a great many within the Church of England who like us are unequivocally supportive of TEC in being open to the election of bishops without regard to gender, race and sexuality. We pray that the Communion at large will grow in confidence and maturity, so that it can learn to celebrate both those things which hold us together and those things over which we disagree. In that context we greatly welcome the Theological Round Table on Human Sexuality recently announced by the Churches in India.

We urge you and your fellow Bishops and diocesan Standing Committees therefore not to be persuaded by responses from outside your province in considering the request to confirm these elections, and urge those who disagree to approach the Episcopal Church with a renewed and reinvigorated sense of trust in the actions of the Holy Spirit. As a Communion we are called to be an example to other Christians and those who have no belief. In a diverse and global world threatened by much, it is time now to move on from these questions which divide us and focus on responding to the huge challenges we face together.

Yours sincerely,
Giles Goddard
Chair, Inclusive Church

INTEGRITY LABELS MAINE VOTE A WAKE UP CALL TO COUNTRY: TAKING AWAY RIGHTS IS UNACCEPTABLE

INTEGRITY LABELS MAINE VOTE A WAKE UP CALL TO COUNTRY: TAKING AWAY RIGHTS IS UNACCEPTABLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 4, 2009
“Yesterday’s election results in Maine are a wake-up call to this country,” said the Rev. David Norgard, President of IntergityUSA. “It signals for the 31^st time in this country, that voters have rejected marriage equality. The Maine vote signals that a majority of voters can take away the rights of a minority group. We must wake up and speak out against this discrimination. It is an outrage and unacceptable to those of us who believe in equality and justice for all, not just a few."

“Integrity grieves with those same sex couples and families in Maine whose lives and relationships have been marginalized one more time by lies and deception. The politics of fear prevailed in the voting booth. A campaign of well-funded lies and deception blinded the moral compass of good Americans.

“As a person of deep faith and an Episcopal priest, I believe in respecting the dignity of every human being. And the Episcopal Church at its General Convention in 2006 passed a resolution in favor of equal civil marriage for all Americans. As the newly elected President of Integrity, I recommit our time and resources to working with our interfaith partners outside the Episcopal Church and our LGBT faithful within to change the hearts and minds of those who cannot understand or celebrate our lives or relationships.

“Same sex relationships in Maine and throughout the country are not a threat to traditional marriage. They are role models of love, commitment and fidelity, They are our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our parents, our brothers & sisters, our children.  Separate but equal is not an acceptable concept in this country.

“Integrity knows that marriage equality will come soon. We will work hard to change the idea that it is okay or acceptable for same sex couples, to have a separate status. The arc of history bends toward justice and while justice was denied in Maine yesterday, our work will not stop until liberty and justice for all, really means ALL.”

                                                           

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For further information contact:
Louise Brooks, Communication Director
Integrity USA -- 626.993.4605
lebrooks@earthlink.net

I Ask Your Prayers For... :A guest blog post

Today all across the United States, people headed to the polls. In thinking about putting together a reflection about voting and the issues for today, this guest blogger offered her post to all of us, through the Facebook page. Thanks Susan! If you would like to offer a post to be considered for the Walking With Integrity blog, please contact us and let us know!

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Today in Maine, in Washington state and Kalamazoo, Michigan, there will be votes that directly affect the LGBT community. Maine has received the most focus because, like California last year, it is a state where the political leadership has approved same-sex marriage--and there is a referendum to try to undo the will of the politicians--the ones voted into office to, presumably, represent the interests of their constituents.

In Washington state, there is a challenge on the ballot to the state's domestic partnership law which also covers straight couples over the age of 62. And in Kalamazoo, the city is trying to keep an ordinance banning discrimination against the LGBT community in housing and the workplace.

These are all very important votes not just for the LGBT people living in these areas, but for all of us who are queer in the United States. It was about this time last year that voters turned out in record numbers to cast ballots for President Barack Obama. At the same time, voters in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas, responded to their fears or their inability to decipher the intent of ballot measures that slammed our community hard.

One year later, and after much education, I am hoping to see a different result. Let's pray for that with this collect based upon the Collect for an Election:

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the many communities in the United States in the election of officials and representatives, and grant them discerning hearts and minds as they weigh ballot issues; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. --BCP, pg. 822

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Susan Gage is a former public radio journalist, now licensed massage therapist, living in Tallahassee, FL.  She is an out and proud lesbian activist and a cradle Episcopalian, a Eucharistic Minister, and in her second year in the Education for Ministry program at St. John's Episcopal Church.

She blogs at http://scg-wakeupcall.blogspot.com/.