Integrity/Connecticut’s
Sponsoring Parish
Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT, 06105
No good thing will God
withhold from those who walk with Integrity. Psalm 84:11
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Goals and Objectives
Education
Advocacy
Marriage Equality
Alternative Rites for Same Sex Marriage
Where Clergy May Officiate Same-Sex Marriages
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with Leviticus
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Dialogue - 30+ years
and counting...
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We invite you to join us in our efforts to realize the goal of full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church and our equal access to all its rites.
Bishop Douglas Epistle on Marriage Equality
May 11, 2012
The members of Integrity Connecticut would like to thank the bishops of the Diocese of Connecticut for responding to Resolution #6 from the October 2012 Diocesan Convention. We have been eagerly waiting their response to this resolution. Like our bishops, we acknowledge that we live in a time where The Episcopal Church’s position on officiating at marriage ceremonies lags behind the statutes of the State of Connecticut. However, we differ on how we should respond to this oppressive system.
…the current definition of marriage in our Church is oppressive to gay and lesbian couples who seek the same recognition and blessing of their relationships that heterosexual couples receive. This causes us great sadness, and we further believe that the Church's position limits our witness to God's mission of restoration and reconciliation for all people in Christ Jesus. Only the General Convention, however, can resolve this situation of inequality. It is thus beyond our power to give clergy permission at this time to officiate (in a legal sense) at weddings of same-sex couples and act as legal agents of the State by signing marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples. It is heartbreaking for us to have to say this, yet our understanding of our responsibilities as bishops lead us to this conclusion. (See the full statement here.)
Integrity Connecticut has been striving for years for full inclusion of LGBT Episcopalians in all the rites and privileges of the Church. We now call upon our diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, to introduce legislation to the 2012 General Convention to end this oppressive system. We believe Bishop Douglas’ position in the worldwide Anglican Communion as a member of the Anglican Consultative Council puts him in a unique position to fight this oppression. We hope that Bishop Douglas can use his position of privilege to advance God's mission of restoration and reconciliation for all people in Christ Jesus. We are at a point in this struggle where words need to be accompanied by concrete actions against oppression.
We appreciate that our bishops acknowledge the oppression of LGBT Episcopalians. We are eager to expand the conversation to how the Episcopal Church can help us all live into our baptismal promise to “…strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
We know that marriage equality can be a divisive issue, and it is not without its complexities but we are confident that our bishops can provide the leadership necessary to help the Diocese of Connecticut be a leader and not a follower on this issue. The vote and discussion on Resolution #6 at Diocesan Convention proves that the people of the diocese are overwhelmingly supportive as well. It is time for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut to stand firm in its convictions to include all the people of God in all the sacraments and to move the Church as a whole to share in an act upon those convictions.
In Christ,
The Board of Integrity Connecticut:
Larry Besel, Convener
Marie Alford-Harkey, Deputy Convener
Bert Landman, Treasurer
April Alford-Harkey, Secretary
The Rev. Jane White-Hassler
Casey Rousseau
June DTBA, 2012 – Membership workshop: Development of Resolution to be submitted to TEC’s 2012 General Convention regarding the modifications to our Prayer Book and our Canons to permit marriage of same-sex couples by their clergy where permitted by civil law.
June 24th, 2012 – Fellowship gathering – Exploring relationships with other Chapters in Province I. Time and place to be posted as plans are finalized.
September 15th, 2012 Integrity Connecticut presence at Pride Connecticut – Hartford, CT time & location to be posted when information from event organizers is received.
September 16th, 2012 Pride Sunday – location, time and place to be posted as plans are finalized.
October 19th – 20th 2012 Integrity Connecticut attendance at the 228th Convention of the Diocese of Connecticut.
Resolution #6: Permitting the clergy of the Diocese of Connecticut to voluntarily officiate marriages of same sex couples was PASSED the 227th Convention of the Diocese of Connecticut!
The final wording is presented below:
RESOLVED: That the 227th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut urges the Bishop of Connecticut to acknowledge that there are people living in same-gender relationships of mutuality and fidelity who want to be married by their clergy; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Bishop of this Diocese may permit the clergy of the Diocese to determine the appropriate generous pastoral response to meet the needs of the members of his or her own local Eucharistic community, including officiating at weddings of same-sex couples and acting as legal agents of the State in signing marriage licenses.
Looking for the right Rite for your same-sex marriage - search no
further!
The
Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Diocese of Long Island NY have
developed and posted alternative liturgies for same same gender marriage
click
here for a link.
Navy
Officer weds Partner.
Less than two weeks after the military shed its controversial "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, the Pentagon said military chaplains can preside over same-sex marriages on military institutions. Partners for over 11 years they were finally able to recite their vows before family and friends. Read the full story at USA Today!
Integrity
USA's response to the NY Times article 'True to
Episcopal Church’s Past, Bishops Split on Gay Weddings"
The
debate about marriage equality once dominated by religious bigotry and
faith-based homophobia has increasingly been balanced by progressive
voices of faith stepping up and speaking out, and Integrity is proud of
its 35 year history of moving the Episcopal Church forward as an
opinion leader for equality.
Click here to read the complete response.
True to Episcopal Church’s Past, Bishops Split on Gay Weddings
The
Episcopal Church, which has been strained by gay-rights issues since
the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire eight years
ago, is now divided over how to respond to the legalization of
same-sex marriage in New York.
As a result, gay and lesbian Episcopalians will be allowed on Sunday to get married by priests in Brooklyn and Queens, but not in the Bronx or Manhattan or on Staten Island; in Syracuse but not in Albany.
That is because the church has not taken a firm position nationally on same-sex marriage, leaving local bishops with wide latitude to decide what priests may do when the law takes effect in New York State. Click here to read complete New York Times article
Rhode
Island Legislature approves Civil Union
legislation
and Governor Lincoln Chaffee signed
the bill into law while stating it does not go far enough toward
legalizing gay marriage.
Integrity Connecticut salutes
New York's Gov. Andrew Cuomo
for his leadership in the
passage
of New York's historic vote to legalize same-sex marriage.
New York became the sixth - and by far the most populous - state to
legalize same-sex marriage.
When the new law takes effect after 30 days, the number of Americans
in same-sex marriage states will more than double.
New York’s population of 19 million surpasses the combined total of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa, plus the District of Columbia all of which have enacted same-sex marriage.
GLBT
activists believe the outcome Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's efforts
will have nationwide repercussions. It is hoped that judges and
politicians across the country, including a hesitant President
Barack Obama, will realize that support of same-sex marriage is now a
mainstream viewpoint and a winning political stance.
2010-2011 Calendar of Events
Integrity Connecticut will have a booth at the
The 227th Convention will be held October 21-22
at the Hartford
Marriott in Farmington, CT.
The convention theme
is "Putting God's Mission First."
Integrity Connecticut has developed a Marriage Equality resolution which will be acted upon by the convention delegates. Click here for more information concerning Resolution #6: Permitting the clergy of the Diocese of Connecticut to voluntarily officiate marriages of same sex couples Volunteers will the booth distributing publications, answering questions and promoting the rights of LGBT Episcopalians.
We
urge you to take a moment to check out what we have planned for the next
couple months by reviewing our
Schedule of Meetings and
Special Events
.
If you, or someone you know. is interested in joining us in our journey we urge you to contact us at Info@IntegrityConnecticut.org.
You may also contact us by phone by calling us at (860) 527-8133. This is the main telephone number for Trinity Episcopal Church, our sponsoring parish.
Trinity has provided
invaluable support to us as we have worked to create an organization which
promotes the interest of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
Episcopalians.
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