Friday, December 24, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Environmental Advocacy Grows Stronger for LGBT Americans
NEW YORK, and WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- As all Americans consider their environmental attitudes, a national survey released today by Harris Interactive shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) adults, especially, are accelerating their personal commitment to pro-environmental issues.
A majority (55%) of all LGBT adults, when asked if they "personally care a great deal about the current state and future of the environment," say this statement describes themselves completely or very well - a description that characterizes just one-third (33%) of heterosexual American adults. When all are asked if they "encourage others to be more environmentally friendly," four out of ten (40%) LGBT adults say that statement also describes them completely or very well, while only twenty-four percent (24%) of heterosexual adults concur.
The new nationwide survey of 2,352 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over), of whom 347 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT), was conducted online between November 8 and November 15, 2010, by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the LGBT market.
In a year-over-year contrast, nearly half (47%) of LGBT adults, when asked about their environmental attitudes today, say that being "environmentally conscious" either describes themselves completely or very well. That new benchmark shows a marked increase from a 2009 poll that found just 38% of LGBT adults felt this described them completely or very well. In contrast, in this year's survey, 28% of heterosexual adults say that being "environmentally conscious" describes themselves completely or very well (while a similar 30% of heterosexuals applied that self-label in 2009.)
As more Americans take steps to understand and protect the environment, there now appear to be widening gaps in attitudes between LGBT Americans and their heterosexual counterparts. For instance, one in three (35%) LGBT adults state that the self-label of "environmentalist" describes their identities completely or very well, when contrasted with just 15% of heterosexuals who believe this self-label fits themselves that same way.
When asked specifically about voting, purchase decisions, and workplace attitudes, these gaps become more evident.
environmental issues when voting for a candidate, compared to 27% of
non-LGBT adults.
-- Nearly one in two (48%) LGBT adults also say it is "very to extremely
important" to consider environmental issues when buying and using
products or services, compared to 25% of heterosexuals.
-- One in four (25%) LGBT adults report that it is also "very to extremely
important" to consider environmental issues in choosing the company you
work for or apply for a job, compared with just 17% of heterosexual
adults who agree.
Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, noted that environmentalism seems to be growing more deeply ingrained among LGBT adults: "Trends we've witnessed over the past few years consistently highlight the awareness and commitment that LGBT people tend to show environmental practices. Across-the-board, the community gravitates towards the concept of stewardship and commitment to a 'green' future for all Americans."
Simplified system assists in gathering comments on Episcopal Church’s Holy Women, Holy Men
A simplified system for logging comments is providing an easier way for the submission of opinions concerning Holy Women, Holy Men, a major revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts.
As mandated in General Convention 2009 Resolution A096, The Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) is soliciting feedback about the book, currently in trial use.
The Rev. Ruth Meyers, Ph.D., Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics at Church Divinity School of the Pacific and SCLM Chair, explained that the simplified system “is quicker, easier to use, and allows people to fill out comments without having to scroll through the entire calendar listing.”
The online survey is available at https://www.psychdata.com/s.
The online survey will be available through June 30, 2011.
After compiling the data derived from the survey, SCLM will prepare a comprehensive report on the usage and people’s experiences with Holy Women, Holy Men for the 77th General Convention in 2012 in Indianapolis, IN. As directed by Resolution A096, the report will include recommendations for revisions to the calendar as well as the collects and lessons approved in 2009.
For more information on Holy Women, Holy Men: http://www.churchpublishing.
Communicating with SCLM
SCLM is committed to communicating with the wider church. To do so, a special email address has been established for all correspondence, to offer ideas, or to contact a SCLM member: sclm@episcopalchurch.org
The SCLM blog is here: http://liturgyandmusic.
A Spanish-language Holy Women Holy Men is in production.
The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 16 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Episcopal Church Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music: http://generalconvention.org/
The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TECtube
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ten Reasons Why the Proposed Anglican Covenant Is a Bad Idea
- Radical
- Reactionary
- Impractical
- Divisive
- Vague
- Judgemental
- Impetuous
- Insincere
- Misnamed
- Suboptimal
- The proposed Anglican Covenant would transform a vibrant, cooperative, fellowship of churches into a contentious, centralized aggregation of churches designed to reduce diversity and initiative.The Covenant would institutionalize the “Instruments of Unity” as never before and would give extraordinary power to the newly enhanced Standing Committee.
- Under the Covenant, churches will be inhibited from undertaking new evangelical or mission initiatives for fear of offending other Communion churches and becoming embroiled in the disciplinary mechanisms set up by the Covenant.
- The centralization of authority envisioned by the proposed Covenant is cumbersome, costly, and undemocratic. In an era in which power and authority are being distributed in many organizations in order to achieve greater efficiency, responsiveness, and accountability, what has been proposed for the Communion seems out of step with current thinking regarding large organizations.
- Although the proposed Covenant is offered as a mechanism to achieve unity, its immediate effect is to create divisions. Churches that cannot or will not adopt the Covenant automatically become second-class members of the Communion. The inevitable application of the disciplinary provisions of Section 4 will likely further distinguish between “full” members of the Communion and less-than-full members.
- The proposed Covenant is dangerously vague. Sections 1–3 of the Covenant, which are seen by many as innocuous, leave much room for divergent interpretations. Section 4 makes it all too easy for any church to “ask questions” about the actions of another, which may then be subjected to unspecified “relational consequences.” There is no sure measure of what behaviour is likely to be acceptable, no checks provided against unreasonable complaints, and no guarantee that “consequences” (i.e., punishments) meted out will be commensurate with the alleged offence.
- The proposed Covenant runs counter to the gospel imperative of not judging others. It is all too easy for Communion churches to complain about the sins of their sister churches while ignoring or diverting attention from their own failures to live out the Gospel.
- The proposed Covenant encourages premature ending of debate.Rather than taking the advice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38–39) and seeing how controversial matters play out, the Covenant evidences an eagerness to “settle” them. This is an unfortunate temptation to which the Communion seems subject. It has too quickly concluded that “homosexual practice” is “incompatible with Scripture” and that adopting the Covenant is “the only way forward,” neither of which is either intuitively obvious or universally agreed upon.
- The notion that we need to make “forceful” the “bonds of affection” is fundamentally flawed. If we need force and coercion to maintain relationships between Communion churches, there is no true affection, and the very foundation of the proposed Covenant is fraudulent.
- The proposed “Covenant” seems more like a treaty, contract, or instrument of surrender than a covenant. In the ecclesiastical context, a covenant is usually thought of as an agreement undertaken in joy and in an atmosphere of trust—baptismal and marriage covenants come to mind. The proposed Anglican Covenant, on the other hand, is advanced in an atmosphere of anger, fear, and distrust, and with the threat of dire consequences if it is not adopted.
- The proposed Covenant is not the only way forward; there are better options. The Anglican Communion would be better served by remaining a single-tier fellowship of churches, allowing disaffected members to leave if they must, while keeping the door open for their return. Any alternative position cedes too much power to those willing to intimidate by threatening to walk away.
Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music seeks comments on possible hymnal revision
Starting December 15, an online survey is available to engage the entire church in this discussion, noted the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, chair of the SCLM. The survey is available at http://www.cpg.org/hymnalstudy2
“We have established this survey as part of The Episcopal Church’s ongoing work with liturgical materials and in compliance to Resolution B004 as approved at General Convention 2009,” Meyers explained. “This is important work in the life of our church and we are grateful for participation as our church embraces this task.”
Resolution B004 “authorize(s) Church Publishing Incorporated, working with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, to conduct a feasibility study on the need for revision of The Hymnal 1982 by speaking to congregations, dioceses and all seminaries of this Church, and to report its findings to the 77th General Convention.”
The survey, coordinated by the Church Pension Fund’s Office of Research, will be available online until January 31, 2011.
“The study seeks answers to two basic questions,” said Dr. Matthew J. Price, Church Pension Group Director of Analytical Research. “First, do the hymnal and the other authorized resources that the Church has for worship music meet the needs of the Church? If the answer to the first question is ‘no’, then the question should be asked as to whether a new Hymnal is the most efficacious means of answering these new needs.”
Meyers explained that prior to the December 15 debut of the online survey, the first step in the Hymnal Revision Feasibility Study was to invite clergy, music directors and church members in 1400 congregations, representing all sizes, locations, and languages in a stratified random sample, to participate in an initial phase of the study.
Following the January 31 deadline, the responses from the initial phase along with the general survey info, will be collated and all data reviewed, under the leadership of Jeannine Otis, a well-known musician from the Diocese of New York and an SCLM member.
These results, along with recommendations for next steps, will be presented to General Convention 2012 as part of the SCLM report.
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music: http://generalconvention.org/ccab/mandate/2
General Convention 2009 Resolution B004: http://gc2009.org/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=931&type=Final
Church Pension Group Office of Research: http://www.cpg.org/productsservices/research.cfm
The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian
Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamepiscopalian
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TECtube
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Antigay DVDs to Return to Archdiocese
Transgender woman says DMV clerk warned of hell
A few days after Amber Yust visited the Department of Motor Vehicles in San Francisco to register her sex change from male to female, she got a letter at home from the DMV employee who had handled her application.
Homosexual acts, he informed her, were "an abomination that leads to hell."
The same day, Yust said, a DVD arrived from a fundamentalist church warning of eternal damnation for anyone "possessed by demons" of homosexuality
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/09/BAGS1GOICK.DTL#ixzz17kZYXidr
Tolerance Program Raises Ire Of Some Vallejo Parents
Is this the end of the Anglican Covenant?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Rev. Jesse Jackson Supports Marriage Equality, End of Prop 8
The Rev. Jesse Jackson called into the community gathering at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals courthouse hosted by Marriage Equality USA and made the following remarks in support of marriage equality and Judge Walker's ruling.
We stand together today as equal members of the human family…. as consistent principled advocates for human rights for all people. We stand together today to uphold the principles of due process, of equal protection under the law, of fighting against discrimination against any and all people based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
We stand with you today to support Marriage Equality, and to declare that Proposition 8 must be struck down as unconstitutional. Peoples’ right to self-expression, self-determination be respected and affirmed. It’s time to challenge ignorance, a time to break the silence and the chains of hatred, of divisive and discriminatory bigotry. Marriage is based on love and commitment – not on sexual orientation. I support the right for any person to marry the person of their choosing.
If Dr. King and our civil rights movement has taught us anything, it’s the fundamental principle of that all people deserve Equal protection under the law. LGBT people deserve equal rights – including marriage equality – and equal protection under the law. Discrimination against one group of people is discrimination against all of us. The State – and the Courts - should not sanction discrimination.
To those that believe in and fought for civil rights, that marched to end discrimination and win equality, you must not become that which you hated. It’s past time to exist in hypocrisy and ignorance, and time to come out of the shadows and darkness to support unequivocally, equality for all people. Those that support civil and human rights cannot, must not, become perpetrators of discrimination against others based upon race, religion, culture, sexual orientation.
African-Americans know too well the sting of legal, state sanctioned, constitutionally driven “second class” citizenship – from centuries of legal slavery and Jim Crow segregation, to classified as 3/5 of a human being in the U.S. Constitution, to facing anti-miscegenation laws that prevented blacks from marrying whites.
We cannot not sit idly by while Prop. 8 seeks to target gays and lesbians for a disfavored legal status, as America’s newest “second-class citizens.” Our legal scholars have cited fourteen times where the Supreme Court has stated that marriage is a fundamental right of all individuals. That principle must be upheld today – for blacks and whites, for straight and gay, for ALL Americans. No group of people should be denied their fundamental constitutional liberties, like equal protection under the law, simply because of who they are.
So today, we do not stand alone. It’s time to go forward by hope and not backward by fear, to stand up with courage, hope and strength and send a shout out for equality. Stiff winds of resistance seek a return to intolerance, bigotry and state sanctioned discrimination – whether against immigrants in New Mexico or against marriage equality in California. It should only strengthen our resolve to defend equal protection under the law, equality for all Americans, and the forging of a One Big Tent America.
Keep hope alive.
"We are deeply touched and honored to have Rev. Jesse Jackson, one of the most powerful civil rights leaders alive today, join our event today and make these historic remarks in support of marriage equality," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA media director.
"Hearing Rev. Jackson's vision of the Rainbow Coalition as I came of voting age in the late ‘80s inspired me to want to get involved in making our country's promise of equality and justice for all ring true. Hearing his vocal support against Prop. 8 and in support of marriage equality today his been a truly extraordinary and we look forward to continuing to work together towards our shared vision of forging a One Big Tent America."
Oasis Action Alert: Call Your US Senators Today, Support DADT Repeal
The Senate may vote today on whether or not to repeal the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
This may be our last, best hope to end this discrimination before the new Congress shows up in January, with the House under staunchly anti-LGBT leadership.
I just called my senators and asked for the immediate repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I hope that you will join me. Will you take just a minute and call your senator?
More: http://www.couragecampaign.
Anglican Covenant Update
Alan Perry has written two articles:
Savi Hensman has written How might the Anglican Covenant work in England?
Benny Hazlehurst offered An Antidote to the Covenant
John Martin wrote The Covenant is good news for Anglicanism in Christian Today
Thanks to Thinking Anglicans for these links.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Prop 8: 'This is about freedom of religion - mine, yours, ours!
Comments prepared by Oasis President the Rev. Tom Jackson for community meeting outside US Court of Appeals in San Francisco Dec. 6, 2010.This is about freedom of religion: mine, yours, ours. This is about freeing us from being forced to live by the religious beliefs of those who call themselves conservative Christians and believe that they and they alone know the correct meaning of scripture. This is about religious freedom: about freeing us from a civil law that forces us to live by the Biblical beliefs of someone else. This is about religious freedom: about freeing most of us from the strict judgmental theology of a few of us. This is about religious freedom: the freedom we each deserve to live our lives according to our beliefs and not those of Jerry Farwell or our next door neighbor or any other person in America. This is about religious freedom: you, mine, ours. I want mine back. Don’t you?
That’s why Judge Walker’s decision is so important. He looked at the facts advanced by those who support Prop 8 and found they did not present any scientific facts to support Prop 8. He ruled they did not document any real harm caused by marriage equality. The only reason he found to support Prop 8 was the animus towards LGBT people of those who oppose equality in civil marriage. And he ruled that animus – for many clothed in terms of religious belief – cannot stand as the sole foundation for an amendment to the constitution of this state.
Those who support Prop 8, at their best, do so based on their faith: the way they read the Bible, they believe same gender marriage is a sin. We support their right to hold and to live their life according to these beliefs. No one suggests that any man or woman ever be forced into a same gender marriage: if you believe same sex marriage is a sin, marry someone of a different sex.
That’s not the argument of Prop 8. Prop 8 says we all have to live be the religious belief of those who read the Bible in a literal sense. That is not the way I read the Bible, my understanding is that God’s justice demands marriage equality. So repealing Prop 8 is about religious freedom: about freeing me and you and you and you from a law that forces us to live by the religious beliefs of someone else.
Prop 8 tries to force all of us to live by standards some see as ‘biblically correct.’ But their view of what the Bible says is radically different from mine, All I want is the freedom to be the kind of Christian God calls me to be; all I ask is an end to laws and amendments that impose someone else’s religion on me and my church. This is about religious freedom: about freeing me and you and you and you from a law that forces us to live by the religious beliefs of someone else. As an Episcopal priest, I should have the freedom to minister to people based on my understanding of what God calls us to do. Prop 8 tries to take away our freedom of religion. I want it back – don’t you?
Gene Robinson on the Bible, Homosexuality
"We cannot ... isolate these passages about homosexual acts and impute to them the kind of enduring authority which we ascribe to nothing before or after," Robinson writes of Old Testament prohibitions against homosexuality in a guest post forTheWashington Post'sreligion blog, On Faith.
"One has to wonder why the biblical literalists who cite this passage against homosexuality don't seem to go all the way and advocate for death as the punishment for homosexual behavior! We cannot have it both ways," Robinson writes.
Read the full post here.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
PSR alumna Kolakowski elected CA Superior Court judge
The final results posted on the Registrar of Voters Web site on November 19 confirmed what most 2010 election observers had already predicted -- PSR alumna Victoria Kolakowski (MDiv ’98) has been elected to the Alameda County Superior Court.Her election has received international attention because she is the first transgender person to be elected judge in the United States.
With training in biomedical and electrical engineering in addition to her law degree, Kolakowski worked her way through PSR as a patent attorney. In addition to her other qualifications, she is an ordained minister in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), and has been active in justice movements for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
Speaking about her new position on the Superior Court, Kolakowski said, “Obviously this is a secular position, but I bring my whole person to it. I’m still grounded in the kinds of social justice concerns that are such an important part of what I learned at PSR.”
Although she wants to be known for her legal accomplishments, Kolakowski said she’s “not running away from the fact that this is an historic occasion.” Tracking on her campaign Web site has shown visitors from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories, from Nepal, Togo, Iran, Kenya, Uganda, and more than 70 other countries. “This is very exciting to many people. I guess they’re looking to see, Is this real?”
“We [transgender people] have a community that has been stigmatized, where many people have to deal with unemployment or underemployment, and now they can see where somebody has become a judge. If that helps just one kid somewhere to hold on for another day, then I don’t mind being the ‘transgender judge.’”