Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Don Lemon on the Responsibility of Being Out
"It's been interesting just to watch, and I feel free, and all those things, all those wonderful things they say when you finally get something off your chest," Lemon said. The anchor came out in May with the release of his memoir, Transparent. MORe
Faith Leaders Training for Religious Rumble in Minnesota
Minnesotans will have to decide in 2012 whether they want to ban same-sex marriage in their state. Minnesotans United for All Families is holding training sessions for progressive people of faith on how to fight the ban.
AFA Spokesman Wants to Re-criminalize Homosexuality
Bryan Fischer, spokesman for the American Family Association, took to his radio show Monday to call on the fifty United States to reinstate laws making homosexuality a criminal offense.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Married lesbian among five nominees for bishop coadjutor of New York
In a report issued this morning, the Committee to Elect a Bishop of the Diocese of New York announced the names of the five individuals that it will formally nominate at the Convention to Elect a Bishop to be held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City on Oct 29.
The winner of the election will work with the current Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk and, upon Bishop Sisk's retirement, will become the new diocesan bishop. Bishop Sisk is canonically required to retire on or before his 72nd birthday, which will occur in August 2014.
The Committee selected the five proposed nominees from nearly 60 candidates who were recommended for the position. The proposed nominees are:
- Peter Eaton, who serves as the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Denver, Colorado. Prior to becoming Dean, he had 15 years of parish experience: as Rector of St. John’s Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Associate Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as Canon Theologian for the Diocese of Utah ; Fellows’ Chaplain at Magdalen College, Oxford, United Kingdom ; and Curate at All Saints Church, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom for He is 53 years old and is married to Kate Eaton.
- Cathy Hagstrom George, who serves as Priest-in-Charge at St. Mary’s in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She has been ordained for 25 years and previously served for 12 years as Rector at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields in Lincoln, Massachusetts. She is 55 years old, married to Michael George, and has two children, Evangelyn and Samuel.
- John T. W. Harmon, who has served as Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., for the past 11 years. As a youth, he immigrated to the United States from his birthplace in Liberia. His 20 years of service to parishes began at Grace Episcopal Church, Norfolk, Virginia, and he was Rector of St. Stephen’s in Petersburg, Virginia. He is 47 years old, married to Keeva Harmon and has three children, Joshua, Jarena, and Justin.
- Tracey Lind, who serves as Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio. Previously, she was the Rector of St. Paul’s, Paterson, New Jersey; the Associate Rector at Christ Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey; and the Director of Community Ministry, Bronx Youth Ministry, in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. She is 57 years old and is married to Emily Ingalls.
- Pierre Whalon, who serves as Bishop-in-Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, Paris, France. Prior to becoming bishop, he had 16 years of parish experience as Rector of All Souls, North Versailles, Pennsylvania ; Rector of St. Paul’s, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; and Rector of St. Andrew’s Church and School, Fort Pierce, Florida. He is 58 years old, married to Melinda Whalon, and has one child, Marie-Noelle.
(For fuller details on the nominees go to
Monday, August 22, 2011
How to help with immigration reform ...
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Bishop Christopher’s Compass to Compassion tour stops in San Diego
From SDGN: SAN DIEGO -- Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, who arrives in San Diego on Wednesday, Aug. 17, spoke passionately at the Edinburgh Festival for Spirituality and Peace over the weekend urging the Scottish, UK and European governments to do all things necessary to bring about an end to criminalizing homosexuality worldwide.
Over half the 76 countries that currently send people to jail or execute LGBT people are members of the British Commonwealth, so British influence and leadership on this issue is vital.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, the bishop was asked about the role the 70 million member Anglican Communion plays in these conversations. The bishop replied, “They are indifferent.”
He shared his hope to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury and other religious leaders to discuss this crisis.
“Religious attitudes to homosexuality are perhaps the major stumbling block to removing these draconian colonial laws that force millions of people to live as criminals,” he said. “The church is called to be compassionate and to listen to the suffering of these people. How can we advocate innocent people spending decades in prison or even suffering the death penalty, just because of how God has created us?”
The bishop met with officials at the Scottish Home Office and spoke at Glasgow Cathedral and St. John’s Church on the first leg of his three month tour “Compass to Compassion.” He arrives in San Diego on Wednesday with his wife Mary.
The San Diego connection
The bishop will be speaking at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest, on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the 8 and 10:30 am services and at the 9 am Forum he will be joined by The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle and Brent Sammons about the damage caused by global discrimination and how this can be changed.
The bishop will be attending a party at Ogle’s home at noon (reservations required at aogle@stpaulsfoundation.com) and speak later that evening at Dignity’s Mass at 6 pm.
On Monday, Aug. 22, at 7 pm, the bishop will meet with PFLAG San Diego.
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 6.30 to 8 pm, the bishop will meet with community representatives and friends interested in knowing more about his HIV work (it is illegal to provide prevention and education services for HIV to any LGBT people in Uganda, but this has not stopped the bishop’s latest HIV program).
The bishop will be hosted by Lifehouse, a 305-bed Skill Nursing Facility in San Diego that is part of a group of Skill Nursing Facilities throughout the country. They are creating a template for a LGBT/HIV and AIDS programs for seniors and others that need rehabilitation. With interdisciplinary care such as nutrition, nursing, activities and physical therapy, Lifehouse is a cutting edge program in San Diego that is interested in partnering with other organizations. They also have medical, psychiatric and psychological care, making sure that all staff members are culturally competent about the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community.
Over half the 76 countries that currently send people to jail or execute LGBT people are members of the British Commonwealth, so British influence and leadership on this issue is vital.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, the bishop was asked about the role the 70 million member Anglican Communion plays in these conversations. The bishop replied, “They are indifferent.”
He shared his hope to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury and other religious leaders to discuss this crisis.
“Religious attitudes to homosexuality are perhaps the major stumbling block to removing these draconian colonial laws that force millions of people to live as criminals,” he said. “The church is called to be compassionate and to listen to the suffering of these people. How can we advocate innocent people spending decades in prison or even suffering the death penalty, just because of how God has created us?”
The bishop met with officials at the Scottish Home Office and spoke at Glasgow Cathedral and St. John’s Church on the first leg of his three month tour “Compass to Compassion.” He arrives in San Diego on Wednesday with his wife Mary.
The San Diego connection
The bishop will be speaking at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest, on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the 8 and 10:30 am services and at the 9 am Forum he will be joined by The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle and Brent Sammons about the damage caused by global discrimination and how this can be changed.
The bishop will be attending a party at Ogle’s home at noon (reservations required at aogle@stpaulsfoundation.com) and speak later that evening at Dignity’s Mass at 6 pm.
On Monday, Aug. 22, at 7 pm, the bishop will meet with PFLAG San Diego.
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 6.30 to 8 pm, the bishop will meet with community representatives and friends interested in knowing more about his HIV work (it is illegal to provide prevention and education services for HIV to any LGBT people in Uganda, but this has not stopped the bishop’s latest HIV program).
The bishop will be hosted by Lifehouse, a 305-bed Skill Nursing Facility in San Diego that is part of a group of Skill Nursing Facilities throughout the country. They are creating a template for a LGBT/HIV and AIDS programs for seniors and others that need rehabilitation. With interdisciplinary care such as nutrition, nursing, activities and physical therapy, Lifehouse is a cutting edge program in San Diego that is interested in partnering with other organizations. They also have medical, psychiatric and psychological care, making sure that all staff members are culturally competent about the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Homosexuality Test Administered to Catholic High-Schoolers
A religion test covering students' knowledge of homosexuality administered at a Kitchener, Canada, Catholic high school has upset some Catholics and other religious conservatives. MORE
Communiqué - International Anglican Liturgical Consultation
Fully 56 Anglicans from six continents and from 19 provinces of the Anglican Communion assembled within the Cathedral Precincts for the biennial meeting of the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, 1 - 6 August 2011. The Consultation gathers liturgists and liturgical theologians as well as persons sent by and working on behalf of their churches in the area of liturgy. All Provinces of the Communion are invited to send representatives.
Participants were treated to the very warm hospitality provided by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, and enjoyed the splendid accommodation, conference space, and excellent cuisine provided by the modern Cathedral Lodge International Study Centre. They were also welcomed by the Dean at a dinner in the deanery garden – at which the gift of a collection of Prayer and Hymn Books from around the Communion was presented to the Dean and Chapter -- and enjoyed a candlelight pilgrimage through Canterbury Cathedral. The week was grounded by Morning Prayer and Evensong in the Cathedral and a daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist led in rotation by representatives of various global regions, in rites drawn from the several provinces and in several languages – treasures both old and new.
The IALC focused on completing their work begun two years ago in Auckland and set forth in Rites Relating to Marriage: A Working Interim Document. This task was carried forward in this year’s session by three groups examining (1) the theology of marriage, (2) cultural contexts of marriage, and (3) the shape and elements of the ritual. The Report of this work will be circulated to the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, and to the Standing Committee of the Communion. It will also be published through the website of the Anglican Communion. Participants in this meeting had studied and prepared further work based on the Auckland report and several papers were circulated in advance. To start off their work in this week, members heard and reflected upon presentations made by the Right Reverend Mdimi Mhogolo (Central Tanganyka, Tanzania) and the Reverend Dr. Simon Jones (Church of England). These papers will be published in forthcoming proceedings. The IALC then spent the subsequent days in discussion and drafting groups. The IALC membership honoured the memory of the Right Reverend Dr. Kenneth Stevenson – who had been scheduled initially as one of the plenary speakers, and whose recent death all mourned.
The IALC’s topics for study are determined through processes of canvassing members from one meeting to another. From time to time, Provinces, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Meeting of Primates, or Commissions of the Communion have requested that IALC provide counsel on a particular topic. The topic of ‘rites relating to marriage’ follows upon previous work in the area of pastoral liturgy, as begun at Palermo in 2007 on rites relating to death (Report forthcoming).
At this meeting, one session was set aside from the regular work of the IALC in response to a formal request from the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of The Episcopal Church (USA) – TEC – so that representatives from that Standing Commission could hear from IALC members in response to that Province’s exploratory theological rationale and liturgical principles for the development of rites for the blessing of committed same gender relationships. This time was set up as a ‘consultation within the Consultation.’ The afternoon of that day was given to visiting local and nearby sites of historical interest or served as a welcome break after several long working days.
Elected to the Steering Committee were the Rev’d Dr. Eileen Scully (Canada); the Rev’d Nak-Hyon Joseph Joo (Korea), to serve two terms, and the Rev’d Alan Rufli (Ireland). Bishop Kito Pikaahu (Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) is the continuing member, elected at Auckland to serve two terms. The Most Rev’d Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, was appointed by the Primates' Standing Committee. The Rev’d Canon Cynthia Botha (Southern Africa) serves the IALC as Liaison Officer with the Anglican Communion Office and as Secretary to IALC. Eileen Scully was subsequently elected by the Steering Committee to serve as Chair for one term. These persons will be responsible for planning and coordination of the next meeting of IALC in two years’ time.
The IALC extends their gratitude to the Dean, Chapter and Vergers of Canterbury Cathedral, the staff of the Cathedral Lodge, and the staff of the Canterbury Cathedral Office for their hospitality and assistance.
Participants in the 2011 International Anglican Liturgical Consultation:
Solomon Amusan - Nigeria
Barrington Bates - USA
Monty Black - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Juan Quevedo Bosch - USA
Cynthia Botha - Southern Africa
Robert Brooks - USA
Colin Buchanan - England
Tricia Carter - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Thomas Cooper - Wales
Dane Courtney - Australia
Ian Darby Southern - Africa
Anne Dawtry - England
Ron Dowling - Australia
Thomas Ely - USA
Richard Fabian - USA
Gerald Field - Ireland
Sarah Finch - England
Godfrey Fryar - Australia
Alec George - England
Keith Griffiths - Southern Africa
Alan Harper - Ireland
John Hill - Canada
David Holeton - Czech Republic
Harvey Howlett - England
Chris Irvine - England
Jared Isaac - South India
Shintaro Ichihara - Japan
Simon Jones - Scotland
Nak-Hyun Joseph Joo - Korea
Walter Knowles - USA
Chung-Wai Lam - Hong Kong
Ian Lam - Hong Kong
Lizette Larson-Miller - USA
Richard Leggett - Canada
Sam Dessorti Leite - Brazil
Trevor Lloyd - England
Frank Lyons - Bolivia
Iain Luke - Canada
Tomas Madella - Philippines
Darren McFarland - England
Ruth Meyers - USA
Mdimi Mhogolo - Tanzania
William Petersen - USA
Kito Pikaahu - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Stephen Platten - England
Alan Rufli - Ireland
Eileen Scully - Canada
Elizabeth Smith - Australia
Susan Smith - USA
Bryan Spinks - England
Miguel Tamayo - Uruguay
Philip Tovey - England
Gillian Varcoe - Australia
Peter Wall - Canada
Louis Weil - USA
Christopher Woods - England
Participants were treated to the very warm hospitality provided by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, and enjoyed the splendid accommodation, conference space, and excellent cuisine provided by the modern Cathedral Lodge International Study Centre. They were also welcomed by the Dean at a dinner in the deanery garden – at which the gift of a collection of Prayer and Hymn Books from around the Communion was presented to the Dean and Chapter -- and enjoyed a candlelight pilgrimage through Canterbury Cathedral. The week was grounded by Morning Prayer and Evensong in the Cathedral and a daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist led in rotation by representatives of various global regions, in rites drawn from the several provinces and in several languages – treasures both old and new.
The IALC focused on completing their work begun two years ago in Auckland and set forth in Rites Relating to Marriage: A Working Interim Document. This task was carried forward in this year’s session by three groups examining (1) the theology of marriage, (2) cultural contexts of marriage, and (3) the shape and elements of the ritual. The Report of this work will be circulated to the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, and to the Standing Committee of the Communion. It will also be published through the website of the Anglican Communion. Participants in this meeting had studied and prepared further work based on the Auckland report and several papers were circulated in advance. To start off their work in this week, members heard and reflected upon presentations made by the Right Reverend Mdimi Mhogolo (Central Tanganyka, Tanzania) and the Reverend Dr. Simon Jones (Church of England). These papers will be published in forthcoming proceedings. The IALC then spent the subsequent days in discussion and drafting groups. The IALC membership honoured the memory of the Right Reverend Dr. Kenneth Stevenson – who had been scheduled initially as one of the plenary speakers, and whose recent death all mourned.
The IALC’s topics for study are determined through processes of canvassing members from one meeting to another. From time to time, Provinces, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Meeting of Primates, or Commissions of the Communion have requested that IALC provide counsel on a particular topic. The topic of ‘rites relating to marriage’ follows upon previous work in the area of pastoral liturgy, as begun at Palermo in 2007 on rites relating to death (Report forthcoming).
At this meeting, one session was set aside from the regular work of the IALC in response to a formal request from the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of The Episcopal Church (USA) – TEC – so that representatives from that Standing Commission could hear from IALC members in response to that Province’s exploratory theological rationale and liturgical principles for the development of rites for the blessing of committed same gender relationships. This time was set up as a ‘consultation within the Consultation.’ The afternoon of that day was given to visiting local and nearby sites of historical interest or served as a welcome break after several long working days.
Elected to the Steering Committee were the Rev’d Dr. Eileen Scully (Canada); the Rev’d Nak-Hyon Joseph Joo (Korea), to serve two terms, and the Rev’d Alan Rufli (Ireland). Bishop Kito Pikaahu (Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) is the continuing member, elected at Auckland to serve two terms. The Most Rev’d Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, was appointed by the Primates' Standing Committee. The Rev’d Canon Cynthia Botha (Southern Africa) serves the IALC as Liaison Officer with the Anglican Communion Office and as Secretary to IALC. Eileen Scully was subsequently elected by the Steering Committee to serve as Chair for one term. These persons will be responsible for planning and coordination of the next meeting of IALC in two years’ time.
The IALC extends their gratitude to the Dean, Chapter and Vergers of Canterbury Cathedral, the staff of the Cathedral Lodge, and the staff of the Canterbury Cathedral Office for their hospitality and assistance.
Participants in the 2011 International Anglican Liturgical Consultation:
Solomon Amusan - Nigeria
Barrington Bates - USA
Monty Black - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Juan Quevedo Bosch - USA
Cynthia Botha - Southern Africa
Robert Brooks - USA
Colin Buchanan - England
Tricia Carter - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Thomas Cooper - Wales
Dane Courtney - Australia
Ian Darby Southern - Africa
Anne Dawtry - England
Ron Dowling - Australia
Thomas Ely - USA
Richard Fabian - USA
Gerald Field - Ireland
Sarah Finch - England
Godfrey Fryar - Australia
Alec George - England
Keith Griffiths - Southern Africa
Alan Harper - Ireland
John Hill - Canada
David Holeton - Czech Republic
Harvey Howlett - England
Chris Irvine - England
Jared Isaac - South India
Shintaro Ichihara - Japan
Simon Jones - Scotland
Nak-Hyun Joseph Joo - Korea
Walter Knowles - USA
Chung-Wai Lam - Hong Kong
Ian Lam - Hong Kong
Lizette Larson-Miller - USA
Richard Leggett - Canada
Sam Dessorti Leite - Brazil
Trevor Lloyd - England
Frank Lyons - Bolivia
Iain Luke - Canada
Tomas Madella - Philippines
Darren McFarland - England
Ruth Meyers - USA
Mdimi Mhogolo - Tanzania
William Petersen - USA
Kito Pikaahu - Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Stephen Platten - England
Alan Rufli - Ireland
Eileen Scully - Canada
Elizabeth Smith - Australia
Susan Smith - USA
Bryan Spinks - England
Miguel Tamayo - Uruguay
Philip Tovey - England
Gillian Varcoe - Australia
Peter Wall - Canada
Louis Weil - USA
Christopher Woods - England
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Jacques Beaumont and Richard Townsend
On the day of the wedding, Aug. 2, they arrived in a patient lounge in separate wheelchairs. There were no tuxedoes. Instead, the hospital provided matching white sweat pants and sweatshirts from its inventory and matching yellow rose boutonnieres.
They had the wedding in the lounge rather than the chapel, which Mr. Townsend said he felt no personal connection to. He did not miss the pomp. “I wanted to have the simplest, most heartfelt situation,” he said.
Mr. Beaumont, the more religious of the two, asked his pastor, the Rev. Glenn B. Chalmers, and former pastor, the Rev. Elizabeth Maxwell, of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Chelsea, to officiate. Mr. Beaumont admires the church for its soup kitchen. But priests in the Episcopal Diocese of New York cannot legally perform same-sex marriages, so they called in a colleague, the Rev. John E. Denaro, of the diocese of Long Island, where it is allowed, to join them and to sign the forms. “I’m John Doe — or Jane Doe,” Father Denaro said jokingly, getting into the cloak-and-dagger spirit. Full story at NY Times
Friday, August 12, 2011
Taking the Economy Back From the Elites: Blessed Are the Organized
Jeffrey Stout’s Blessed Are the Organized is arguably even more relevant now than when it was published last year. Even then, the United States economy had collapsed in on itself. Barack Obama’s role had fully shifted from community organizer to Beltway compromiser, and the grassroots was being overgrown by Tea Party “astroturf.” But now—as politicians wrestle our economy even lower to the ground at the behest of organized elites, and the voice of the majority seems to grow ever fainter in their ears—the kind of real grassroots organizing Stout writes about seems all the more to be what we need.
Rev. Mychal Judge, Gay '9/11 Saint,' To Be Honored By N.Y. Catholic Church
"As a tribute to his friend, Dwyer is serving on a committee at All Saints Church in Syracuse, which intends to honor Judge with a memorial.
The Rev. Fred Daley, pastor at All Saints, intends to ask local firefighters to attend the dedication. While the memorial will honor those killed on Sept. 11, Daley said the way Judge lived his life carries special meaning for the All Saints congregation.
Judge -- like Daley -- was a Catholic priest who publicly acknowledged that he was a celibate gay man. In June, after months of discussion, parishioners at All Saints voted 256-3 to offer a statement of welcome to gays, lesbians and transgender men and women. Daley said the vote meshes with his beliefs on what it means to be a Christian."
MORE
The Rev. Fred Daley, pastor at All Saints, intends to ask local firefighters to attend the dedication. While the memorial will honor those killed on Sept. 11, Daley said the way Judge lived his life carries special meaning for the All Saints congregation.
Judge -- like Daley -- was a Catholic priest who publicly acknowledged that he was a celibate gay man. In June, after months of discussion, parishioners at All Saints voted 256-3 to offer a statement of welcome to gays, lesbians and transgender men and women. Daley said the vote meshes with his beliefs on what it means to be a Christian."
MORE
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Biggest Religious Movement You Never Heard of
. “These are the apostles and prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), the biggest international religious movement you never heard of.” Almost simultaneously, investigative reporter Forrest Wilder of the Texas Observer published an extensive article on Perry's prayer event and his endorsers, “Rick Perry's Army of God.” MORE
Because the Bible Tells Me So: Why Party Christians Opposed Raising the Debt Ceiling
" For Bachmann and some of her right-wing evangelical compatriots, financial, fiscal and economic issues are not matters to be considered with the knowledge imparted by economists and policy experts, but rather through the economic policy of ancient Israel as described in the Holy Bible." MORE
Monday, August 1, 2011
York Pride remembers murdered Ugandan gay rights campaigner
York Pride has remembered murdered Ugandan gay rights campaigner David Kato, who studied in the city.
Gay marriage gets record support, 70 percent of young people support it
A new bi-partisan study confirms that first time, support for gay marriage generally outweighs opposition, and the rate of increase is startling.
According to the study, the rate of increase in support for gay marriage accelerated to 5 percent per year in 2010 and 2011. Between 1996 and 2009, this rate was less than 1 percent. MORE
Ugandan gay rights group has computers, member list stolen
A Ugandan gay rights group is urging police to fully investigate a burglary at its offices.
Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), which has offices in Kampala, was broken into on Saturday night.
Relationship Expert: “Is my Christian son homophobic?”
The advice I would give your son is that he need not agree with the gay lifestyle – he just needs to respect those who are. Which is what he did, in a sense, by protecting the boy from being bullied further. More @ 365Gay
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