Sacred Cocktails is now part of Oasis California p

Sacred Cocktails, a place to  hang out and discuss religion and spirituality, is now part of Oasis California. Launched by The Rev. Tommy Dillon and the people of St. Aidan's,  Sacred Cocktails meets almost every Monday at the Twin Peaks Tavern, 401 Castro St, San Francisco, California 94114-2019.  "We gather at 7 p.m. near the bar for social time and then at 7:30 we move upstairs for an hour of conversation," Oasis California Vice President Dan Burner explained. Dan will continue to coordinate Sacred Cocktails.

Check out the Sacred Cocktails Facebook Page for more information.

Helping Us Think Outside the Box (of binary gender roles).

by The Rev. Diana Wheeler

I have a “day job” in the burbs. There are times when trying to find ways of helping people think outside the box can be a challenge. That’s when I know that just my opinion won’t count. I need to present “just the facts ma’am”. I needed to explain gender identity development in young children and concepts like gender fluidity in order to make sure we were being accepting and doing no harm. This is a subject I have some small knowledge of, but like I said before, my opinion and experiences were not going to cut it.

A few emails to friends and I was in touch with “Gender Spectrum”, and a week later I was at their 6th Annual Gender Spectrum Family and Teen Conference. Gender Spectrum is an organization “dedicated to the needs of transgender and gender nonconforming children and teens and their families and loved ones”. It was an amazing three days. Day One was for professionals working with these families: educators; medical doctors and therapists; lawyers, etc. Day Two and Day Three were for families: parents; a camp for children and a teen camp.

While the young people were at play, there were an unbelievable number of workshops and presenters (I think I attended at least 5 a day). Topics ranged from the biology of gender; advocacy and civil rights; social transitioning of students in school; anti-bias curriculum; medical care of transgender children; Native American two-spirit traditions; talking to your faith communities; fears of parents; school safety; launching your transgender young adult and the list could go on.

The most moving part of the three days was listening to the incredible stories of children and parents. The courage that it takes to truly be yourself and allow your child to be themselves was inspiring.There are so many challenges, but this was the place to get support and give support to others. And in this safe space on the waterfront in Berkeley, families could truly just be themselves. This event was clearly something that families looked forward to every year. It was a place to be nourished for what is a very tough but clearly rewarding journey.

If you are interested in learning more, visit the Gender Spectrum website atwww.genderspectrum.org. 

Permanent, Faithful, Stable: Christian Same-Sex Marriage

Darton, Longman and Todd is republishing the book by Dr Jeffrey John previously titled Permanent, Faithful, Stable and originally published in 1993 (second edition in 2000). Order here.

The publisher's news release states:

It is no less than a tragedy for Christianity … that since … the process of recognizing and integrating gay people has steadily continued in society at large, the most visible and vocal obstacle to that continuing process has been the Church … This is morality turned upside down; and the inevitable result is that people of good will with a concern fro justice and truth turn away from the Church in disgust.

Seminal book on the church’s struggle with homosexuality, by the most prominent Christian advocate for gay marriage of his generation

Jeffrey John was forced to stand down after being appointed Bishop of Reading in 2003, and again blocked from becoming Bishop of Southwark in 2010 because of being in a lifelong same-sex partnership, though celibate.

New Foreword by Mark Oakley, Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, and forthright new Preface and Postscript by Jeffrey John, urging the church to back the government’s proposal to legalise gay marriage.
As Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams cited Permanent, Faithful, Stable as a book that influenced his thinking on the thorny issue of homosexual clergy. In a letter to a friend he wrote, “I concluded that an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if, it had about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.”

Since his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, he has changed his public opnion, and in the almost decade since this book was last published, the Church’s line on homosexuality has continued to harden. The Church now finds itself running behind the state in its approval of same-sex marriage, burdened by the desire to maintain unity in the Anglican Communion, and seemingly at odds with the majority of ordinary churchgoers. In the Church times survey (15 June 2012), 75% of respondents disagreed with Anglican bishops position on same-sex marriage, and a recent YouGov poll for Stonewall said that 3 in 5 people of faith support gay marriage.

In the current climate of debate and negotiation, Jeffrey John’s voice needs to be heard for the Church to recognise its responsibility to marginalised gay people, and its commitment to the heart of the Christian gospel.

Jeffrey John is Dean of St Albans and was formerly Canon Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark Cathedral

Episcopal Church input requested for annual United Nations major event

UNCSW in March 2013

“We would like to hear from as many Episcopalians as possible.”

[August 6, 2012] The Episcopal Church, joining with other advocacy partners, is requesting input from members across the church in ascertaining information that will form the foundation of the church’s presence and participation at the 2013 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meeting.

A survey has been prepared to solicit comments and suggestions:http://www.formstack.com/forms/dfms-cswsurvey

The priority theme for the 2013 UNCSW is “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.”

“The Episcopal Church will participate in the 57th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, joining once again with Ecumenical Women, a coalition of Christian churches, and ecumenical organizations, in advocacy related to the 2013 theme,” noted Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Officer for Global Relations. “Advocacy depends on feedback from women, men and young people across the Church.  We would like to hear from as many Episcopalians as possible. Please complete the questionnaire so your voice is heard on this important topic.”

The survey, prepared jointly by Ecumenical Women with input from the Episcopal Church and other churches, is available here or http://www.formstack.com/forms/dfms-cswsurvey

The survey can be completed either by individuals or by a group. The survey is only 11 questions.  No name is required; demographic information is limited to the location of the respondent and gender.

Deadline to participate in the survey is September 1.  

Data from the surveys will be submitted automatically to the Episcopal Church and Ecumenical Women upon submission. From the answers, advocacy priorities will be formulated and a joint written statement prepared to be submitted to UNCSW for the 2013 event.

Groton CT church returns to dioceses as ex-members leave

Former parishioners and clergy of Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church in Groton have made a decision to depart the property and will hold a final service there on Sunday, August 5, 2012. This decision comes six years after the members of the congregation declared themselves unable to fully participate in The Episcopal Church and later joined the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), described as a "missionary district" of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

The choice to depart was made by the congregation and its ordained leaders from among six options given to them by the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, in recent conversations. These choices included, but were not limited to, returning to the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, remaining in The Episcopal Church under Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight, or renting the building as an independent congregation unaffiliated with any religious organization seeking to supplant The Episcopal Church. Representatives from the bishop's office will receive the keys, parochial records and all parish property in August according to a schedule worked out with a lay leader who is departing.

Responding to the departure, Bishop Douglas said: "I am sad to see these faithful individuals leave The Episcopal Church. We are diminished by their departure."

The differences between the former parishioners and clergy of Bishop Seabury Church and The Episcopal Church began in the 1970s with the church's acceptance of women into ordained leadership, changes to the Book of Common Prayer, and later as The Episcopal Church, through its democratic processes, affirmed the full inclusion of lesbian and gay sisters and brothers in Christ in the life of the Church. The Diocese of Connecticut has always been clear that differences of opinion and theology about such decisions are welcome and valued, and works to embrace the breath of such diversity as a manifestation of the wideness of God's love for all people.

A series of legal suits and appeals to gain ownership of the parish property ended this past June with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to review the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision that the property of Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church was held in trust for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and The Episcopal Church; and that individuals seeking to depart The Episcopal Church do not have a right to parish property and assets that are held in such trust.

Looking to the future, Bishop Douglas said: "The next step for us in The Diocese of Connecticut is for lay and ordained leaders who are committed to Bishop Seabury Church to come together to pray about and consider how God would like us to use the property and its assets to further God's mission of restoration and reconciliation. We need to ask: What does God want us to do and be next in Groton and at Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church? The faithful witness to the love of Christ will continue."

CT Bishops OKs Same Gender Blessings

Letter from The Bishops of The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Ordained Ministry: We are writing as a follow-up to our May 2012 "Episcopal Epistle" and Clergy Conference "indaba" with respect to the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian couples seeking to be married in The Episcopal Church in Connecticut. As expected, the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church engaged deeply with questions related to the blessing for same-sex couples. Holy listening and a generosity of spirit characterized the discussions and decisions of the Convention related to such blessings. In Resolutions A049 and A050 the General Convention provided for a rite of blessing for same-sex couples and called the church to study canonical and liturgical limitations related to marriage equality. Resolution A049 states in part: Resolved, That the 77th General Convention authorize for provisional use "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" from "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" beginning the First Sunday of Advent 2012, under the direction and subject to the permission of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-sex marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further Resolved, That bishops may authorize adaptation of these materials to meet the needs of members of this Church . . .

As your bishops we commend the entire report of The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music known as "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You will be a Blessing," which can be found on our diocesan website. In the resource you will find both the rite as adopted by the General Convention as well as valuable theological, and legal and canonical discussions related to the blessing of same-sex relationships. We particularly commend the pastoral resources for preparing same-sex couples for a liturgy of blessing. In keeping with Resolution A049 we authorize priests seeking to provide blessing rites for same-sex couples to use, and adapt as appropriate: "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" from "Liturgical Resources I" beginning the First Sunday of Advent2012. We encourage priests to work closely with their lay leadership if their parishes anticipate offering blessing rites for same-sex couples. In addition, and in keeping with the report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (page 220), beginning the First Sunday in Advent 2012 priests in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut may also officiate at the civil marriage of a same-sex couple as a "generous pastoral response" to lesbian and gay couples seeking to be married. Priests officiating at such a civil marriage must take care to conform to the specific laws of the State of Connecticut.

We give thanks that The Episcopal Church through the decisions of our General Convention has recognized the love and holiness manifested in life-long committed relationships of lesbian and gay sisters and brothers in Christ and has begun to offer rites of blessing for such relationships. We are pleased that the church's discipline has also begun to change so that priests may offer a generous pastoral response consistent with Connecticut's embrace of marriage equality. Finally, we are very appreciative of the pastoral care and concern that you provide to the people of the Diocese of Connecticut. And we thank God for the privilege of working alongside each and every one of you in service to God's mission of restoration and reconciliation in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Faithfully, Ian, Jim and Laura The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas The Rt. Rev. James E. Curry The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens

Catholics are recruiting unhappy Episcopalians. Rev. Matt Lawrence returns the favor.

"Maybe you've heard about how the Vatican is reaching out to unhappy Episcopalians.  They have even developed a process by which married Episcopal priests -- like me -- can become Catholic priests!  Yeah, you heard that right.  Now Catholic priests don't have to be celibate any more -- as long as they started out as Episcopal priests. Well, speaking unofficially on behalf of all Episcopalians, I would like to make a counter-offer to the Vatican.  We will gladly trade all of our unhappy Episcopalians for all of your unhappy Catholics." More. The Rev. Matthew Lawrence is an Episcopal priest in Santa Rosa.