Supreme Court of Virginia rules in favor of diocese, Episcopal Church

[Episcopal Diocese of Virginia] In a dispute over the ownership of The Falls Church, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled today in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church. The decision affirms an earlier ruling returning Episcopalians to their church home at The Falls Church in Falls Church, Virginia. The Falls Church Anglican had sought to overturn the lower court’s ruling in favor of the diocese. The court also remanded a portion of the case back to the Fairfax Circuit Court for a decision to determine a minor fractional difference in funds owed to the Diocese of Virginia.

“We are grateful that the Supreme Court of Virginia has once again affirmed the right of Episcopalians to worship in their spiritual home at The Falls Church Episcopal,” said Bishop Shannon S. Johnston of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. “This decision ensures that Episcopalians will have a home for years to come in Falls Church, and frees all of us, on both sides of this issue, to preach the Gospel and teach the faith unencumbered by this dispute.”

The court also held that the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church have a trust interest in the property, in addition to the contractual and proprietary interests already found by the lower court. This validates the “Dennis Canon” in Virginia, and thus provides greater certainty regarding church property ownership.

“The Falls Church Episcopal has continued to grow and thrive throughout this difficult time,” said Edward W. Jones, secretary of the diocese and chief of staff. “This ruling brings closure to a long but worthwhile struggle, and will allow the members of the Episcopal congregation to put the issue behind them and to focus their full energies on the ministries of the church. We hope that The Falls Church Anglican will join us in recognizing this decision as a final chapter in the property dispute.”

Johnston added, “We pray that all those who have found spiritual sustenance at The Falls Church Episcopal and our other churches will continue to move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and love.”

Nearly a year ago, the diocese settled the conflict over property with six other congregations. The Falls Church Episcopal and the other continuing and newly formed congregations — including Church of the Epiphany, Herndon; St. Margaret’s, Woodbridge; St. Paul’s, Haymarket; and St. Stephen’s, Heathsville — spent the past year growing their membership, supporting outreach and strengthening their church communities. Members of the diocese have joined them in these efforts through Dayspring, a diocesan-wide initiative that is bringing a spirit of vision and rebirth to our shared ministries as a church.

New Church of England Report is same old stuff: no marriage for same sex couples

The Church of England's view of the long-established meaning of marriage has been outlined in a new report - "Men and Women in Marriage" - published this week by the Church's Faith and Order Commission.

The publication (attached) includes a foreword from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York which commends the document for study. The report sets out the continued importance and rationale for the Church's understanding of marriage as reflected in the 1,000 marriage services conducted by the Church of England every week.

The document also seeks to provide "a more positive background on how Christians have understood and valued marriage" arguing that marriage "continues to provide the best context for the raising of children".

The report takes as its starting point the Church's basic premise that "marriage is a creation ordinance, a gift of God in creation and means of His grace".  The document also seeks to enlarge the understanding of marriage defined as "a faithful, committed, permanent and legally sanctioned relationship between a man and a woman, central to the stability and health of human society."

Recognising the ongoing debate around marriage in society the report acknowledges that marriage "like most important undertakings in life, can be lived more successfully or less successfully. Mistakes are made, by couples, by their friends and relatives, and sometime by pastors and institutions of the church… Lack of clear understanding of marriage can only multiply disappointments and frustrations. Public discussion at this juncture needs a clear view of why Christians believe and act in relation to marriage as they do and this document is offered as a resource for that."

The Bishop of Coventry Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Chair of the Commission said: "The Church has a long track record in conducting and supporting marriage, drawing from the deep wells of wisdom which inform centuries of shared religious and cultural understandings of marriage. There is a danger in the current debate of picking apart the institution of marriage which is part of the social fabric of human society.

"This report seeks to celebrate all that is good about marriage in its ability to bring together biological difference and the generative power of marriage to bring forth life. It also recognises that there are forms of human relationships which fall short of marriage in the form the God has given us.

"This report also underlines the role of the Church in seeking to provide care, prayer and compassion for those who for whatever reason are unable to receive the gift of marriage in the form that the Church has understood it and continues to uphold. Whilst it is right that priests and church communities continue to seek to provide and devise pastoral care accommodation for those in such situations, the document is clear that public forms of blessing belong to marriage alone."

ends

Notes
The Faith and Order Commission (FOAC) advises the House of Bishops, the General Synod and the Council for Christian Unity on ecclesiological and ecumenical matters and acts as a theological resource for the Church of England as a whole.  More information can be found at http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/work-other-churches/ccu/faith-and-order-commission.aspx

Members of the Commission
Bishops
The Right Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry (Chairman)
The Rt Revd Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Ebbsfleet
The Right Revd Dr Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge
The Right Revd Dr Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester
The Right Revd Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester.

Clergy
The Revd Canon Professor Loveday Alexander
The Revd Dr Cally (Carolyn) Hammond
The Revd Dr David Hilborn
The Revd Canon Dr Charlotte Methuen
The Revd Dr Jeremy Morris
The Revd Dr John Muddiman
The Revd Professor Oliver O'Donovan
The Revd Thomas Seville CR

Laity
Dr Mike Higton
Dr Cathy Ross

Secretary of the CommissionDr Martin Davie

A draft report from the Commission was considered by the House of Bishops of the Church of England in December 2012 who authorised the Standing committee of the House to approve the final text and authorise publication. The Standing Committee approved the report in March 2013.

New study suggests that same-sex parents are judged more harshly than heterosexual parents

BINGHAMTON, N.Y.,---- Is there a double standard for gay parents? A new study published this month by a Binghamton University research team suggests that gay parents are being judged more harshly than straight parents.

Members of Binghamton University's Interdisciplinary Research Group for the Study of Sexuality and Gender conducted a study of people's reactions to the parenting behaviors of gay and straight parents. Their results showed a clear pattern of negative reactions from study participants towards a gay couple engaging in exactly the same negative parenting behaviors as a straight couple.

Research Associate Professor Sean Massey and Instructor Ann Merriwether of Binghamton, and Justin Garcia from The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, published the results of their study earlier this month in the Journal of GLBT Family Studies.

"We noted that when parents displayed favorable parenting behaviors like comforting an upset child, gay and straight parents were judged in a similar, positive manner," said Massey.  "However, if parents got frustrated - raised their voice or slapped their child on the hand, the gay parents were judged more negatively than the straight parents."

Massey says this marked difference in the study groups' reactions is significant.  While no parent is perfect, the researchers believe that holding gay parents to a different standard adds additional stress to the already stressful job of parenthood. It can also negatively affect their chances of adopting or becoming foster parents.

"We feel that it is very important for social workers and adoption counselors to be made aware of the effects of modern anti-gay prejudices and they need to educate themselves and develop policies that help protect against these potential biases," said Massey.

There is a serious shortage of people stepping up to foster or adopt the hundreds of thousands of children who are in the system waiting to find a new foster family or adopted family.  The gay community is a resource for many of these children but this study indicates that if judged more harshly than their straight counterparts, gay parents are at a disadvantage.

"Raising awareness of these attitudes is a critical step in being able to utilize a potentially valuable pool of prospective adoptive and foster parents," said Massey, "but it is also vital to improving the day to day lives of our families and our children."

On Thursday, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement supporting same-sex marriage and reiterating its support for the adoption of children by gay families.  The researchers say that with strong support for gay marriage coming from the medical and psychological professional organizations, and with increasing support among the general public (58% of whom now support same-sex marriage), the next frontier for gay rights may be same-sex parenting.  Massey says although overt and hostile prejudice may indeed be diminishing, modern, subtle prejudice continues to affect the lives of lesbians, gay men, and their families.

"Prejudicial judgments, however subtle, that serve to limit access of these families to potential support and resources, ultimately harm today's youths," says Massey.

The researchers strongly encourage the continued exploration of the effect this subtle prejudice has on the wellbeing of same-sex families and how best to work toward its elimination.

The study was published in this month's issue of the Journal of GLBT Family Studies and can be viewed through the journal's website:www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1550428X.2013.765257.

Requiescat in Pace: The Right Rev. Coleman McGehee, Jr.

From the Walking With Integrity blog:

Integrity regrets to share news of the death of the Right Rev. H. Coleman McGehee,Jr., Eighth Bishop of Michigan, on March 14th. He was 89. Bishop McGehee was a very staunch supporter of Integrity's work beginning at a time when it was not politically expedient, but this was very much in keeping with a lifetime commitment to human rights.

"In 1973, when I with trepidation and hope approached the newly-installed Bishop McGehee about supporting the entire spectrum of sexual orientations, he immediately put me at ease by saying, 'Absolutely!' He spoke out passionately for all of us for 40 years, as a fearless advocate for justice and peace," said Jim Toy, Secretary of Integrity's Proud PartnerOASIS TBLG Outreach Ministry of the Diocese of Michigan.

Bishop McGehee served in the U.S. Army in World War II and then in the Army Corps of Engineers, achieving the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1947 and then obtained a law degree from the University of Richmond, serving for a time as the Deputy Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Ministry called, however. In 1957, he graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and took the rectorship of Immanuel-on-the-Hill in Alexandria, ministering to the late President & Betty Ford.

In May of 1973, McGehee was elected bishop in Michigan, assuming -- after two years as coadjuter -- the seat occupied by Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrichsince 1948. His ministry was marked by a strong commitment to human rights. He ordained the diocese's first female priest in 1977 and lived up to his promise to the LGBT community. 

"He was a man of great courage and faith. He was among the first to ordain women as deacons and priests and he bravely ordained gay people to the priesthood when it was a highly controversial thing to do," the Rev. Rod Reinhart told PrideSource. "Bishop McGehee ordained me in 1984 and I was one of the very first openly gay people to be ordained in the Episcopal Church."

In 1980, Bishop McGehee, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbletonand the late Rabbi Richard Hertz founded the Michigan Human Rights Coalition, a grassroots organization which brought a religious context to numerous social issues including apartheid. He also was an advid supporter of organized labor and held peace liturgies on Good Friday outside the gates of the Williams missile factory.

Jim Toy, who feels blessed to have served as crucifer at one of those services, points out that Bishop McGehee was not without humor:

"At Bishop McGehee's last diocesan convention before his retirement, he fervently and often exhorted the tellers to finish their ballot-counting speedily.

Finally one of the clergy requested 'a point of privilege.' 

'You may speak, Canon Chau!' 

'Bishop, is this really your last Convention as bishop?'

'Yes, I have said so!' 

'Then I would respectfully urge that at next year's Convention you serve as a teller!'

The ensuing merriment was general and vociferous--a wild gale of laughter. . . ."

Bishop McGehee participated in the life of church and social justice, long into his retirement.  Two years ago, he began experiencing symptoms of dementia and withdrew from public life, but remained physically active until he fell ill several months ago.  He was remembered at a Requiem Eucharist on Saturday, March 23rd at St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit, and a memorialis available on the diocesan web site.

May our Brother Coleman's memory be blessed and may his family be supported in their grief with our prayers of thanksgiving for his life.

"Lead him onward, upward to the holy place,
where thy saints made perfect gaze upon thy face."

 - With special thanks to Jim Toy for contributing to this article. Jim is a stalwart in the LGBT movement in Michigan, having been instrumental in the founding and life of numerous social action, political advocacy and educational groups.  The Jim Toy Community Center in Ann Arbor is named for him. 

--
Posted By Christian Paolino to Walking With Integrity at 3/21/2013 11:58:00 PM 

FROM THE DRAGON'S MOUTH: Ten True Stories that Unveil the Real China

FROM THE DRAGON'S MOUTH: Ten True Stories that Unveil the Real China  is an exquisitely intimate look into theChina of the 21st century as seen through the eyes of its people. This is the first time that a book of this type combines the voices of everyday Chinese people from so many different layers of society, including:

• The indulgent world of Ferraris and night clubs of the fu er dai, the second generation of Chinese millionaires
• A peasant-turned-prostitute to pay for her son's upscale education
• A woman who married her gay friend to escape from social pressure, like an estimated 16 million other women, called tongqi ("wife of a homosexual")
• A venerable Kung Fu master unable to train outdoors because of the hazardous pollution
• The daughter of two Communist Party officials getting rich coaching Chinese entrepreneurs in the ways of Capitalism
• And more...

"It wasn't easy to gain their trust; some had never spoken to a foreigner before. The key was to interview them myself in Mandarin, because most refused to allow another Chinese person to hear their stories, either out of fear or embarrassment," says Fuentes. "After months of conversation, long walks, and one instance of police persecution, they all talked to me openly about their goals, dreams and frustrations."

China is a land many believe they know from movies portraying majestic shots of the countryside, news stories decrying Communist activities through the years, or glimpses of fans in the crowds of rare events like the Olympics. This book shatters those stereotypes.

"Ana interviewed hundreds of people from all rungs of the socioeconomic ladder, who gave her the keys to better understanding where China was coming from, and where it was heading," says Erik Riesenberg, Associate Publisher of C.A. Press. "She made some wonderful friendships, and witnessed some repulsive injustices."

C.A. Press/Penguin Group | 9780142427385 | $16.95 | Trade Paperback

WATCH: Alfredo's Fire Sheds Light on Sexuality, Scandal, and Suppression in the Vatican

A gay writer burns himself alive at the Vatican. He wanted his sacrifice to change the world. Can it make a difference?

Our project was recently featured in The Advocate & The Huffington Post! 

Per l'italiano vedi sotto. For Italian scroll below.

THEY NEED YOUR HELP: Pope Francis says equal rights for gays is "a destructive pretension against the plan of God...a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."

REWARD UPDATE: All new $25+ backers will receive a copy of our award-winning film "Under Our Skin." Pledge now!

About the film

ALFREDO'S FIRE is a powerful and timely documentary that tells the untold story of Alfredo Ormando, a gay Italian writer who set himself on fire at the Vatican to protest the Church's condemnation of homosexuality. 

Shaped by Alfredo's own writings, as well as rich cinematography, and provocative interviews with his family, friends and intimate companions, the film reveals Alfredo's longing and struggle to reconcile his faith and sexuality.

More details: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openeyepictures/alfredos-fire 

Teaching Tolerance Guide Provides Educators with Steps for Creating Welcoming Schools for LGBT Students

Guide Includes Advice for Combating Anti-LGBT Bullying

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Though lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students are harassed at twice the rate of other students, a few purposeful steps can help transform a school into a safer place for all students, according to a guide released today by the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance project.

Best Practices: Creating an LGBT-inclusive School Climate offers advice ranging from ensuring that a school's anti-bullying policy explicitly prohibits anti-LGBT bullying to recognizing staff members who promote an inclusive school environment.

The guide – available at www.tolerance.org – also offers advice regarding dress codes, gay-straight alliances and ensuring that LGBT students are not excluded from school events.

"This best practices guide is about creating schools where all students feel safe and supported," Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello said. "Every student has a right to attend school without harassment. This guide shows how a few steps can make all the difference."

Studies have shown that creating a supportive environment for LGBT students improves educational outcomes for all students. A recent Human Rights Campaign survey also underscored how the failure to create an inclusive environment harms LGBT students. These students reported being harassed at school – verbally and physically – at twice the rate of non-LGBT youth.

LGBT students also cited trouble at school/bullying as one of the most difficult problems they currently face, according to the survey. They reported hearing negative messages about being LGBT most often at school and from peers. LGBT students also were more likely to report that they do not have an adult they can talk to about personal problems.

The best practices guide is being released a year after the SPLC reached a settlement agreement to address rampant anti-LGBT bullying in Minnesota's largest school district, the Anoka-Hennepin School District. A key issue in the SPLC lawsuit was a district policy that required staff to be neutral on issues relating to sexual orientation – hampering effective responses to bullying. That policy is no longer in effect.

"As the Anoka-Hennepin case demonstrates, educators and school policies set the tone," said Sam Wolfe, an SPLC attorney representing the students in the case. "Through relatively simple measures, whether you're a superintendent, teacher or serve lunches, you can make a real difference toward a better school climate."

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Alabama with offices in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. For more information, see www.splcenter.org.

Orthodox Jewish activist tries to sway Supreme Court

An Orthodox Jewish activist has filed papers requesting the nation's highest court strike down all the same-sex marriage laws in the U.S. as a violation of the Constitution's protection of free speech and association.

By arguing argues that the act of forming and maintaining a marriage is essentially an act of free speech warranting Constitutional protection, Dovid Z. Schwartz, thinks he is "[t]urning the tables on advocates for same-sex marriage.

"The brief argues that marriage declares to the world that a man and a woman have dedicated themselves to each other, and sends the message, with public announcements and wedding rings, that the married partners are not available to others," Schwartz said in a news release.

So we are left to wonder: if getting married is an expression of free speech and if all men and women have equal rights under the law, then how can gay and lesbian Americans be barred from exercising their right of free speech by getting married? Unless, of course, Schwartz means that his right of freely expressing his religion can be imposed on others to prevent them for exercising their rights. Which is not an argument I would think a religious person would want to make unless they were able to gut the Constitution and win the next few elections.

Gay African-American Youth Face Unique Challenges Coming Out to Families

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Coming out to one’s family can be stressful, but gay black males face a unique set of personal, familial and social challenges.

“Parents and youths alike worry that gay men cannot meet the rigid expectations of exaggerated masculinity maintained by their families and communities,” says Michael C. LaSala, director of the Master of Social Work program at Rutgers University School of Social Work. LaSala, an associate professor, recently completed an exploratory study of African American gay youth and their families from urban neighborhoods in New York City and Philadelphia.

The study, “African American Gay Youth and Their Families: Redefining Masculinity, Coping with Racism and Homophobia,” was published in the Journal of GLBT Family Studies and co-authored with Damien T. Frierson from Howard University. The research focused on gay black males, ages 19 to 25, and their families.

Gay black males struggle to cope with intersecting oppressions – racism, homophobia and sexism, says LaSala. They carry a “special stigma” that some straight black males may find particularly disturbing. “The world already sees you as less than others. By being gay, you’re further hurting the image of African-American men,” LaSala says was a common reaction among the male relatives of the black youth when they learned that their relative was gay.

“On a clinical level, targeted interventions, especially those that include the young man’s biological father or a father figure, can assist families to cope with what for many is an unexpected and troubling reality,” says LaSala, who works with gay youths and their families in private practice and outlines interventions for families in transition.

Child-rearing for the parents of a black son can be especially daunting, given the increased risk for poverty, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses and imprisonment faced by African- American men. Black parents often feel guilty when they learn their child is gay and many African-American gay youths before coming out distance themselves from their parents. In his study, LaSala observed that many parents found that having a confidante with whom they could share emotions, helped them realize that their sons’ sexual orientation was not caused by faulty parenting, and they risked losing their child if they could not accept his being gay.

Black parents may be less likely than whites to “mourn the loss of a normal life” for their gay sons, perhaps understanding that a normal life was less of a sure thing, according to LaSala, author of Coming Out, Coming Home: Helping Families Adjust to a Gay or Lesbian Child (Columbia University Press, 2010).

“I found that parents of African-American gay youth said, ‘You have everything going against you as a black man. This is one more strike against you.’ Conversely, parents of white gay youth stated, ‘You have everything going for you – and now this!’” LaSala said.

Gender role concerns are a repetitive theme for young African-American men and their families. One young man in the study described the African-American community as very strict when it comes to homosexuality. “It’s a masculinity thing,” he said.

LaSala points to existing research that calls upon black men to be hypermasculine, a trait characterized by the absence of overt emotions and the appearance of vulnerability, as well as a readiness to have sex at any time. When gay blacks realize they don’t fit the stereotype, they often develop a sense of alienation, loneliness and anxiety, not knowing where they fit in.

LaSala recalls the words of a black single mother in the study who worried about gender expectations in her community: “You are told to be a man … and being a man does not mean you sleep with other men,” she said. “Being a man means you have a woman and you procreate and continue the family name.”

LaSala calls for more research to identify the needs of this understudied population. Education is key to resolving the clash between homosexuality and male gender role expectations in the black community. Social workers, therapists and community leaders need to better understand the multiple pressures on gay black youth to help families build stronger bonds.

The involvement of a young gay man’s biological father or a father figure can be crucial to relationship building. Too many family therapists and social workers accept the mother’s explanation that their son’s father “isn’t in the picture,” which is too easy a way out, according to LaSala. “Family discussions can lead to expanded and more flexible views of masculinity, so clinicians must engage the youth’s father if at all possible,” he says. “A father is an essential part of the child’s history and can add a lot to the discussion.”

In today's age of plenty there is no reason why anyone should go without, IF ….

The Bishops of Hereford and Derby today challenge governments, companies and citizens to take the necessary steps to reduce the millions currently going hungry, as a coalition 100 organisations come together to make 2013 the year in which we make dramatic progress towards ending global hunger - IF.

Speaking as the Lead Bishop on rural issues, the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, said: "Today, the world produces enough food to feed all seven billion of its inhabitants, but nearly one billion still go without. The growing levels of food insecurity in an age of plenty challenge the Gospel message of abundant life."

Bishop Anthony continues: "As a Church we are called upon both to feed the hungry and to expose and eradicate the causes of debilitating hunger. This year's IF campaign provides us all with an opportunity to cast a spotlight on our broken food system and to press governments, companies and citizens to take the necessary steps to reduce the millions currently going hungry."

In a podcast released to mark the launch of the IF campaign, the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, who will be speaking at the campaign launch, said: "IF is a very small word but it can have enormous consequences and this campaign asks all of us to use the word 'IF' for ourselves - our spending, our resources, our praying, our hopes for a better world in 2013."

Bishop Alastair continues: "It's a national campaign, an international campaign, drawing people together - IF. IF we can join together then many more people can be lifted out of hunger. Let all of us hear that word: "If you wanted to, you could help me more." And let each of our hearts reflect on that word: "If we tried harder we could make a huge difference." And that's what this year of 2013 is all about and what our endeavours are about as we join with others for this campaign."

Notes

The Church of England is a member of ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF. This is a national campaign involving 100 organisations that have come together to make 2013 the year in which we make dramatic progress towards ending global hunger. For more about the campaign and its launch please visit the campaign website at www.enoughfoodif.org
The Church of England will be using the UK Presidency of the G8 to focus on two key concerns: hunger and sexual violence in conflict. To learn more about the Church's work in both these areas please visit the following website: http://www.churchofengland.org/our-views/international-affairs/the-uk-g8.aspx
The Bishop of Derby's podcast can be found at the following link: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/bishopofderbyifcampaign.mp3

Presiding Bishop to chair special meeting of Diocese of South Carolina

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will convene and chair a special meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina Convention on January 26 at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori will celebrate and preach at Eucharist at 9:30 am. The special meeting follows; the slated agenda items include the election of the Rt. Rev. Charles Glenn vonRosenberg as Provisional Bishop and then the election of clergy and lay people to serve in diocesan leadership positions.

Among the invited guests to the special convention are the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies; Angela Daniel of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and President of Province IV; Bishop John C. Buchanan, Diocese of Quincy; Bishop Dabney Smith, Diocese of Southwest Florida; Bishop Andrew Waldo, Diocese of Upper South Carolina; and Bishop George D. Young, III, Diocese of East Tennessee

The special meeting was called following the announcement by the former bishop and some diocesan elected leaders that they were no longer affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The Presiding Bishop accepted the former bishop’s renunciation on December 5, 2012.

The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina is composed of 24 counties in eastern South Carolina. Currently, nearly two dozen parishes and missions and six worship communities have indicated their intent on remaining with the Episcopal Church; others are expected to attend the special convention.

Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina: http://www.episcopaldioceseofsc.org/
Grace Episcopal Church http://www.gracechurchcharleston.org/

San Francisco Board of Supervisors to Move Forward on Proposal to Rename San Francisco International Airport, "San Francisco Harvey Milk International.

(San Francisco) - Equality California has learned that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is planning to move forward with a proposal to rename San Francisco International Airport to Harvey Milk International Airport, after the former supervisor who was the first proudly gay man elected to office in America.

"Renaming the airport for Harvey Milk would be an international symbol of hope and freedom, and an enormous educational opportunity," said John O'Connor, Equality California executive director. "People from around the world -- including countries where being gay is still against the law -- will learn about Milk's great legacy. This is a chance to lead the world and affect positive change on a global scale."

"Having San Francisco name its international airport after my uncle is a wonderful and fitting tribute to Harvey and the spirit of inclusion that embodies the core values he taught and lived by: respect for human rights; equality; collaboration; understanding; and a world view," said Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew, board member of EQCA, and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation. "Led by SF Supervisor David Campos, this action sends a powerful message across the globe; that San Francisco continues to be a beacon of light moving us all forward, leading new generations of Americans and foreign visitors alike ever closer to equality for all.”

San Francisco International Airport serves over 40 million passengers a year, with 59 airlines serving 105 airports throughout the world. This would be the first airport in the world named after a proudly LGBT person.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past 13 years, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators and advocates to successfully sponsor more than 90 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

Church rejoicing over Christmas Twitter campaign

The Church of England today released figures for its Christmas Twitter campaign #ChristmasStartsWithChrist.

Launched in November 2012, congregations and clergy in the 12,500 parishes of the Church of England were encouraged to get out their smartphones and livetweet the joy and meaning of Christmas in a series of 140 character messages to the 10 million people who make up the UK's 'Twitterati'.
Churches from across the country took part in the campaign, tweeting their sermons using the hashtag "#ChristmasStartsWithChrist" to share their Christmas messages. Figures revealed today show almost 9,000 tweets sent using the hashtags "#ChristmasStartsWithChrist" and "#CSWC" with peak traffic occurring on Christmas Day at around 11am (GMT) and a smaller peak on Christmas Eve at 11pm (GMT).
Taken over a 24 hour period from 11pm on Christmas Eve to 11am on Christmas Day these figures represent an average of 370 tweets per hour, 6 per minute or 1 every 10 seconds.
The cumulative reach for the 8,878 tweets using the hashtags was 9.6 million twitter users.
In addition to sermons from the UK, tweets were also sent from services in churches as far away as Brisbane, South India and Basel.
Led by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams (@lambethpalace), the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu (@johnsentamu) and Archbishop Designate Justin Welby (@bishopofdurham), churches took to the twittersphere to communicate the good news of Christ coming into the world.
Revd Arun Arora (@RevArun), Director of Communications at the Archbishops' Council, said: "This was the first time the Church of England has adopted Twitter for a Christmas initiative and we are delighted with the results.
"Christmas is one of those times when the Church is at its best, proclaiming with joy and song the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. To see so many people communicating the joy of Christmas with a shared message of #ChristmasStartsWithChrist was a cause for rejoicing.
"We are already looking at using twitter for our Lent campaign, LoveLifeLiveLent (@LiveLent).
"This was a real team effort with Archbishops and Bishops, clergy and laity, on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, all joining in to proclaim the good news. As with the rest of society, there are many social media enthusiasts in our pews and it is each of them we have to thank for making this happen."

Former Gay and Lesbian Service Members Subject to Discriminatory Policy to Receive Full Separation Pay

ACLU Challenged Policy that Cut Separation Pay in Half for Service Members Discharged for Their Sexual Orientation

WASHINGTON – Former service members who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging a Defense Department policy that cuts in half the separation pay of those who have been honorably discharged for “homosexuality” will receive their full pay after a settlement announced today. 

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico had filed a class action lawsuit against the policy, which was not part of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute and so was not changed when that law was repealed. 

“There was absolutely no need to subject these service members to a double dose of discrimination by removing them from the armed forces in the first place, and then denying them this small benefit to ease the transition to civilian life,” said Laura Schauer Ives, managing attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico. “This decision represents a long-delayed justice to these veterans.” 

The ACLU’s class action lawsuit represented approximately 181 honorably discharged veterans who had their separation pay cut in half because of the discriminatory policy. The total amount of separation pay withheld from those veterans is approximately $2.4 million. The lead plaintiff in the case is Richard Collins, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force who served for nine years until he was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Collins was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico before being seen by a co-worker exchanging a kiss with his boyfriend in their car while stopped at an intersection off-base.

“This means so much to those of us who dedicated ourselves to the military, only to be forced out against our will for being who we are,” said Collins. “We gave all we had to our country, and just wanted the same dignity and respect for our service as any other veterans.”

Under the settlement, all service members covered by the lawsuit will be contacted by the government and notified that they are eligible to opt in to the settlement and receive 100 percent of the separation pay that they would have received had they been discharged for any other honorable reason. Federal law entitles service members to separation pay if they have been involuntarily and honorably discharged from the military after completing at least six years of service in order to help ease their transition to civilian life.

The settlement covers service members who were discharged on or after November 10, 2004, which is as far back as the settlement could extend under the applicable statute of limitations.

“It makes no sense to continue to penalize service members who were discharged under a discriminatory statute that has already been repealed,” said Joshua Block, staff attorney for the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. “The amount of the pay owed to these veterans is small by military standards, but is hugely significant in acknowledging their service to their country.”

More information on the case is available at: http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/collins-v-united-states-class-action-military-separation-pay