Thousands celebrate across Bay Area as
Proposition 8 overturned
Another generation said, “Blessed are,” when they translated Jesus’
great words to those walking the path of peace and reconciliation. Some
today have translated “Blessed are” as “Congratulations!" Bishop Marc
Andrus told the rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. "So, today Jesus says to you, “Congratulations, you
who have been mourning! You are being comforted!”
Bishop Marc spoke during a jubilant rally prompted by Chief U.S. Judge
Vaughn Walker decision declaring Proposition 8 violated the US
Constitution.
Bishop Marc's city hall talk followed an earlier statement on Judge
Walker's ruling that "once
again that all Californian families share equal protection under the law."
Across the state, Episcopalians
joined thousands of Californians at celebratory rallies and prayer
vigils Aug. 4 after a federal judge overturned as unconstitutional
Proposition 8,
the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage. California State law
does not currently permit civil marriage of same gender couples, so we offer these liturgies and resources for blessing of same gender couples
here.
Led by leaders of faith communities from across the Bay
Area, hundreds of joyous marched down Market
Street from the Castro to the steps of San Francisco City Hall. Bishop
Marc Andrus spoke in support of allowing same gender couples to enter
into a civil marriage. Bay area faith leasers also marked Judge
Walker's ruling with an Interfaith Prayer Service Aug. 10.
Check
out these Prop 8 resources for
responding to Judge Walker's decision as a person or community of faith.
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Interfaith Prop 8 Service draws
Muslims, Jews & Christians More than 100 people gathered to pray, sing and
hear a series of speakers during an interfaith service supporting
marriage equality Aug. 10 in the synagogue of San Francisco's
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav. Three members of our clergy - the Revs.
Jay Johnson, Tommy Dillon and Thomas C. Jackson – joined clergy from
Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith traditions during the service.
The Coalition of
Welcoming Congregations, a program of the
Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in
Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion convened
the gathering. During the service Rev. Johnson, addressed the question:
How can we facilitate healing between the
LGBTQ community and faith communities?
New Web Site Helps Same Gender Couples Plan Blessings
@ Bay Area Episcopal
Churches
We've just
launched a new Marriage and Blessing web site to help same
gender couples prepare for a blessing of their
relationship in a church within the
Episcopal
Diocese of California. While developed to meet the needs of same gender
couples, this information can also help heterosexual couples. Our information comes reflects a 2008 Report
titled Inclusive Liturgy
Resources for Marriage, Holy Union and Blessing.
On the new
Marriage and Blessing site you can:
check out
readings
from scripture for your blessing;
find resources
to help you plan
and prepare for your big day; and
learn about blessings and
marriage in our church.
DioCal AIDS Walk team –
help us turn gold
On July 18, an excited team of close to 100 persons from throughout the Diocese of California showed thousands at the AIDS Walk San Francisco that the Episcopal Church walks with those who are affected daily by HIV/AIDS. As team leader, I am quite proud of the effort this team has made on behalf of our Diocese. At this point, we are ranked #19 out of all the teams by rank of funds raised.
This is significant! If we can remain in the top 20, the DioCal team will automatically become a Gold Team at next year's Walk.
As a Gold Team, the name of the Diocese of California will be out in front for all to see that we are truly concerned about acting on this one of our Millenium Development Goals.
As a leader in this Diocese, I plead with you to support the effort of the your team. It's not too late to make a donation –– the deadline is Friday, August 13 at 5:00 p.m.
It's easy to make an online donation. Simply go to the DioCal team's webpage here and on the lower, right-hand side is a list of team members; click on "General Donation." A donation of $100 or more would ensure success. Your team will appreciate knowing that you also appreciated the team's effort at the AIDS Walk San Francisco.
Looking for a welcoming Church?
First, of course, you need a church. If you are
already a member of a Bay Area Episcopal Church, skip this paragraph. If
not, you can find a church home among these Oasis Parishes - they are LGBT friendly Episcopal churches across the Bay Area.
An interfaith directory of LGBT-welcoming faith communities and congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area is
also maintained by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies
Coalition of Welcoming Congregations.
A national interdenominational map of welcoming and affirming
churches is offered online by
Believe OutLoud.
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"Max" Niedzwiecki Appointed
Integrity's Executive Director
A longstanding social
justice advocate and builder of national network organizations Max
Niedzwiecki is the new
Executive director of
Integrity, the organization dedicated to the full inclusion of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Episcopal
Church.
More
Claiming the Blessing Works Toward
2012 General Convention
Claiming the Blessing (CTB) facilitates communication and
coordination among groups working to extend all of the sacraments to all
those baptized in the Episcopal Church. CTB's current priorities center
on winning approval of key resolutions at the 2012 General Convention of
the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. Integrity, TransEpiscopal, the
Episcopal Women's Caucus and Oasis California are some of CTB's members.
This update covers news from the Aug. 6-7, 2010 CTB meeting in Ft.
Worth, Texas. The photo on above shows those attending the meeting (Photo
copyright
2010 Cynthia
Black,
by
Gayland Pool).
Shown in back row< left to right: Jim White, John Clinton Bradley,
Louise Brooks, Susan Russell. Katie Sherrod, Cynthia
Black and Tom Jackson; front row, Kim
Byham.
Rev. Canon Dr. Jane Alison Shaw is Eighth Dean of Grace Cathedral
A scholar whose interests include the Enlightenment,
modern religious history, and issues in gender and sexuality has
been named as the eight dean of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral.
Nominated by the Rt. Rev. Marc
Handley
Andrus,
the Rev. Canon Dr.
Jane Alison Shaw was appointed by by unanimous roll call vote of Grace Cathedral’s
Board of Trustees. She has served as
consultant to the Lesbian
and Gay Christian Movement.
MORE
Believe Out Loud Power Summit
Set Oct. 9-11 in Orlando, FL
Mark your calendar for October 9-11, 2010, [Columbus Day weekend] to
attend the Believe Out Loud Power Summit in Orlando! This will be a
trans-denominational gathering with over 500 participants. This
event will advanced training. Click
here for more info! |
Sacred Cocktails:
Monday @ 6:30 P.M.
Lookout Bar, 16th & Market, SF CA
Finding church a bit un-welcoming these days? Come hang out and discuss
religion and spirituality from an affirmative, pro-LGBTQ perspective.
We're Christian and we're open to all. Each week features a guest
facilitator, followed by time to hang out and chat about religion,
spirituality, and sexuality.
A Ministry sponsored by St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and the San Francisco
Night Ministry.
More
info here.
Work starts on liturgies for blessing
same gender couples
The Episcopal Church's
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music
has started developing theological and liturgical resources for
blessing same-sex relationships
The 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church directed
the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to
collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for
blessing same-sex relationships. The Commission is eager to engage
the wider church in theological conversation as one among many
sources that will inform our work.
You can join in
their conversation at the commission's new blog
Resources for Same-Sex Blessings.
Read
more about the same-sex blessings project.
 Oasis is proud to support
Believe OutLoud,
a national campaign to "churches
live out this Christian principle by becoming fully inclusive of all
people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."
One of
Believe OutLoud's projects is a
national map showing
welcoming and accepting churches of many denominations. All of
our Oasis parishes at the time of the start of this project are
included as Believe OutLoud churches.
CALIFORNIA FAITH FOR EQUALITY (CFE) HAILS JUDGE'S DECISION TO LIFT
STAY ON SAME SEX MARRIAGES
Today, justice won out," said Samuel M. Chu, Executive
Director of California Faith for Equality. "Today's decision by
US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker to overturn Prop 8 and
lift the stay on same gender marriages in the state of
California on August 18th is a giant step toward equality."CFE is committed to let freedom and wedding bells ring! Our
membership of over 6000 clergy are poised to perform marriages
for loving gay and lesbian couples throughout the state. As
people of faith, we believe these are blessed and holy
relationships and we are thrilled that they can now have legally
recognized marriages in the state of California.
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