Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 12:51:00 EDT From: Song Weaver Subject: Episcopal Dioceses Back Gay Rights CONTACT: Kim Byham Office: (212) 468-6136 Home: (201) 868-2485 Fax: (212) 468-6272 _FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE_ SPECIAL TO: The Lesbian and Gay Press HEADLINE: Episcopal Dioceses Back Gay Rights February 7, 1994 At annual conventions, held January 29-30 and February 4-5, 1994 respectively, the Episcopal Dioceses of Washington (DC) and Newark (NJ) overwhelmingly reaffirmed their support of the rights of lesbians and gay men both within the Episcopal Church and in society at large and called on the national convention of the Episcopal Church meeting this summer in Indianapolis to do likewise. Both dioceses have ordained openly lesbian and gay clergy and both diocesan bishops have been threatened with censure because of their support. The Washington Diocese addressed two issues, calling on the National Episcopal Church to guarantee non-discrimination based on sexual orientation in the "life, worship and governance of this church," and asking the church to support the addition of sexual orientation to the 1964 Civil Rights Act or similar federal legislation. Both resolutions were put forward by Integrity/Washington and passed easily. Washington's Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Ronald H. Haines, was much in the news in 1991 when he ordained the openly lesbian Elizabeth Carl to the priesthood. A move to censure him at the national convention of the Episcopal Church that summer in Phoenix was defeated. The Diocese of Newark has long been the most "gay-friendly" diocese in the country. Their outspoken bishop, the Rt. Rev. John S. Spong, is the author of numerous books which attack anti- gay attitudes in the church and he has on several occasions ordained openly gay and lesbian candidates to the priesthood. The northern New Jersey diocese first expressed its support of lesbians and gays in 1987 when a diocesan Task Force On Changing Patterns of Sexuality and Family Life presented a 15-page report. The report spoke about pre- and post-married heterosexual persons and about homosexual persons. On the latter it said: Ideally, homosexual couples would find within the community of the congregation the same recognition and affirmation which nurtures and sustains heterosexual couples in their relationship, including, where appropriate, liturgies which recognize and bless such relationships. In 1989, the Diocese established an official ministry with lesbian and gay persons, The Oasis, which has proved immensely helpful to the lesgay community and has brought numerous persons into or back into the Episcopal Church. The Newark convention approved six pro-lesgay resolutions. One, on the federal civil rights act, was identical to that passed in Washington. Another resolution called on the national church to establish educational curricula for youth and their parents to assist them in understanding and accepting their own and their children's sexual orientation. The most controversial of the resolutions to be sent to the national convention was one calling for "proposed supplementary rites and ceremonies for celebrating the commitment of gay and lesbian couples who are members of this church to life together." Essentially the identical resolution was approved in November by the conventions of both the dioceses of Massachusetts and of Rhode Island. It is hoped that a groundswell of support from various parts of the country will lead to national approval of such rites. In the Episcopal Church, major changes such as the ordination of women or changes in the liturgy are considered by several General Conventions before final approval. These resolutions will at least assure that the issue of same-sex commitment ceremonies will begin the count-down to approval at the 1994 convention. The three above resolutions in Newark were all submitted by Integrity members. The diocese's Task Force on Children and Youth proposed two additional resolutions, one calling for diocesan youth and camp programs "to enable teenagers of every sexual orientation to interact with positive teen and adult gay and lesbian role models," and the other calling on the diocese to establish a "family life education curriculum ... to include, among others, ... same sex relationships, AIDS." Both were overwhelmingly approved. Of the six pro-gay resolutions, the one which was most narrowly approved called on all parishes in the diocese which sponsor or house Boy Scout troops to dialogue with them about the Scouts' anti-gay positions. Although no specific mandates were given, parishes were required to file a report of such meetings by June 1. This resolution was submitted by a special committee of the Diocesan Council. Louie Crew, professor at Rutgers University and Integrity's national founder in 1974, was co-author of some of the resolutions and was a member of the convention's committee on resolutions. He said of the convention's actions, "What a marvelous 20th Anniversary present, both for Integrity and for Ernie and me." Dr. Crew and Ernest Clay celebrated the 20th anniversary of their commitment ceremony on February 2, 1994. -30-