Some of what Integrity is doing at General Convention.
I have been asked what Integrity, the ministry for and with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (glbt) people is doing at Convention. Integrity has been very busy behind the scenes in many areas, along with various other groups in the church interested in Gospel imperative, equality and justice issues, such as the Chicago Consultation and many others. But it is in liturgy that Integrity really sparkles, sometimes quite literally.
On Thursday morning we had the Community Eucharist with the Archbishop of Canterbury offering a meditation to the congregation of well over 1,000. Integrity had ordered and given away or sold 500 t-shirts in bright red, bright blue and bright lime green with: “HERE I AM. SEND ME! I am a witness to God’s inclusive love.” Throughout the congregation this witness of Integrity’s message of inclusion and equality shone like so many jewels scattered throughout the convention hall for the service.
After the service most of us gathered outside for a photo as we sang, “We are marching in the light of God” and “Jesus loves me this I know.”
That was one witness.
Another witness was Friday night for the General Convention Integrity Eucharist. This has grown to become one of the most popular services of Convention. People show up to see who is there, to be seen and to worship God in some of the best and most creative and moving liturgies of Convention. This year was not exception with several hundred worshippers filling the ballroom. (It may have been the largest Integrity Eucharist since we were not limited to the seating of a church building.)
For the first time since I have been attending General Convention (4 times) we did not do it in a church. A Hilton Hotel ballroom provided the space and that opened up some creativity in setting the space: in a semi-circle around a large platform/chancel.
The liturgy was a mix of Episcopal “Enriching our Worship” as well as other various elements from other sources. There was a very definite Latino and African flavor to the music and the Gospel was read in Spanish. It was much more free flowing and contemporary than other Integrity services I have been to.
The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire presided. The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, retired Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts and first female bishop in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion preached. Her sermon was a wonderful blend of church issues and the Scriptural text of Cornelius and Paul found in Acts. It was also a call to the church to heed Gospel imperatives of inclusion, justice and love. She more than touched on issues of marriages and blessings between same sex couples as well as the need to move beyond the moratorium on the consecration of gay/lesbian bishops. As to the consecration of a gay or lesbian bishop, she noted that if you do not want a gay or lesbian bishop, then do not ordain one to be a transitional deacon; when you are ordained you are open to all three orders. Her sermon was interrupted several times by applause and loud “AMEN!” She was relentless in her call to the church to be honest, to be truthful and to include all her children into the folds of the sacramental life of the church. All the sacraments for all the baptized.
The sermon may have been a highlight for many, but there were three very moving other moments I will take away with me from this convention.
The first was the welcome we gave to retired Presiding Bishop Edmund Browning. It was Bishop Browning who first articulated for us: “There will be no outcasts in this church.” It was Presiding Bishop Browning that helped show me that I would be welcomed in the Episcopal Church. That message rang true for so many of us for so long. Interestingly, it was in Anaheim in General Convention 1985 that he was elected Presiding Bishop.
The second moment for me was in the Prayers for the Ministry of All the Baptized. We had earlier renewed our Baptismal Covenant. (Which Bishop Harris declared is the “only covenant” we need.”) Later we prayed for various groups and they were each invited to come and stand in the large space around the platform/chancel. These groups were: those who have fought against “injustice” to glbt persons; all married/blessed glbt couples and their families; and finally glbt priests and deacons. We more than filled the space around the platform/chancel.
Finally was the conclusion when Bishop Gene invited all glbt clergy to join him around the altar. We could not all fit. There were so many of us. Many of us stood on the floor for there was no room for us in the chancel. Then the entire congregation processed out – more or less – to singing a very lively version of “We are marching in the light God, we are marching in the light of God.” It was a marvelous moment of holy chaos with singing, clapping, dancing, processing, and celebrating our lives in the light of God.
This was the most unusual and most lively of the four Integrity Eucharist Services I have attended. It was quite the night. I know many of the Utah Deputation were there although I only spoke briefly with Bishop Carolyn at the reception before the service.
The Rev’d Lee ShawRector, St. Stephen’s
I have been asked what Integrity, the ministry for and with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (glbt) people is doing at Convention. Integrity has been very busy behind the scenes in many areas, along with various other groups in the church interested in Gospel imperative, equality and justice issues, such as the Chicago Consultation and many others. But it is in liturgy that Integrity really sparkles, sometimes quite literally.
On Thursday morning we had the Community Eucharist with the Archbishop of Canterbury offering a meditation to the congregation of well over 1,000. Integrity had ordered and given away or sold 500 t-shirts in bright red, bright blue and bright lime green with: “HERE I AM. SEND ME! I am a witness to God’s inclusive love.” Throughout the congregation this witness of Integrity’s message of inclusion and equality shone like so many jewels scattered throughout the convention hall for the service.
After the service most of us gathered outside for a photo as we sang, “We are marching in the light of God” and “Jesus loves me this I know.”
That was one witness.
Another witness was Friday night for the General Convention Integrity Eucharist. This has grown to become one of the most popular services of Convention. People show up to see who is there, to be seen and to worship God in some of the best and most creative and moving liturgies of Convention. This year was not exception with several hundred worshippers filling the ballroom. (It may have been the largest Integrity Eucharist since we were not limited to the seating of a church building.)
For the first time since I have been attending General Convention (4 times) we did not do it in a church. A Hilton Hotel ballroom provided the space and that opened up some creativity in setting the space: in a semi-circle around a large platform/chancel.
The liturgy was a mix of Episcopal “Enriching our Worship” as well as other various elements from other sources. There was a very definite Latino and African flavor to the music and the Gospel was read in Spanish. It was much more free flowing and contemporary than other Integrity services I have been to.
The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire presided. The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, retired Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts and first female bishop in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion preached. Her sermon was a wonderful blend of church issues and the Scriptural text of Cornelius and Paul found in Acts. It was also a call to the church to heed Gospel imperatives of inclusion, justice and love. She more than touched on issues of marriages and blessings between same sex couples as well as the need to move beyond the moratorium on the consecration of gay/lesbian bishops. As to the consecration of a gay or lesbian bishop, she noted that if you do not want a gay or lesbian bishop, then do not ordain one to be a transitional deacon; when you are ordained you are open to all three orders. Her sermon was interrupted several times by applause and loud “AMEN!” She was relentless in her call to the church to be honest, to be truthful and to include all her children into the folds of the sacramental life of the church. All the sacraments for all the baptized.
The sermon may have been a highlight for many, but there were three very moving other moments I will take away with me from this convention.
The first was the welcome we gave to retired Presiding Bishop Edmund Browning. It was Bishop Browning who first articulated for us: “There will be no outcasts in this church.” It was Presiding Bishop Browning that helped show me that I would be welcomed in the Episcopal Church. That message rang true for so many of us for so long. Interestingly, it was in Anaheim in General Convention 1985 that he was elected Presiding Bishop.
The second moment for me was in the Prayers for the Ministry of All the Baptized. We had earlier renewed our Baptismal Covenant. (Which Bishop Harris declared is the “only covenant” we need.”) Later we prayed for various groups and they were each invited to come and stand in the large space around the platform/chancel. These groups were: those who have fought against “injustice” to glbt persons; all married/blessed glbt couples and their families; and finally glbt priests and deacons. We more than filled the space around the platform/chancel.
Finally was the conclusion when Bishop Gene invited all glbt clergy to join him around the altar. We could not all fit. There were so many of us. Many of us stood on the floor for there was no room for us in the chancel. Then the entire congregation processed out – more or less – to singing a very lively version of “We are marching in the light God, we are marching in the light of God.” It was a marvelous moment of holy chaos with singing, clapping, dancing, processing, and celebrating our lives in the light of God.
This was the most unusual and most lively of the four Integrity Eucharist Services I have attended. It was quite the night. I know many of the Utah Deputation were there although I only spoke briefly with Bishop Carolyn at the reception before the service.
The Rev’d Lee ShawRector, St. Stephen’s
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Thanks for sharing, Lee. I am so glad that there are such positive things happening at the convention. Well stated!
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for the excellent report/sharing. Must be that old Mormon training in giving testimony (not!). Thank you for sharing not only your observations of what happened, but your feelings about them. I look forward to talking with you when you return to Utah.
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteI found your account deeply moving and I cannot wait to listen to the sermons ... joy to you.