Integrity at General Synod 2010
The Anglican Church of Canada will be meeting in General Synod in Halifax NS from 3-11 June 2010. This is the triennial national meeting of the Anglican Church of Canada, and again the role and presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Anglicans in the life of the church will be discussed.
Integrity Canada, the LGBT justice movement within the Anglican Church, has had a presence at General Synod since 1983, and will be in Halifax to talk to Synod members from across the country, and to work for full inclusion - All the Sacraments, for all the baptized.
Some of our members are sharing their experience at General Synod on our new blog http://blog.integritycanada.org ... please have read there, add your greetings, comments, and questions. .
Welcome to Integrity Canada!
Integrity Canada is a national network of local Integrity chapters, members, and friends working toward the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the life and ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada. Learn more about us here.
The tabs to the left will help you explore some helpful resources: Sexual Orientation 101, personal testimonies of LGBT Christians, study aids for your biblical and theological reflection, plus contact information for Integrity chapters across the country. Below you'll find recent Integrity Canada news and links to our newsletter, Integrator.
For more information, or if you'd like to speak to someone about a personal concern, please contact us. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you're welcome here!
Integrity Canada news . . .
Sep.16, 2009 - The Moratorium Weakens. Southeast Florida has joined the growing number of Anglican jurisdictions offering a blessing rite for same-sex couples. In Canada, church authorities in seven jurisdictions (Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, APCI, and New Westminster) have indicated their unwillingness to support a moratorium on same-sex blessings as requested by the Canadian House of Bishops in 2004. Primate Fred Hiltz has commented that maintaining the moratorium places significant burdens on pastoral care and personal conscience across the Church. Integrity Canada continues its call for an end to the moratorium.
Sep.1, 2009 - "I believe that we've done our work of discernment." So said Bishop Michael Bird of Niagara when asked by the Anglican Journal why he authorized the use of the Rite of Blessing of Civil Marriage by gay and lesbian couples despite the moratorium. Niagara's discernment process included several theological essays, adding to the mountain of supportive resources created by Canadian Anglicans on the subject over the past 30 years.
Aug.28, 2009 - "Ex-gay Therapy" for Evangelical Counselors. A new report from the American Psychological Association restates the consensus opinion among mental health professionals that "efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm." But in a departure from past statements, this report goes on to advise religiously conservative counselors to help their clients reconcile their religious and sexual identities. Dr. David G. Myers, who has written extensively about faith and sexual orientation, sees increasing common ground between social scientists and religious conservatives on this issue. Dr. Myers is co-author of "What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage." Integrity Canada wrote about the dangers of "ex-gay therapy" in 2006.
Aug.3, 2008- Integrity at the Lambeth Conference.
Several members of Integrity Canada were on the 'fringe' of the historic
conference of Anglican bishops from July 18 to August 3, 2008. See Canadians
at Canterbury for their report.
Our national newsletter, Integrator …
Current Issue: August 2009
Blessing
Rite Approved in Niagara
Ron Chaplin
Coming
Home with Hope: An Insider's Reflection on ACC- 14
Suzanne Lawson
Anglican
Consultative Council 14: An outsider's view
Colin Coward
As
the Episcopal Church Moves, Canterbury Cowers
Ron Chaplin
The
View from Above
Michelle Crawford-Bewley
"Walk
with Integrity" in Vancouver
Steve Schuh
Why
I March
William Danaher
Getting
Respect in Fredericton: Integrity New Brunswick at Synod
David Watts
Integrity
NB Symposium
David Watts
Toronto
Synod Discusses Same-Sex Blessings
Peter Tovell
Angry
Anglicans
Colin Coward
A
Primer on Anglican Church Structure and "Local Option"
Steve Schuh
Integrator Archives. Lots more good stuff to read.