[ RELIGION SATURDAY ]
Local Episcopal
Church to lead
meeting for gays
A group of local Episcopal Church members will sponsor an inaugural meeting tomorrow of a group to minister to homosexual people and their families.
The 5 p.m. meeting of Integrity/Hawaii will begin with a Holy Eucharist service at MacCray Episcopal Campus Center at 2324 Metcalf St. The service and a simple meal to follow are open to any interested persons, said the Rev. George Lee.
Integrity USA is a national network of ministry to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the Episcopal Church. The local group will be sponsored by St. Clement's Episcopal Church. It will meet on the fourth Sunday of every month.
Issues concerning homosexuality engaged the denomination at its national General Convention earlier this month in Minneapolis. U.S. Episcopalians adopted resolutions confirming ordination of a gay bishop in New Hampshire and recognizing that blessing of same-sex unions may be accepted in some dioceses. But many conservative congregations threaten to split from the U.S. church over the issues.
Formation of the Integrity chapter has been in the works for months, said Lee, retired pastor of St. Clement's, who will serve as its adviser. "Of our organizing group, only one person is gay."
"We see ourselves doing information, doing education and adopting service projects that affect those who are gay and lesbian," Lee said. "I expect we would have some kind of a confidential counseling program to help those who want to talk through their sexual orientation."
The Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick will officiate at the Eucharist tomorrow, and Episcopal clergy will preside at future services, he said.
"This diocese is open and welcoming," Lee said, and "St. Clement's has a history of ministry to gay and lesbian people." In the 1970s the Makiki parish shared church space with the Metropolitan Church, a nondenominational Christian church organized to serve homosexuals.
Lee said the Hawaii Diocese affirmed its acceptance of homosexual members at its 1999 convention. Delegates passed a resolution affirming that:
>> "Homosexuality and heterosexuality, as orientations, are morally neutral."
>> "All gays and lesbians are children of God, and those who are in faithful and committed relationships are to be supported."
Lee said: "That has been the social policy of our diocese. It encouraged us to form an Integrity chapter."
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