About Us

Integrity Alabama is a dynamic ministry serving as witness of God’s inclusive love to the Episcopal Church and the LGBT community in Alabama since 1993.

 

Integrity Alabama 2008-2009 Year in Review

A  significant  accomplishment  of  Integrity Alabama's 2008 activities was

surpassing all Integrity chapters’ fund-raising for the Canterbury Campaign,

making Integrity USA's presence at the Lambeth Conference in the summer

of  2008  possible.   The  progressive  presence  has  been  described  as

"sophisticated"  and "just right." Our strategy was to show by our presence

—and our witness that LGBT Anglicans not only exist but can live holy lives

and  serve God just as well as anyone else. IntegrityUSA was joined in this

by progressive Anglicans from five other provinces, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya,

South Africa and Canada and from about 15 different organizations—including

our  close allies in Changing Attitude, Integrity Canada, Integrity Uganda,

the  Chicago  Consultation,  and other members of the Claiming the Blessing

coalition.   Our  chapter’s effort was coordinated by founding member Frank

Romanowicz and made possible by Integrity Alabama members and our friends.

 

In October, 2008, we elected new officers and board members:

     Jane Pierce, St. Luke’s-Birmingham, Convener;

     James Wilson, Epiphany-Leeds, Co-Convener;

     Ben Porter, Canterbury Chapel-Tuscaloosa, Treasurer;

     Sally Smith, St. Andrew’s-Montevallo - Secretary;

     The Rev’d Deacon Mary Vandagriff, St. Albans – Birmingham, Chaplain;

     Alan Woellhart, St. Mary’s-Jasper; and,

     Stanley Rich, St. Andrew’s-Birmingham.

 

In  addition  to  our  home  parish  interactions  and personal ministries, Integrity  Alabama,  its  members  and  friends  facilitated, partnered and participated  in many events representing one or more aspect of our mission and ministry:

 

Our  Eighth  Annual  Winter  Blanket  Drive  Service Project celebrated its

biggest  ingathering  to  date.   This  ministry has now provided more than

3,300  blankets! Because of the strong 2008 support of this annual project,

we  were  able  to  distribute  763  blankets  to Birmingham-area homeless,

working poor and people affected by AIDS this year.

 

In January  2009,  we  celebrated  the  Feast  of  St.  Aelred  with St. Andrews in  Birmingham, hosting a celebratory dinner afterward for more  than  100 guests.  Guest homilist was the Rt. Rev John McKee Sloan, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Alabama

 

Popular  theater  socials were held in Birmingham.  Throughout the year, we provided  networking and referral assistance to LGBT persons in need.  Our festive Christmas

Party took place in Montgomery at the beautiful Lattice Inn.

 

Regular  meetings  with  speakers,  theological reflection and worship were held  at  St.  Andrew's  in  Birmingham.  Speakers for 2008 were Danny Upton, Executive Director of Equality Alabama, speaking on the intersection of  the  gospel  and  social  justice, and Mark LaGory, head of the Sociology department at UAB, spoke to us about spiritual gifts.  Speakers for 2009 were Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd and Tommie Lee Watkins, Jr., author of  Living Out Loud.  

 

A  number  of  informational  packages and flyers were distributed from our diocesan convention booth in Montgomery in February, 2009 and Central Alabama Pride in June, 2009.

 

Our  former  convener  Brad LaMonte  (2002-2004) served on Integrity USA’s board  of  directors  as the Southeast Regional Vice President. This region includes Alabama,  Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina,  South  Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

 

Integrity  was  present for the annual Jonathan Myrick Daniels and the martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage in Hayneville in August (see pictures below).

 

In  September, 2009, several members are actively involved in the 7th annual Day

of  Equality  sponsored  by  Equality  Alabama.  A  number of informational packages and flyers are being distributed from Integrity's information booth.

 

Throughout the year, Integrity members have been active leaders and participants in many  like-minded social justice ministries, worship and education communities and secular organizations. A partial listing includes Greater Birmingham Ministries, Equality Alabama,  the Alabama ACLU, Cursillo, 55th Place, PFLAG, Reconciling Ministries, Education for

Ministry (EFM), and HeartSong.

 

In  2008 James Wilson, our newly elected Co-convener, coordinated significant upgrades  and updates to our web site.  Please visit often:  http://www.integrityusa.org/alabama