INTEGRITY

GAY EPISCOPAL FORUM

c Integrity 1976   ISSN: 0095-2184

Vol. 2  No. 3  January 1976

 

INTEGRITY:  GAY EPISCOPAL FORUM is the official newsletter of Integrity, Inc., a nonprofit religious, charitable, educational, and literary organization, with offices at 701 Orange Street, No. 6, Fort Valley, GA 31030.  Signed articles represent the views of the contributors.  The editors reserve the right to edit out all sexist language.  (c) 1976 by Integrity, Inc.  10 issues/$10, including membership.  Add $1 for all subscriptions that require plain envelopes.  Couple rates are $13 for one newsletter.  Copies of earlier numbers, when available, are $2.50.  Volume 1 is out of print.

 

Editor      Louie Crew, Ph.D.

Contributing Editor     The Rev. Michael G. Koonsman

Contributing Editor     Robert Ragland, M.D.

 

National President      Jim Wickliff

National Vice President Dan Fee

National Secretary-Treasurer  Bob Diehm

 

Trustees:   Ernest Clay, Louie Crew, Julie Peterson,

                  The Rev. Richard Younge

 

Consultants:      The Rev. Robert W. Cromey and The Rev. Norman Pittenger, S.T.D.

 

A GAY LESSON

 

Then the just man shall take his stand, full of assurance, to confront those who oppressed him and made light of all his sufferings; at the sight of him there will be terror and confusion, and they will be beside themselves to see him so unexpectedly safe home.  Filled with remorse, groaning and gasping for breath, they will say among themselves:  "Was not this the man who was once our butt, a target for our contempt?  Fools that we were, we held his way of life to be mad­ness and his end dishonorable.  To think that he is now counted one of the sons of God and assigned a place of his own among God's people!  How far we strayed from the road of truth!  The lamp of justice never gave us light, the sun never rose upon us."

 

      From WISDOM OF SOLOMON 5: 1-6, as used for his text by The Rev. Robert Herrick at the INTEGRITY Mass at the Gay Academic Union, Columbia Univer­sity, 29th November 1975.

 

IN KANSAS CITY

 

Kansas City.  Bishop Arthur A. Vogel of the Diocese of West Missouri has reported to INTEGRITY that the resolution before his diocese to forbid INTEGRITY's having access to any Church buildings has been quashed.  (See account of the resolution in FORUM, Vol. 2, no. 2, for December 1975, page 1.)  In fact, by a parliamen­tary procedure the resolution never came to the floor of the convention, meeting on 23rd November.

 

MARYLAND

 

Maryland.  A workshop "on homophiles" is being planned for the Clergy Association of the Diocese of Maryland.

 

Two styles are being considered:  first, a discus­sion of personal feelings about homosexuality (fantasies, fears, attractions, and repulsions) by the clergy attending; and second, a session of information-giving (bibliography, perhaps some statis­tics, history of legal and moral issues, etc.).

 

Those who would like to participate or to make any kinds of suggestions are urged to contact the planner, The Rev. John J. Lobell, 10523 Tolling Clock Way, Columbia, MD 21044.

 

"AS IT IS GENERALLY HELD"

 

NYC.  The Very Rev. Roland Foster, Dean of General Theological Seminary, has informed INTEGRITY founder Dr. Louie Crew: "Unfortunately I cannot encourage you and your male spouse in your plans to apply to General Seminary for admission."

 

Dr. Crew had written to Dean Foster that he would like to consider a post-doctoral period in the seminary with a view to becoming a more informed layperson, with no intention of seeking Orders in the Church.  He felt that it might also be in the Church's best inte­rest for persons involved in the Gay movement within the Church to have a more thorough theological train­ing.  Dr. Crew already has undergraduate minors in New Testament Greek and in Biblical literature.

 

Dean Foster explained that while requests for finan­cial aid would be a deterrent, as would the shortage of apartments, "I would be less than honest with you if I did not add a third.  I am well aware of and deeply regret the discrimination and prejudice that homosexuals frequently suffer from in this country.  However, General Seminary is a seminary of the Episcopal Church.  Even if a student pays his full fees here, he or she is heavily subsidized by the Semi­nary and we are dependent upon the Episcopal Church for that support.  Furthermore, we are committed to uphold­ing the broad doctrine and discipline of the Church as it is generally held.  Therefore, I must add as the further reason that I do not think General Seminary is prepared at this time to admit a homosexual couple into regular residence with you as a full-time matriculated student."  Dr. Crew thanked Dean Foster for his candor.

 

INTEGRITY & A CHURCH COMMISSION

 

Atlanta.  The Joint Commission on the Church in Human Affairs of the Episcopal Church meeting here 28-30 Janu­ary will hear INTEGRITY witnesses as the Commission begins its new function for the House of Bishops, namely that of keeping open the doors of communication with Gays in the Church.  The Commission was so delegated to meet this responsibility by the House meeting in Portland in September (See FORUM, Vol. 2, no. 1, November 1975, P. 1).

 

The Rt. Rev. George M. Murray, Bishop of Central Gulf Coast and chairperson of the Commission, personally urged INTEGRITY presence "to give us some initial input and help us get started in our work."

 

Bishop Murray was formerly Dr. Crew's personal bishop in the 60's when Dr. Crew was a student at the Universi­ty of Alabama and Bishop Murray was Bishop of Alabama.

 

Bishop Murray further stated:  "The Presiding Bishop realizes that we will not be able to make any definitive report by the April 1st deadline for Joint Commission reports for next year's General Convention, but we do hope to establish useful communications and make some kind of helpful preliminary report and recommendations."

 

The Commission replaces the Task Force on Homophiles and the Ministry as INTEGRITY's major channel to the House.

 

INTEGRITY president Jim Wickliff, founder Louie Crew, and member The Rev. Robert Herrick will be among those attending.

 

BARRETT & JONES RESIGN

 

San Francisco.  INTEGRITY co-president Ellen Barrett and INTEGRITY vice co-president Kate Jones have submitted their joint resignations as officers, to the trustees and other officers of INTEGRITY, effective immediately.

 

Both explained that their move was motivated by other personal responsibilities, and they expressed kind and full support of the other officers of the organization.

 

Their contributions have been very important and they will be deeply missed.  Our prayers go with them in the new directions being charted.

 

GAY MAY BE WELCOME

 

Washington, D.C.--A United Methodist Church board has recommended that the denomination adopt a more open policy toward church membership for homosexuals. 

 

The denomination's Board of Church and Society proposed after a two and one half hour debate that the Methodist Social Principles Statement be revised to read:

 

"We welcome all persons regardless of sexual orientation into the fellowship and membership" of the church.

 

The would replace the wording:  "We do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching," which was adopted in 1972 at the denomination's last General Conference.

 

During the same meeting this week, the 90-member board retained in the Social Principles Statement the admonition, "We do not recommend marriage between two people of the same sex."  It also refused to accept a definition of families as including "couples of the same sex."

 

The proposals from the Board of Church and Society will be placed on the agenda for possible adoption at the denomination's General Conference in April.

 

                        UNITED METHODIST

 

EPISCOPAL CONVENTION SUPPORTS GAY MINISTRY

From The Empty Closet, No. 56 (Dec.75), 1.

 

The Rochester Episcopal Diocese Convent­ion voted November 8 to evaluate a budget for the Gay Ministry in the Genesee Valley.  The action was termed "historic" by several delegates present.

 

The Gay Ministry was established in 1973 by the Right Reverend Robert R. Spears, Bishop of the Rochester Epi­scopal Diocese, to direct the attention of the church to Gays within the diocese.  Spears picked the Reverend Walt Szymanski for the mission, but did not appropriate money for the assignment.  After two years of executing his part-time ministry Szymanski proposed ­resolution to provide funding by 1977 to as­sist and expand the minis­try to the gay Comm­unity.

 

Szymanski's original resolution was amen­ded by the Rev. Robert Page of Colgate Roches­ter Divinity School, to have the Diocesan Long Range Planning Committee and the Diocesan Council study the local Gay Ministry and then propose budget considerations for 1977.  Shortly after Szymanski accepted the 'friendly amendment,' the convention affirmed overwhelming support.

 

"It's the first time," says Szymanski, "that a diocesan body of the Catholic (Anglican Roman, Orthodox) tradition has voted so supportively for a gay ministry."  Each diocese has an annual convention whose decisions carry the highest authority in that Diocese.  The only other Anglican Diocese to consider such a proposal has been in Michigan, but the proposal was declined by the convention there.

 

Encouraged by the support for his ministry, Szymanski is confident that the 1976 convention will approve the budget proposal.  Describing the affirmative voice vote last month, Szymanski said:  "Once again, a large segment of the Rochester Church community has shown itself to be positive in taking affirmative action to support the cause of the local Gay Ministry."

 

GAYS IN THE WITNESS

 

Ambler, PA.  THE WITNESS, an independent Episcopal magazine edited by The Rt. Rev. Robert L. DeWitt, will feature several items on sexuality in its February issue, among them "Dilemma of the Gay ln the Church" by DIGNITY writer Roman Catholic Brian McNaught, with a brief rejoinder by FORUM editor Louie Crew.

 

Also to appear in the same issue is an article by INTEGRITY consultant The Rev. Robert W. Cromey, of San Francisco, who will be discussing "Sex and the Unmarried."

 

INTEGRITY INTERCESSIONS FOR JANUARY

 

Your prayers are urged this month for the following:

 

Our enemies, including Geoffrey, Elmore, Frank, that their fear being stirred in them to speak evil against us they may be troubled into the truth and seek joyful reconciliation;

 

Our friends, including those on the House of Bishops' Task Force on Homophiles and the Ministry, who for so many months labored patiently in the provinces in the task of Christian education, and including those who quietly silence the ill humor and abuse that makes unwholesome much of the nonGay talk about us, and including all who in whatever way witness to the importance of fearlessness and personal integrity;

 

Our chapters, that they may flourish as support communities for all of us and that they may witness boldly and clearly to nonGays in all dioceses across the land;

 

For all closeted sister and brothers, especially ...... that they may discover ways to enjoy the light, and that they may rejoice in the labors of those outside the closet to make the closet disappear;

 

For all twelve members of the Commission on the Church in Human Affairs, that they may have love and understanding; and for all others who need our prayers.  AMEN.

 

GAY CLERGY?

 

Detroit.  Although the Diocese of Michigan had a disappointing defeat of its proGay resolutions at its recent Convention [see FORUM. Vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1, 11], certain positive actions towards Gay persons will remain unaffected, most particularly, the consideration of Gays for ordination.

 

The Diocesan Commission on Ministry adopted on 3rd September the following statement:

 

"The Diocesan Commission on Ministry has as one of its responsibilities the duty of assisting the Bishop in his judgment on the emotional maturity and stabi­lity of persons seeking Holy Orders.

 

"The use that a person makes of his sexuality is one way in which he exhibits his responsibility and maturity in living with others.  In attempting to give its best judgment on the general maturity and stability of an applicant for Holy Orders the Commission on Ministry finds it essential to consider each person individually,

 

"Any applicant for Holy Orders presenting himself as a 'professed homosexual' will be reviewed by the Commission on Ministry as an individual person and not as a representative of a particular life-style,

 

"Because the manner in which a person handles his sexuality can lead to maturity and stability or to a destructive disruption of his own life and the lives of others, the Commission on Ministry must concern itself with the manner in which a candidate's sexual orientation finds its expression in his life."

 

NO SPIRITUAL FOOD ALLOWED!

 

NYC.  The INTEGRITY Mass at GAU occurred as scheduled on Saturday 29th November, with the Rev. Robert Herrick giving the homily and with the Rev. Michael Koonsman as chief celebrant.  Approximately 25-30 persons took part, sitting in the choir of the historic St. Paul's Church on Columbia's campus, where Bishop Pike was once wont to preach in his younger days.

 

The occasion of the INTEGRITY Mass had been fraught with difficulties, however.  The Columbia person in charge of chapel rentals first led INTEGRITY to believe that no space could appropriately be made available.

 

"We have only one small room available and it costs $80 and you can't have any food there!" insisted the spokesperson.

 

"But we only want to have a Eucharist...." Dr. Crew explained weeks ahead on the phone.

 

"What's that?" the spokesperson inquired.

 

"That's when we eat the flesh and drink the blood of our lord Jesus Christ...."

 

"But no food is allowed" the spokesperson insisted,

 

"I only mean wine and wafers," Dr. Crew explained.

 

"No food is NO FOOD!" the spokesperson replied.

 

"Do you have a stable?" Dr. Crew asked.

 

"This is Columbia University.  The horses are in Central Park!"   The spokesperson was obviously offended.

 

"I mean some space where you keep your motorized horses......"

 

Special thanks are due to The Rev. William Starr who came to the rescue and somehow effected a change of policy, securing our use of the nave for a small fee.  Fr. Starr is the Episcopal chaplain at Columbia.

 

THE TWILIGHT WORD OF THE HETEROSEXUAL

 

By Rachel Pollack

 

In this enlightened frank age we must all face the fact that like it or not, heterosexuals make up a sizeable por­tion of the population.  Since by their very nature heterosexuals are furtive and deceptive, no one can say for sure exactly how many there are, but psychiatric estimates run from five to twenty per cent in England and America, slightly higher in Europe.  We have no figures at all for the Orient, since inscrutability added to furtiveness makes it impossible to judge.

 

OUTWARDLY NORMAL

 

While many people naively think that hetero­sexuals are easily recognized, the reverse is very often the case, for in reality very few are the close-cropped snarling man or the simpering passive woman we see in the movies.  Many lead outwardly normal lives and thee gentle boy next door, and the tough competent girl down the street may have more than a passing interest in each other.

 

What then is heterosexuality?  Simply put, it is the inability to love your own sex and the subsequent turning for sexual release to the opposite sex.  Many hardened hetero­sexuals will attempt to turn it round and insist that heterosexuality is the ability to love the opposite sex.  But if this were true, it would have to be an ability that grew out of a complete homosexual fulfillment --for it stands to reason that you can't love some­thing different to yourself unless you can first love people the same as you.  And most heterosexuals are incapable of a true homo­sexual relationship.

 

STRANGE RITUALS

 

 

The claim that heterosexuality involves love falls apart when we examine the nature of heterosexual activities.  There are two forms of heterosexual union, the 'affair' and the 'marriage.'  In both the sexual activities themselves are mechanical, non-feeling, unrelated to the individual couple, and pre­scribed in advance according to the strange rituals of the heterosexual twilight world.  The man has certain things he is supposed to do in a certain order, and the woman likewise.  It is difficult for the healthy homo­sexual to grasp how alienating heterosexual 'love' really is, but perhaps we can glimpse it when we examine that curious artifact, the sex manual.  These are books, and the heterosexual world abounds with literally hundreds of them, that actually describe, step by step, the actions that heterosexuals are supposed to perform when they 'make love.'

 

It is hard to say whether the 'affair' or the 'marriage' is more artificial and restrictive.  In the first, the man and woman will meet, perhaps in the notorious 'cocktail bars' with their cold hushed atmosphere, so different from the lively gay bars most of us know.  Then they will 'chat,' a process which con­sists of talking inanely about any subject so long as they do not reveal any part of their personalities.  In fact, the entire 'affair' con­sists of projecting a false image, obtaining the prescribed release, and then breaking off relations.

 

SPECIAL HOTELS

 

When the proper time has elapsed the man and woman will go off to a special hotel maintained especially for heterosexual liaisons. There they will each do what their manual tells them and then say goodbye, priding themselves that they have never be­trayed any real emotion.  Perhaps they will meet again and repeat the process, perhaps not.

 

The 'marriage' is a much more bizarre form of practice and one which is far too complicated to describe here.  Briefly considered, it is an agreement between two heterosexuals to live together for the rest of their lives and never relate sexually to anyone but each other.  Though we might think such a strange arrangement might at least produce some degree of honesty, the opposite is often the case as the hetero­sexual compulsion to project totally false images becomes more and more obsessive over the years.

 

HORMONAL IMBALANCE

 

What causes a woman or a man to stray so far from normal development?  To date medical authorities have not developed any comprehensive theory.  While some doctors claim a hormonal imbalance, many psychiatrists consider it an over-identification with the mother or father or both.  One interesting theory claims that insecurity makes the woman want her vagina engorged or the man wants his penis sheathed.  Perhaps some engaged in their first heterosexual acts as a form of rebellion and then, guilt-ridden, felt they were trapped in the heterosexual world forever.

 

One thing is certain.  The problem will not go away by our pretending it does not exist.  Nor will making heterosexuality a crime deter those men and women from seeking each other out and arranging their secret liaisons.  We who are more fortunate must learn compassion for those who cannot help themselves, who do not choose to be this way (though many will exhibit a reverse stubborn pride).  If we do not close our eyes, if in fact we devote more extensive research into the whole range of human sexuality then perhaps we can eventually release the diverse sexual elements in all of us and restore these unfortunate people to society.

 

NOTE:  "The Twilight World of the Heterosexual" is reprinted from GAY NEWS (London), No. 77, with the permission of Denis Lemon, Editor.  No one holds the copyright.  It originally appeared in an uncopyrighted and now defunct underground paper called INK. Rachel Pollack was an American transvestite visiting England at the time.

 

editorial  Integrity in the Episcopal Church

by Dick Sheppard

 

(This article was written especi­ally for IN UNITY by Dick Sheppard, the convenor of Los Angeles Integrity and author of Elizabeth: The Life and Career of Elizabeth Taylor.  Doubleday, hardcover; Warner, paperback.)

 

      Special thanks are due to The Rev. Richard R. Mick­ley, ed. of IN UNITY for letting us reprint this item, and for using it himself in an important Gay ecumenical issue, available from MCC, 1046 South Hill St., LA, CA 90015.

 

The Universal Fellowship of MCC and our Roman brethren in DIG­NITY today stand as a powerful witness and rebuke to the tradi­tional homophobia of the institu­tional Church.  The situation in the Anglican Communion is at once easier and more difficult.  Easier because it was the Wolfenden Report in the 1950's in Britain which made consenting adult sex there no longer a matter of public morality and penalty.  In the very forefront of that successful fight were the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Moral Welfare Council of the Church of England.  In 1958 the Encyclical of the Lambeth Conference (of all Bishops of the Anglican Communion worldwide) contained a statement about family life with milestone implications.

 

"We believe that the procreation of children is not the sole purpose of Christian marriage," it stated.  "The Biblical revelation does not limit the function of sexuality and the family to the reproductive purpose."  Furthermore:  "Neither the Bible nor human experience supports such a view.  Where It has been held, the reason generally lay in the fear of the misuse of sexual relationship or in a false sense that there is, in any sexual relationship, an intrinsic evil.  Neither fear, nor a false sense of what is 'evil' is a helpful guide for humanity, in this or any other matter."

 

At last, one of the major com­munions in Christendom had dared to challenge the old Jewish concept (inherited by Christians) of procrea­tion as the be-all and end-all of sexuality, a dehumanizing concept which reduces people to the levels of so many pairs of animals rutting in the barnyard, and takes no account of the uniquely human propensity, given of God, for mutual mental and spiritual interrelationship apart from the purely physical.  Granted that the good Bishops at Lambeth were talking about marriage in a heterosexual context, once the door is open to expressions of sexuality which go beyond mere baby-making, the way is clear to seriously examine the validity of a variety of forms of sexual expression which can be as rich and meaningful as their source, which is Love Himself.

 

So the Gay Anglican's position is made easier by the willingness of the Church leadership to explore and re-examine (however slowly) entrenched beliefs and practices.  This openness extends to local levels where one U.S. bishop reportedly asks questions of admittedly-gay candidates for priesthood:  Are you effeminate? Are you promiscuous?  Are you predatory?  If the answers are all in the negative, then homosexuality per se is not seen as a bar to ordination.  I realize that these questions, and particularly the first, are enough to send some people in Gay Lib right up a wall.  I beg them to remember, however, that what we are talking about here is not the Elks nor the A.F.L.-C.I.O. but a portion of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church here on earth.  Standing on Christ's promise, the Church (in some form) expects to be here when all round it has crumbled into dust, and for that reason, bandwagon-jumping is sim­ply not in style.  Progress, however slow, is still progress.

 

Running counter to these encouraging signs is a vise of fear which effectively prevents most of the clergy from making any public moves, and a complacent smugness among much of even the enlight­ened laity which can be called the Old South "plantation" mentality, as in:  "Our darkies just luv us." That's what they think.  The deal seems to be:  Do what you do and be what you are but please don't mention it, that is, don't force me into any kind of honest encounter with the truth of your reality.

 

But even that is a step up from the 1950's, when the official posi­tion was widely-circulated in an odious little tract pamphlet called 'Letter to a Homosexual."  This gem is probably still polluting the atmo­sphere in rustic missions in Alaska, South Dakota or wherever.  It pro­claimed the good news that being homosexual is perfectly swell but be careful to do absolutely nothing about it.  The only solution was celibacy __ a rare, God-given voca­tion which for the vast majority of humankind is simply an invitation to slow sexual suicide.

 

The cruel dilemma facing Gays with a vocation to the Episcopal priesthood, in which the honest are rejected and the perjurers ordained, is an abomination which cries to Heaven St. Paul's ringing procla­mation __ "By the Grace of God, I am what I am" __ is thus perverted into "By the grace of man, I am what I am not." This must end "For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest," Our Lord tells us in Luke 8:17, "nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light."  Integrity is praying earnestly that such revelation can be done in the spirit of Love and within the House .

 

In keeping with our brothers and sisters across the spectrum of the entire gay community, Integrity is arming to confront the twin evils of oppression from without and the grievous lack of self-acceptance from within ("no femmes, fats, forties," et al.). Our founder Louie Crew addresses this latter concern in the imagery of Exodus.  "I assess our most urgent needs as Gay people to be the need to love one another.  Unquestionably we will require the Grace of God, but until we shed our own homophobia learned in the 'parlors of Pharaoh' and welcome instead rich Gay catholicity, Gay diversity, I see Gay people 'trapped in Egypt' forever.

 

So there is must consciousness-raising to do among ourselves and in the Church general.  There are people to minister to, causes to work for, laws to lobby for and -- above all -- Love to manifest to all people everywhere.

 

Fortunately for Gay People -- and for all people -- salvation comes not through Moses or Paul -- nor through the Holy Bible nor the Episcopal Church -- nor through any person (however powerful), nor any thing (however desirable) on earth.  Salvation lies in Jesus Christ and Him alone, that Blessed Living Lord who eternally promises that "the person who comes to me I will never turn away" (John 6:37).  If we believe that promise, and are very clear on who we are and to Whom we belong and what He commands us to go and do, we can then look with some confidence at the advice (in very free translation) which Gamaliel once gave to the Sanhedrin (acts 5:33-39).  "Don't mess around with these people.  If they are not of God, they will disappear.  But if they are of God, nothing you can do will stop them."

 

FORUM

 

I am sure all of us were hurt by the set-back in Michi­gan, but we should not overestimate the degree of it.  To me the vote was surprisingly close.  In this diocese [not Michigan] we would do well to muster five percent of the clergy or lay vote.

 

                              --Fr. David

 

I continue to admire your courage and I am sure only God can count the suicides you have prevented, the anguish relieved, the souls given hope.  I have of necessity had to take a weak sister stand.

 

                              Fr. Frank

 

Enclosed is my renewal form for INTEGRITY.  I have been receiving it as a gift subscription, and for a while I was seriously considering not renewing.

 

I believe some of the issues of the first volume have at times printed items of a particularly childish nature.  And the tendency to connect the gay cause with that of the ordination to the priesthood of women has only obscured the fundamental point that we are trying to concentrate on.

 

But as long as you print and give evidence of taking into consideration such perceptive articles as "One Complex Reaction" [Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 7], you will have my support.  I trust this will lead to a deeper exploration of important concerns.

 

                              --Fr. Bob

 

It intrigues me this business to come out of the clo­set or not.  "One Complex Reaction" says it all.  Lord, what a convoluted mess of thinking!  Yes, be "safe"; let the others bear the consequences, sniff your tim­orous nostrils forth at what might be happening out there, and, in the interim, masturbate on the mothballs.

                              --Don Bramkamp

 

The beauty of Dr. Ragland's correspondence with the bishop [Cerveny] is that never does Dr. Ragland respond with rancor, yet never does he cower.  It appears that it took this bishop over a year to be honest with his own biases.  If it takes this much work for a psychiatrist to try to see his bishop, what hope is there for us lesser mortals in the hierarchy?  Deliver us, O God, from bishops who are falsely pious, and send us shepherds who love their sheep.

 

                              --William Werc

 

[Editor's note:  One informant shared with us the fact that at his next clergy conference Bishop Cerveny quipped, "I understand I made their centerfold in the last issue."  Rest assured, he did not:  we do not publish obscenity, although we remain true to our offer to allow Bishop Cerveny space to comment on Gay people.  In fact, we urge him to do so.]

 

Perhaps you might better have entitled my corres­pondence with Bishop Cerveny "Sheep Searching for Other Sheep."  It seems better that we lead and minis­ter to ourselves, at least for now.

 

I had not been informed by local sources as to the action of the House of Bishops in Portland and was therefore glad to learn what had taken place from FORUM.  [Ed.'s note:  Very tellingly, almost all of the diocesan papers have ignored the action, though they received a full transcript through Diocesan Press Service, as we did.]  I hope that the House means to enlarge the dialogue and not just to continue it.  Further, I am of the opinion that there must be many grassroots dialogues going on at the same time if those of us now living are to see any meaningful results.  I haven't time to wait a generation, in which time my homophobic brethren and I will all die.

 

I wish that Bishop Allin had ended his response:  "It is not any easy way to walk, but we are committed to seeing THAT MEANINGFUL ACTION IS TAKEN EXPEDITIOUS­LY.

 

                              --Bob Ragland

 

 

I am a Catholic priest and a member of DIGNITY.  I also pay dues to INTEGRITY so that I can be on your mailing list.  I receive newsletters from many Gay groups, and I just had to write and say that your FORUM is the greatest!  I am straight and completely dedicated to the Gay community as a priest.  How I appreciate your exciting FORUM.

 

                              --The Rev. Leo Gallant

 

Enclosed is payment for our couple membership.  We have been receiving the newsletter for several months; our priest friend subscribed to it for us.

 

I am a Pueblo Indian and my lover is a Cherokee-­Choctaw Indian.  We work for my tribe and are both Episcopalians.  My own religion is the traditional religion of the Pueblo people.  Within this context the "gay scene" is quite different from the Christian context.  One of my uncles is the leader of the Indian religion here.

 

My lover and I have lived together for eight years.  We consecrated our relationship in the old mission church at the pueblo.  We blessed our relationship with cornmeal, the central symbol of Pueblo religion.

 

The prospects of full acceptance of gay people in the Episcopal Church are very close to us.  Neither of us attends Mass because of the subtle prejudice directed to us by the clergy and many of the people in our parish.  God speed you in your work.

 

                              --Happy Spirit

 

I went to the baths three weeks ago and ended up having a very gentle, loving time with a man of 25 some years.  After a certain amount of time for our bodies to get acquainted, we started talking and as soon as we had traded names and locales, I asked him if it would blow his mind if he knew he were ln the arms of a priest.  He chuckled and threw the question back at me, but asked if it would blow my mind if I knew I were in the arms of a seminarian.  Soon after that we were upstairs in the bar area of the baths engaging in a joyful, spirit-filled theological discussion and rejoicing in providential serendipity.  He had wanted to make contacts with the Gay religious community but was still a bit scared to.  So the mountain came to Mohammed.  He has joined INTEGRITY, and his wife came for the first (and joyful) time this last Wednesday.  The Holy Spirit is still the unchallenged queen of serendipity .

 

                              --Fr. Andrew

 

Nothing in [your] letter has caused me to revise any of my thoughts [see FORUM, December 1975, p. 5], nor does your ... letter cause me to believe there would be any fruitful result of our meeting together.

 

My conviction remains that homosexuality and member­ship in the Armed Forces are not compatible.  I am making this judgment on the basis of my knowledge of civil rights within the Armed Forces.

 

I am sorry you have been hurt by me and by the Church in general, but it seems the only way I could have avoided hurting you would have been to have violated my own conscience and convictions which are based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I see myself, not in the role of one who attacks, but rather as one who defends; in this case, as one who defends what you believe to be "apple pie virtues" but which I see as Christian virtues.

 

                              __The Rt. Rev. Clarence Hobgood

                              Bishop for the Armed Forces

 

The nourishment of INTEGRITY to an older gay, who is finally able to accept self fully and fully appreciate the benefit of understanding that one's membership in a minority brings, is indeed vast.  During the past months I am quite sure that my teaching is better; my service playing has never been more so.  My choir has never been bigger, and every Sunday is a glorious celebration.  No one but my priest knows "why" my inner peace, joy and happiness are so, but I thank God that he knows; what others would say and do, I cannot predict, but in my own way I am fulfilled and in turn bringing moments of inspiration and celebration through my music to many others.  It is unfortunate that I cannot be entirely open, but my life is still richer than ever before; and with the acceptance of self I find lt so much easier to accept others and their problems and concerns.

 

In my own quiet way I want to help, to extend my hand to anyone who needs.  Selecting hymns and spe­cial music for these final weeks of Pentecost, the message of the lessons is so clear, simple, direct, and challenging if we would but reach out in love.  If there is anyone to whom you would wish to give my name and address for communication purposes, do not hesitate.  If there are ways in which I could be of help to INTEGRITY while remaining anonymous to a degree, please let me know.

 

May INTEGRITY always possess just that and may all the positive "goods" be emphasized and not extensive dwelling on the "negatives."

 

Christ never promised an easy way.

 

                              --Harry

 

Enclosed is my subscription.

 

My pastor has shared his subscription with me and I find the FORUM to be outstanding.  I need it.

 

FORUM, NEW LIFE, folks such as the Rodehavers, you, and Dr. Pittenger are further cause of happiness in my having recently chosen to become an Episcopalian.  Thanks for your work.  Peace and prayers.

 

                              __Phil

 

I am happy to report that John Lenhardt and Ron Wesner have given the [Philadelphia] group excellent leadership and encouragement. Recent meetings have witnessed an attendance of up to twenty persons, who represent Gay Episcopalians and their friends.  They are meeting weekly, on Wednesdays, at St. Mary's, and one Wednesday per month, cook and serve the weekly parish dinner, attended by some fifty persons.

 

We look forward to hearing more news of the devel­opment of INTEGRITY nationally.

 

                              __Fr. John M. Scott

                              St. Mary's, Philadelphia

 

I shall answer at this time as much as I can of your inquiry....  

Certainly our understanding of homosexuality has increased.  The Office of Pastoral Development has been able to enlighten us considerably.  What a difference from our special program in Columbia, SC (1961) meeting of the House of Bishops and our Province V meeting in ­April [1975].                               

You may be assured that I shall make every attempt to give my support to you and any other person who is experiencing repression and recrimination in our society.  I shall hope to come to a greater understanding of this life style, for it is my duty to minister to all people....                                        

Yes, it has been under some discussion to appoint a ­diocesan commission to study the questions of human sexuality.  Some of us have just finished reading a paper by the Rev. Robert L. Treese prepared for the Consultation on Theology and the Homosexual, August 22-­24, 1966. 

 

As for providing meeting space for INTEGRITY in the diocese, that decision may have to wait for now and would, as far as the Cathedral is concerned, be contingent on our contractual arrangement with our verger, his hours, etc.                      

The question relative to ordaining a homosexual is not possible for me to answer at this time.  There are canonical roadblocks to this, quite apart from any per­sonal preferences and decisions....

 

                              The Rt. Rev. Chas Bennison

                              Bishop of Western Michigan

 

In your letter ... you ask a number of questions regarding my attitude toward Gays within the Episcopal Church.  I did support the resolution, passed by the House of Bishops, to keep open the dialogue with the Gay community, and I am prepared to explore ways in which this might be done.  We have already had members of that community appear before our Christian Social Relations Department and our Diocesan Council.  The Diocesan Council has recommended that the Departments of Christian Social Relations and Christian Education prepare materials for use in our parishes and in our Convocations.  Some two years ago the Department of Christian Social Relations produced a Conference on Human Sexuality, which explored the issues of the Gay community as well as others.  Tapes of this Conference may be obtained from the Rev. Canon Benedict Hanson, here at 24 Rector Street [Newark, NJ 07102].  A number of our clergy are already in dialogue with the Gay community, here in Northern New Jersey, and attend their meetings and social affairs....

 

                              The Rt. Rev. George E. Rath

                              Bishop of Newark

 

Thank you for your brave words about me in the recent FORUM.  It sure as hell is a wilderness up here -- but I am not the only voice in it.  There is, in fact, a tumult ... a Babel.

 

                              The Rev. Harry Cook, Editor

                              THE RECORD, Diocese of Michigan

 

PRAISE FOR MICHIGAN

 

Perhaps it is because I am in an optimistic mood or perhaps it is because I believe in the INTEGRITY and DIGNITY causes so much, but whatever the reason, I need to share with my brothers and sisters in Christ some of the good things which came out of the Diocese of Michi­gan Convention in October.  It was not all bad.  First and foremost, was the address of our beloved Bishop, Coleman McGehee [the portions of the address relating to Gays are reprinted elsewhere in this issue].  His was a rich combination of intelligent research and persuasive thinking on the need for openness on the subject of homosexuality.  Of all the issues he discussed, he gave more time and attention to the homosexuality issue than to any others.  One of the many great things about Coleman McGe­hee is that you always know right where he stands.  There can be no fuzziness concerning his position.

 

Next, it is important to stress that the negative vote at our convention was only a vote of non-acceptance of the basic resolutions.  It was in no sense a statement of the policy of this Diocese.  The Commission on Ministry's position [see p. 2] still stands.  Our Bishop's position is not changed by the Convention's decision to reject the basic resolutions.

 

Next, there is a strong cluster of persons in this Diocese who are very proud of our Diocese's willingness to examine, study, and discuss these issues.  The Convention does not deter us.  Indeed, it actually makes us want to work harder to further the cause of justice for all people, whatever their sexual orientation.

 

I know that progress is slow and that growth is slow.  I had moments of anger toward my fellow delegates because of what seemed to me to be a blinder type of mentality.  It was hard for me to listen to the roll call of so many no votes from people I admire and respect.  But, then I remember how long it took me to be able to face this question openly and honestly.  I remember how frightened I was when the subject was first discussed in my presence.  Remembering that, I take heart.  The process of education and persuasion will still go on.  Each time we help another human being to be more open about the subject, we have gained a victory.  That is happening all over the world.  In the midst of our disappointment that the vote in Michigan did not come out on the yes side, let's remember the cause we strive for is just -- the Lord is with us, and we will continue to strive for justice, peace, and love among all peoples.

 

                              The Rev. Lewis Wilson Towler

                              Christ Church

                              Bloomfield Hills, MI 48013

 

ON HOMOSEXUALITY

 

by Coleman McGehee, Jr., Bishop of Michigan

 

[Editor's note:  The following material was Part V of Bishop McGehee's address to the 142nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Michigan, in Detroit, on 24th Oct., 1975]

 

For almost five years, including the work of the special Diocesan Commission, we have been studying and debating the subject of homosexuality.  Later this afternoon we will try to reach some decision as to where we stand in the diocese with respect to this complex subject which touches and concerns the lives of so many of our members and of society ln general.  Whatever we decide, the debate and study will go on, perhaps not as intensely for us as a diocese but surely and increasingly throughout the Church and nation, for we are dealing with a mystery which cannot be explained away or determined by a simple vote either "yes" or "no" that will solve the human pride and arrogance and self-centeredness which have built up over the centuries concerning this subject.  I pray that somehow we as a diocese have made a contribution through our willingness to be vulnerable, even to be hurt, in order that we may share the hurt of others and touch the lives of others.  I hope you will not think me presumptuous when I say I feel that our endeavors have had our Lord's blessing.

 

I heard on tape recently one of the leading professors of homiletics in the United States suggest that preaching should be inductive rather than deductive, that is to say, the preacher or speaker should review how he arrived at his conclusions on a particular subject rather than to proclaim those conclusions, support them with arguments, and expect people to accept them.  Why not reproduce the process through which one goes in order to reach his conclusions and leave it to others to reach freely their own conclusions?  That is what I propose to do now and, although perhaps not for you, for me, much too briefly.

 

When I came to Michigan as your bishop coadjutor-elect in 1971, I had very little knowledge or experience with respect to the subject of homosexuality.  I recall that during one of my pre-election appearances I was asked the question what I thought about the homosexual issue.  I have the tape of that question-and-answer session which someone gave me and which I replayed recently, curious to know how I answered the question.  In substance what I said was that the Church should be open to a consideration of what it means to be homosexual and should exhibit an attitude of love to homosexual persons, but in my opinion homosexuality was somehow a perversion or abnormality and such persons needed our help.

 

The work of the Commission on Homosexuality was just beginning when I arrived in the diocese and I kept abreast of the deliberations of the Commission and the various work papers being considered by it.  I talked with different members of the Commission and began to read some of the books and articles recommended by the Commission.  Also, at that time I began to meet individually and in groups with various homosexual persons listening to their views and their experiences.  I became aware of the mockery, abuse, vindictiveness, and discrimination to which almost all homosexual persons have been subjected, especially when it is known that they are homosexual.  When the final report of the Commission was released in 1973, I studied it carefully and participated in the discussions which took place before and at the meetings of the Executive Council.  When the Executive Council decided to send the Commission's Report to the parishes and congregations of the diocese in 1973 with the recommendation that the Report be studied over the next year, and again after last year's Convention for another year of study, I entered into that process.  During these four years I have read dozens of books and articles on the subject, listened to lectures, talked with specialists such as M.D.'s, psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, and theologians, met with a number of discussion groups and, as I stated above, met and talked with a number of homosexual persons, some of whom are priests in this diocese.

 

One of the things that concerned me early on and which presented some trouble for me was the teaching of Holy Scripture.  The Bible we know is the story of a living people, in a living community, and their relationship with a living God.  It is the story of a community of which we are a part as Christians.  It is our story as a people of God.  The Bible is the source and testing ground of our Christian beliefs and principles.  It is God's word to us, and yet it is also man's word because it was written by men -- men who are not perfect, men who have weaknesses and who have made mistakes.  So it is understandable why the Episcopal Church does not view the Bible as infallible.  We look to the Bible for general inspiration and as the record of God's revelation of Himself to the world.

 

Now I am not a learned scholar of the Bible, but I believe I can call myself a student of the Bible.  I studied the Bible for three years at the seminary and have read and studied it almost daily since.  I do not profess to be able to quote from the Bible spontaneously or to give quick Bible answers to questions like on a quiz show, but I have the training, the tools, the resources, and I believe the intelligence with which to interpret and explain the Bible.

 

I know, for example, that not everything stated ln the Bible is something that we as Christians would approve, nor would God want us to approve it.  For instance, when Joshua, as the Bible describes, in obedience to God massacred not only his male enemies but their wives and children, we know he was mistaken.

 

When the psalmist (Psalm 137) invites his brethren to take the innocent children of Babylon and dash their brains out against the rocks, we know he was mistaken.

 

When in the Book of Acts (Chapter V) Ananias and his wife Sapphira are struck dead by God for lying, we know that this is a misinterpretation.  The God of love we as Christians have experienced does not strike people dead for lying.  If he did, where would I be today?  I'll tell you where -- right here speaking to an empty Convention.

 

The Bible contains mistakes, inaccuracies, contradictions, misinterpretations, and misunderstandings and yet it is still the primary record of God's revelation of Himself to the world.  That is why the Bible can be the most difficult book of any book to read.  And so with all of this in mind, and more, I took the various citations in the Bible which have to do with homosexuality and over a period of time carefully studied them.  I had assumed that homosexuality was condemned clearly in the various Biblical passages.  But I discovered surprisingly enough some interesting revelations as is often the case in reading and studying the Bible.

 

I discovered, for example, that the famous passage from Genesis having to do with Sodom and Gomorrah viewed for centuries as God's condemnation of homosexuality in the Old Testament may have nothing to do with homosexuality at all.

 

I discovered that much of the Biblical mention of homosexuality occurs within the context of a discussion of idolatry, which, of course.  Holy Scripture condemns.  

 

I discovered that at least five of the dozen or so main Biblical references to homosexuality are the result of a mistranslation, most of which have been corrected in modern translations.

 

I discovered that some passages such as in Leviticus include homosexuality together with a long list of prohibitions that make up the holiness code and which we certainly would not observe today, such as animal sacrifice, ritual purification, menstruation, the handling of anything dead, dietary laws, etc.  For the Christian this Jewish legal code has been superseded by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We certainly cannot take these laws out of their concrete historical situation and make them normative for our day.

 

I discovered that in certain of St. Paul's Epistles when he talks of homosexuality he is speaking of lustful acts of homosexuality which might just as well include lustful acts of heterosexuality. Also, the emphasis given the mention of homosexuality in certain of Paul's writings is not consistent with Paul's purpose in the passage; e.g., Romans 1:26-27.  It is clear, however, from three or four passages, that St. Paul without any qualification considered homosexual acts as a sin on a par with adultery and murder as evidence of the original sin with which the human race is infected.  But it is clear that St. Paul knew nothing about what we call "constitutional homo­sexuality."  Also, let us remember that St. Paul said quite a few things about women, marriage and sex which would not be considered the most enlightened statements in the Bible.

 

Furthermore, it must be pointed out that Jesus in his ministry to our knowledge never said anything about the subject of homosexuality.  He did affirm human life, however, at every point and showed us that the test of our commitment lies in our attitude toward and treatment of other human beings.

 

My own study of the Bible on the subject of homosexuality leaves me somewhat inconclusive.  As a friend of mine once remarked about certain miracle stories reported in Holy Scripture, "I remain reverently agnostic."

 

Other things with regard to the subject of homosexuality have become clear to me from my reading and conversation with others; namely, 1) that the majority of persons who have some expertise on the subject do not consider that homosexuality is a sickness or mental aberration; 2) that authorities differ as to the cause or origin of homosex­uality from the extremes of "one is born this way" to "his mother made him or her this way"; 3) that there appears to be no single constellation of factors which explain all homosexuality; 4) that the tendency on the part of most people to stereotype all homosexuals on the basis of bizarre behavior is a cultural prejudice and is seen clearly as nonsense when one considers doing the same to all heterosexuals on the basis of bizarre heterosexual behavior; 5) that a homosexual person is neither more or less trustworthy with young people of the same sex as a heterosexual is with young people of the opposite sex; 6) that a homosexual person is neither more nor less promiscuous in his or her sexual behavior than a heterosexual person; 7) that the findings of most psychoanalysts are based on homosexuals who have come for treatment, which represents only a small percentage of all homosexual persons and therefore should not apply to all homosexuals; 8) that a homosexual person may be different but not necessarily deviant; thus, he or she is not usual (representing approximately 10%-15% of the population) rather than not normal; 9) that many famous, creative, and talented persons are known to be homosexuals and have functioned as such while making unusual contributions to life and society, including persons such as Tchaikovsky, the great Russian composer; Michelangelo, the Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet; Walt Whitman, the American writer and poet; W. H. Auden, one of the finest Anglo-American poets and writers any­where; Edward Morgan Forster, the greatest novelist of the 20th century in England; Benjamin Brittin, one of the two best composers in the English speaking world; Oscar Wilde, Merle Miller, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, and hundred of others including athletes, politicians, and persons in the military whose names are not as well known and whose sexual identity has not been made public but who have made-significant contributions to life and the building of our society.

 

Finally, where does this process through which I have been and have tried to describe to you leave me?  Certainly not with all the answers.  One difficulty I have had is in viewing the question of homosexuality as a problem which can be solved like other problems if we will just study it enough and get enough facts and data.  But homosexuality, I am more and more inclined to conclude, is not so much a problem but a mystery -- a mystery which may be insoluble.  A mystery which is given us and which perhaps we must somehow accept and live with.  Could it be, I ask myself, that homosexuality is right for some persons?

 

Let me close with a story the Rev. Dr. Norman Pittenger told recently [at the INTEGRITY convention], a story which has nothing to do with homosexuality per se, but which does speak to the rejection and suffering which so many persons, especially minority groups, have experienced in their lifetime and which we as Christians must never minimize, Dr, Pittenger was teaching at General Theological Seminary in New York.  A black student was asked to leave the seminary.  He was told that he could come back if he proved to the authorities that he was serious about his vocation to Holy Orders, and the Dean of the seminary sent the young man to see Dr. Pittenger to interpret the school policy.  In the words of Dr. Pittenger, "the young man came to see me and I, God forgive me, interpreted the policy.  And as it came to an end and the interview was over, authority had had its word and the word had been interpreted.  The young man went to the door and I went with him and somehow or other, maybe the grace of God brought me to put my arm around that young man and draw him to me and say, 'I know it's awful for you now, but maybe one day you'll see, it will come out all right.'  He broke down sobbing.  I thought, 'O God, what have I done now?' And I said, calling him by name, 'I'm sorry, I apologize for trying to give you the official line.  I really think the line was wrong.'  The young man said to me, 'Father, I'm not crying because of what you said.  I'm crying for a reason that you could never understand.'  And I said, 'Well, maybe not, tell me.  I'll try.'  He looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Father, you are the first white man who has ever touched me,' and he grabbed my hand and kissed it and fled.  And then I sat down and wept for more than an hour."

 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I am profoundly sensible of the fact that Church people throughout this diocese have not found it easy to study and discuss the issue of homosexuality.  I am aware that many of you are still bewildered as to just what the right answer may be and how we as a Church can prudently and helpfully respond.  Theologically speaking, our approach to this issue, or so it seems to me, basically should be one of deep Christian concern -- a concern born out of our understanding of a God who, in His love for the world, manifested that love in and through our Lord Jesus Christ and showed His willingness to deal with people where they are and as they are.  If that love, to quote Dr. Pittenger again, "can embrace even such creatures as you and me, can it not also work through our creaturely, feeble, defective loving so that God's perfect will of love may be done in earth as ever it is done ln heaven?  To that God who is pure, unbounded love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, let us give now and always our worship and thanksgiving and praise.

 

THE INTEGRITY CROSS

 

Chicago.  The jeweler responsible for preparing our celebrated INTEGRITY CROSS, as advertised in our Novem­ber and December issues, has just informed us that he cannot deliver the order and has returned our check ordering same.

 

The reason given was that he had been unsuccessful in producing dies that could make the sex symbols strong enough.

 

Plans are immediately underway both to find another producer and possibly to change the design slightly so that the basic idea can be executed without the strain on the silver medium that now exists.

 

INTEGRITY sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to our many members who have placed orders, particularly our inability now to meet the 15th Decem­ber delivery that we had promised.  We were not informed of this decision by the jeweler until 8th December.

 

Individual queries about the crosses can be made, as before, through our Secretary-Treasurer Bob Diehm, 7820 South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60649.  We will be in touch with the altered plans as soon as we know them.                 

 

CHAPTER NEWS

 

BOSTON.  Chapter recently shared a large part of their Halloween with our national fund for The General Convention.  They are having continuing theological discussions of "Worship," and plan a joint Christmas service with DIGNITY/MCC, as well as a party at Dr. Dostourian's summer place.

 

CHICAGO.  The chapter is joining in an ECUMENICAL ADVENT WORSHIP service on 12th December; is planning a theatre benefit party on 14th December; and following the regular House Mass on 19th December will exchange Christmas gifts.

 

NYC.  Beginning on 1st January the chapter will hold all regular meetings at the Church of the Ascension on 5th Avenue and 10th Street.  "We are proud to be a part of a parish with a history of social involvement on behalf of Christ," writes Fr. Mike Koonsman.

 

PORTLAND.  The new convenor John-Mark Gilhousen is most anxious to have members, suggestions, and whatever, at the address on next page.

 

SAN FRANCISCO.  Among many other activities the chapter looks forward to the meeting on 28th December, when they will be visited by INTEGRITY founder Louie Crew.

 

QUIP FROM NYC:  "Perhaps it is part of the climate of the times, what with separatism, etc., but it seems that many priests now think that 'Where two or three are gathered together' they must be tipping."

 

IN CELEBRATION

 

Chicago.  A second and substantially larger printing of IN CELEBRATION has just been undertaken, with far better proofing than in the earlier rush copies.

 

IN CELEBRATION is the 92-page paperback book transcript of the INTEGRITY first national convention in Chicago last summer, including all of the never-before-published manuscript of the honored speaker The Rev. Dr. Norman Pittenger, a litany by INTEGRITY vice-president Dan Fee, the Founder's address by Dr. Louie Crew, and a foreword by INTEGRITY president Jim Wickliff

.

Jim Wickliff is the editor of the volume.  Included also are pictures of the event taken by Worley Rodehaver, editor of INTERCHANGE, the diocesan paper for Southern Ohio.

 

Copies of the book are $3 each from Bob Diehm, 7820 South Shore Drive, Chicago 60649.

 

LESBIAN VOICES

 

Feminist Lesbian Quarterly

subscription rate:  $5.00 yr.

 

name ......................................................

 

address....................................................

 

city..................state.................zip............

 

materials, checks, money order to:

 

R. Nichols

P.O. Box 3122

San Jose, Ca. 95116

 

      Les-Be-In-Touch

 

GAIETY

reflecting gay life in the South

 

GAIETY                        12 issues                          

P.O. Box 3620                 First Class $9.00

Memphis, TN 38103       Third Class $6.00

                                  (in USA)

 

All subscriptions mailed in heavy brown envelopes.  First class is sealed.  Make check or money order payable to GAIETY ...

 

LOCAL CHAPTERS

 

INTEGRITY/Atlanta.  Co-Convenors Dr. Ara Dostourian (3830 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA 30134; 404-942-­9813) and Steve Matthews (404 351-1943).

INTEGRITY/Austin.  Convenor Adam F. Stricker (Box 14056, Austin, TX 78761).

INTEGRITY/Australia.  Convenor The Rev. Ron Dowling, St, George's Church, 4/296 Glenferrle Road, Malvern, Victoria, 3144, Australia.

INTEGRITY/Boston.  Convenor Joe McCauly, Box 2582, Boston 02208.

INTEGRITY/Chicago.  Convenor David Williams, Box 2516, Chicago 60690.

INTEGRITY/Denver.  Convenor The. Rev. Thomas Dobbs, 1958 Emerson Street, Denver 80218.

INTEGRITY/Eugene, OR.  Convenor Randolph Harrison West, Box 3682 University Station, Eugene 97403.

INTEGRITY/Fort Valley, GA.  Convenors Ernest Clay and Louie Crew, 701 Orange Street, No. 6, FV, GA 31030, 912-825-7287.

INTEGRITY/Jacksonville, FL.  Convenor Dr. Robert Ragland, 2783 Oak Street, Jacksonville 32205.

INTEGRITY/Lansing.  Convenor Gary Lee Phillips, Box 95, East Lansing, MI 48823.

INTEGRITY/Lexington.  Convenor Philip Mitchum, 1220 Octavian Circle, Lexington, KY 40502.

INTEGRITY/Los Angeles.  Convenor Dick Sheppard, 4767 Hillsdale Drive, LA, CA 90032.

INTEGRITY/Michigan.  Convenor James Toy, Human Sexual­ity Advocates, 325 Michigan Union, U-Mi, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

INTEGRITY/NYC.  Convenors The Rev. Michael G. Koonsman (31 Stuyvesant St., NYC 10003) and David Allen White 23-71 27th Street, Astoria, NY 11105).

INTEGRITY/Philadelphia.  Convenors The Rev. John Lenhardt (4711 Baltimore Ave., Phila. 19143, tele. 726-1089) and The Rev. Ronald Wesner (RFD 1, Brushtown Rd., Ambler, PA 19002).

INTEGRITY/Phoenix.  Convenor Bob Eff, P.0. Box 27212, Phoenix, AZ 85017.

INTEGRITY/Portland.  Convenor John-Mark Gilhousen, 2015 NW Kearney, #101-G, Portland 97209, tele. 503-223-4682.

INTEGRITY/Providence.  Edgar F. Staff, Box 71, Annex Station, Providence, RI 02901.

INTEGRITY/San Diego.  Convenor The Rev. H. C. Lazenby, ACSW, 4645 West Talmadge Drive. SD, CA 94117.

INTEGRITY/San Francisco and Bay Area.  Co-Convenors Jim Frooks (1256 Page Street, No. 1, SF, CA 94117; 415-621-0182) and The Rev. Richard Younge (P.0. Box 6444, San Jose, CA 95150).

INTEGRITY/Toronto.  Convenor John Gartshore, 20 Berry­man Street, Toronto, M5R 1M6, Ontario, CANADA.

INTEGRITY/Twin Cities.  Convenor Frank R. Eggers, 26 Arthur Ave., Box 203, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

 

Additional convenors have contacted us about the possibilities of new chapters in the places below.  All queries should be sent to our officer in charge of chapter advisement, President Jim Wickliff, 429 Surf, Chicago 60657:

 

INTEGRITY/England; INTEGRITY/Houston; INTEGRITY/Madison, WI; INTEGRITY/Miami; INTEGRITY/Montana; INTEGRITY/Okla­homa City; INTEGRITY/Toledo; INTEGRITY/Topeka; INTEGRITY/Washington, DC. Also. INTEGRITY/Hartford.

 

This ministry is very important.  We need you.  Please write today.  Isn't it time for you to convene a chapter?