July 4, 2000

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Rev. Dr. George F. Regas
Rector Emeritus, All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA

I.
We are here today to say the debate is over.

The fact that bishops, priests and laity are here in Denver at this General Convention to debate once again whether gay and lesbian persons are acceptable is obscene.

The debate on the homosexuality issue has become a primary source of suffering for millions lesbian and gay people.

Over my 28 years as Rector of All Saints Church, Pasadena, California, I got acquainted with a larger number of gay men and lesbians. I know them up close and down deep. They are beautiful people who live holy and virtuous lives. Then love God deeply and try to live to God’s glory.

But there is no way to describe adequately the humiliation, exclusion and rejection most of these precious children of God have experienced in the Christian churches and throughout the structure of society.

These gay and lesbian persons have frequently been told by their families that they don’t belong to them, by some churches that they are perverse sinners because they express their love for each other, by the Vatican they are told they are intrinsically disordered, by some in the medical profession that they are sick, by the Boy Scouts of America that they are not "morally straight", they are not clean, and by the former President of the United States that they are not normal.

The brutal way these children of God have been excluded from normal life is breathtaking. Homophobia is the last respectable prejudice – one seemingly sanctioned by the Church and the State.

We will no longer sit silently as our gay brothers and lesbian sisters are condemned as having immoral relationships and their ministries are denied. The debate must end.

Rev. James Lawson, my long-time friend and a close colleague of Martin Luther King, Jr., in the civil rights struggle, made a comment not long ago that still reverberates in my mind and soul.

The gay community’s struggle for civil rights is even more difficult that our black community’s struggle. We have our families and our churches to help us. The gay community has neither."

We must change that here in Denver at this General Convention.

We can no longer tolerate a rhetoric that lacerates the souls of our gay brothers and lesbian sisters. They are precious children of God, created, redeemed and accepted by our God. Hatred is the depravity, not the choice of whom to love.

Some are gallantly working for justice for gays inside the Convention Hall. Some of us are outside saying, no more debate, no more stalling. Open your arms and your hearts to welcome gays and lesbians into our Church’s ministries.

II.
The most popular religious song in America, hands down, is "Amazing Grace." Get a bunch of Christians together and they want to sing "Amazing Grace." But what bothers me is that too few really understand that grace is the most radical concept in the Bible.

At the Core of the Christian faith is the simple and profound assertion: God loves you just as you are. In the Gospel of Jesus, the first and last word is "grace." This is unconditional inclusive love and generous acceptance is not marginal to our religion. It is central to our beliefs.

God accepts us as we are – gay or straight. This radical acceptance is of the total person – body, mind and spirit. Grace is total acceptance.

Is that a God’s way – can it not be practiced in the Church?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been a long-time friend from the day I met him in South Africa in 1978, struggling to end the vicious apartheid structure of South Africa.

More recently, this fighter for justice moved into another dimension of apartheid – homosexual behavior. He opposes the official position of the Anglican Church in South Africa, which forbids homosexual behavior. "We’ve made celibacy obligatory for homosexuals and I am uncomfortable with these restrictions on homosexuals." He opposes those restrictions, he says, "because physical expression of the sex drive in a loving relationship is important to becoming fully human."

Yes, this amazing man would bow before his lesbian and gay sisters and brothers – people of precious worth, holy vessels of the living God.

The clearest way for this loving acceptance and inclusion to happen in our church is blessing the union of same sex couples who are committed to life-long fidelity and love and allowing the ordination of practicing homosexuals.

I believe that these acts – ordination and blessing – are the clearest symbols that the Episcopal church can offer that these precious children of god are fully accepted into the live of the Church and are loved unconditionally by God, just as I am loved and accepted.

III.
But what about the Bible? Lambeth said all of this is incompatible with scripture. And there are bishops, priests and laity inside that convention Hall who are saying the Bible doesn’t allow us to act in this radically inclusive way.

Let’s be honest about the Bible. The Episcopal Church does not hold to biblical inerrancy. I don’t know anyone who still publicly advocates slavery or stoning to death an adulterer – both urged in the Bible.

One day the famous theologian, Paul Tillich, was accosted by a Bible waving fundamentalist. "Professor Tillich, do you believe this book is the word of god?" The wise theologian responded, "Yes, I do if it possesses you rather than you processing it!"

The Bible is central to my life as a Christian. It is the foundational document for our church. But if we take the Bible seriously, we cant read it literally and dismiss what we’ve learned in the centuries after the Bible was finished.

Today we know gay and lesbian couples who live deeply in committed lives of love and integrity. This sexual orientation and its expression in an honorable relationship was not the subject matter of the biblical writers. However, the really serious problem for Christians who live by "The Book" is not how to square homosexuality with the seven passages in the Bible which on the surface seem to condemn it – but rather how to reconcile the rejection, prejudice, and cruelty of homosexuals with the gracious, unconditional love of Christ.

Pivotal to the sacred scriptures is the centrality and primacy of justice.

Blessing same sex unions and ordaining practicing gay and lesbian persons are acts of justice, acts of liberation, and as Dr. King said long ago, "Justice too long delayed is justice denied."

Many want this General Conference to be peaceful and serene, with no divisiveness and conflict. Yet the imperative of Amos thunders through this place: "Let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

One thing we know is antithetical to scripture: it is injustice – the treatment of human beings as inherently immoral – a bondage that excludes gays and lesbians from the holy of holies.

Let’s be a Biblical Church and hear again the imperative of Amos – "Let justice roll down like a river."

And when the Church acts to allow blessings of same sex unions and ordination of practicing gays – it is affirming a God who is not static, only speaking 2000-4000 years ago, but a living God who is revealing new truths to us now.

If the bishops and priests and lay delegates listen carefully, above the competing pressures of this groups and that, they will hear the still small voice of God from the prophet Isaiah whisper to them, "I am doing a new thing," and they will respond faithfully to the call for justice.

JULY 4 PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1:15 FOLLOWED BY CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Demonstration to Cap off a Summer of Civil Disobedience and Arrests All Across the United States in Protest of the Exclusion of God’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Children

MEDIA ADVISORY
June 26, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt, Media Coordinator
Cell: 717-951-7712

Laguna Beach CA – On July 4th, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals, and their families, friends and allies will join together in Denver to protest the exclusionary practices by many churches in the Episcopal Church USA and support the full inclusion of GLBT individuals in all aspects the church. The protest is being organized by Soulforce, an ecumenical people of faith network committed to applying the principles of nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual and gender minorities.

"The Episcopal Church (ECUSA), like other denominations, continues to debate whether LGBT persons are worthy of full inclusion and membership," declared Kate Bishop, Soulforce Co-chair in Denver. " The debate itself is harmful and damaging to those within and outside of the Church. Although the Church presents itself as "liberal" and far ahead of other denominations, if justice and how it is applied toward LGBT members is used as a measure, ECUSA fairs no better than other denominations."

People of faith from many denominations will be taking part in the protest and anticipated arrests. The day begins with gathering at 8am on July 4th at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 16th and Ogden. A Soulforce Training in Nonviolent Resistance to Injustice based on the principles of Gandhi and Martin Luther King will be led by Dr. Mel White beginning at 8:30am, followed by a picnic. The training is open to media.

As Bishops and Deputies arrive for their Opening Orientation Session at the Colorado Convention Center, 14th and California Streets in Denver, Soulforce supporters will be standing in silent vigil to greet them. A press conference will take place at 1:15 on the Convention Center steps, featuring distinguished Episcopalian leaders and other friends and allies. After the press conference, many of the participants are expected to take place in an act of non-violent civil disobedience leading to arrest.

"From the beginning of this tragic debate, Episcopal bishops, priests, and laity have taken courageous and costly stands for full inclusion of sexual and gender minorities," explained Dr. Mel White. "However, there are fundamentalist forces working within the Anglican Communion in this country and abroad that are trying to turn the entire denomination against God’s GLBT children. We are here to say that this debate must end! We hope that Bishops and Deputies will not be swayed by the dangerous and regressive voices nor by the toxic rhetoric of those who wish to oppress us."

To participate in the direct action, individuals must take part in the Soulforce non-violence training the morning of July 4 or in a brief training at the Convention Center, 12:45 p.m. All participants are required to sign, wear, and uphold the Soulforce "pledge to nonviolence" used by Dr. Martin Luther King and his marchers in 1963.

Similar acts of protest were held during the United Methodist General Conference in May, and the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian General Assembly earlier this month. In November, a Soulforce delegation will conduct another civil disobedience at the meeting of the National Council of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.

Link here to additional information on the Soulforce action, or to sign up for the civil disobedience training and non-violent direct action, or call (949) 455-0999.

June 20, 2000

Sisters and Brothers,

For three decades we’ve waited patiently for Protestant and Catholic Church leaders to end their policies against sexual and gender minorities. Those same policies lead to discrimination, suffering, and even death. We cannot wait patiently any longer!

On Tuesday morning, July 4, Bishops and Deputies of the Episcopal Church representing 2.5 million members and 7,500 parishes and missions in the U.S.A. will gather in the Denver Convention Center to begin their 73rd General Convention.

We respect their First Amendment Right to gather and we will not disrupt their meetings in anyway. In fact, many who enter the Center that afternoon will be our friends in the struggle for equal rights.

At a press conference at 1:30 p.m. we will thank those Episcopalians who have led the way to full acceptance. At the same time we will protest the great injustices suffered by sexual and gender minorities at the hands of other Episcopal leaders. And we will remind the media of the tragic consequences of this endless debate. At 1:45 p.m., the police will warn us that we are an unlawful assembly and arrest those who stay to pray.

On May 10, in Cleveland, Ohio, at a similar United Methodist event, 191 Soulforce volunteers were arrested in an act of spiritual resistance. On June 14, 100 Soulforcees held a Pray-In at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Thirty-five were arrested. Sunday, June 25, 200 will join us in a similar protest at the Presbyterian General Assembly in Long Beach. July 4, we’re going to Denver. Spend the summer with Soulforce.

Put your body on the line. Tell the nation’s religious leaders: THIS DEBATE MUST END. THE SUFFERING HAS GONE ON TOO LONG. WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN, TOO!

We are working closely with the Denver Police Department to be sure our July 4 direct action is safe and non-disruptive. At this point it looks like those who are arrested will be given a summons (like a parking ticket) and be released. You may pay your fine by mail. Or you can support us and not be arrested, and even change your mind either way at the last minute. If you sign up, we will keep you posted each step of the way.

But you must be trained. Learn the full details at our training session, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 4, at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 16th & Ogden. We will provide a Fourth of July Picnic lunch and then move together to the press conference and direct action at the Convention Center at 12:30 p.m.

If you are interested in learning more, sign up today. The training is free and you are not obligated to join us even after being trained. But you must be trained and sign a pledge to nonviolence written by Dr. King in 1963.
Gandhi and King both remind us that we were "created to do justice" and that until we have taken one step in that direction we will never know the real power and purpose of our lives. Join us. Get a civil rights misdemeanor on your record and the joy of doing justice in your heart.

Jimmy Creech, Soulforce Chairman of the Board
Kate Bishop, National Co-Chair for Soulforce Journey to Denver
Carol White and Judith Nelson, Local Co-Chairs, Journey to Denver
Mel White, Co-Founder, Soulforce

Soulforce, P.O. Box 4467, Laguna Beach, CA 92652
Phone: (949) 455-0999
Email: RevMel@aol.com