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No good thing will God withhold from those who walk with integrity. Psalm 84:11

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Parishes Providing Same-Sex Marriages in the Diocese of Georgia

Our Savior, Augusta, Ga. Rector Fr. John West

2015 General Convention is over and Bishop Scott has approved same-sex marriage Rites for trial use beginning in Advent, 2015. Individual parishes that have instituted the policy will be listed as they become known.

February 7-9, 2013 Diocesan Convention. Important vote on Title IV, Ethical Standards Canon. See article at left.

2012 General Convention is over and the Episcopal Church stands for equality! See below for photos and reflections.

April 2, 2012 Newsletter

+October 8, 2011-10th ANNIVERSARY GALA, Savannah

+07/30/2011-Board Meeting, Statesboro

+5/3/2011-INTEGRITY USA PRESS RELEASE

+12/18/2010-HOLY, REASONABLE, ENFORCEABLE-Second meeting with Bishop Benhase

+12/3/2010-St. Stevens’ Ministry gearing up for HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon Ball in Augusta

+9/28/2010-Integrity Leader Challenges Archbishop

+9/21/2010-An Ad Hoc Committee forms at St. Paul’s, Savannah

+Amazing Day, Amazing Witness, Susan Russell

NOTE! Dec 18th Integrity Mtg at St.Anne's Tifton with St. Margaret's Moultrie as co-sponsor

+Pride Events Around the Diocese-Integrity was There

+FAQ on the recent Prop 8 court decision-Rev Canon Susan Russel

+At West Point, Hidden Gay Cadets Put in Spotlight

+7/10/2010-Meeting with Bishop Benhase

+The 2010 HIV/AIDS retreat fund drive was a success!

October 28th, 2016

Integrity Holds Its First Retreat at Honey Creek

IntegrityGA held it's first retreat on the weekend of October 28.  The purpose of the retreat was to heal and energize LGBTQI members and allies to continue the work that Integrity began more than 40 years ago.  Twenty-six people from the Diocese of GA and Atlanta attended the retreat.

The retreat began as an idea with the Rev. Jamie Maury, the first chairperson for IntegrityGA who collaborated with the current IntegrityGA board.

Bruce Garner, Integrity USA President was the retreat leader.   Bruce is a long time activist in the LGBT community serving on a number of boards and member of many organizations.  Bruce first served as President of IntegrityUSA from 1990 -1994.  He began his second term as president in 2016.  Bruce has been a strong voice against discrimination throughout his life.

Bruce began the retreat by taking us back to the dark times of 1981 and the beginning of the HIV/AID crisis.  He talked about the friends lost to AIDS in the early days of the crisis and how that changed him spiritually.  In his presentation he called upon the group to "Let Your Light so Shine" while on their own spiritual journey.  By allowing our "light to shine," we illuminate the path for those following.  Bruce ended his presentation by saying, "the peace that comes with being healed surpasses the need to be cured."

 

To conclude the retreat's work of healing, Sarah Riggle discussed the discrimination confronting transgender and gender noncomforming people.  She cited information from the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey.  One of the more shocking statistics that she cited is that a staggering 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6% of the general population.  (If you are interested, more information can be found by clicking here).

Sarah said, "The statistics in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey only show a glimpse of the injustice and abuse the transgender and gender nonconforming population endure. Even with the number who did respond to the survey, there are thousands of voices who could not or did not complete the survey." Ms. Riggle challenged us to be a strong ally to all gender non-conforming people we meet, to befriend them and stand with them in their fight for equality.

IntegrityGA's has a strong history of allies who keep spreading our message of acceptance and love. Before our own Larry Lee passed away, his voice was often heard above others fighting to keep Integrity's message heard and because of Larry's support and dedication IntegrityGA created the Annabel Lee Award.  This is an annual award that recognizes an individual who had done significant work for the LGBTQI community.  The first recipient of the Annabel Lee Award was Larry's beloved wife, Kristin Lee.  Larry and Kristin worked tirelessly as a team for the LGBTQI community Kris Lee is recognized by IntegrityGA for her love, service, and dedication to LGBTQI lives in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.

The retreat ended with Eucharist.  The Rev. Billy Alford was the preacher and the Rev. Jamie Maury was the celebrant with the Rev. Dee Shaffer assisting.

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Advent, 2015

Bishop Scott’s Policy on Same Sex Marriage is Now Official

The Bishop’s Policy for Same Sex Marriage will go into effect on the first Sunday of Advent this year to provide, as approved by General Convention, for trial use of authorized rites for the coming three years. Specifically, Bishop Benhase says that the following rites may be used by the presbyters of this Diocese with all persons who are legally and canonically eligible for marriage: The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage (2); and, if the couple has already been married civilly, The Blessing of a Civil Marriage. Both rites are found in the document linked below.

The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage (BCP, p. 423 ff) and The Blessing of a Civil Marriage (BCP, p. 433ff) are Prayer Book rites and thus should continue to be used as appropriate.

The following documents give the Diocese of Georgia policy, provide Model Congregational Guidelines, and give the text of the rites authorized for trial use in keeping with the policy:

Bishop’s Policy on Same Sex Marriage for the Diocese of Georgia

Model Congregational Guidelines in PDF format

Model Congregational Guidelines in Word format

Authorized Rites in PDF format

Authorized Rites in Word Format

Discussion Guide

In addition to the above information found at the diocesan website, the Episcopal Church’s Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music offers Discussion Guide for congregations. This material are found on pages 109-129 of their Supplemental Materials PDF file.