Headed to Oacoma this weekend!

I will be at the Episcopal Church's 2009 Annual Convention at Cedar Shores Resort in Oacoma (across the river from Chamberlain, SD) next weekend.

My role at the meeting will include wearing a few hats: (1) Serving as a delegate from my congregation ([the very welcoming] St Andrew's, Rapid City), (2) introducing Episcopalians to EqSD, and (3) representing Integrity USA. I will have a booth up both Saturday and Sunday.

Integrity advocates for LGBT people in the Episcopal church, both among laity and clergy, and is one of many church-specific organizations (including DignityUSA, Evangelicals Concerned, Al-Faitha, and many others) working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Church.

Integrity's "radical gay agenda" is simple: All the sacraments for all the baptized.

The South Dakota Diocese is a treasure -- it benefits from powerful cultural and spiritual roots: Native, Anglican and Episcopal. Although sometimes separated by great distances (geographical, cultural, and sometimes theological!) there is a great love and respect among those there. I have great friends there going back ten years. We break bread together, catch up with each other's lives, and do the work of the Church.

Since 2006, when I introduced (and passed) a resolution criticizing South Dakota's anti-LGBT Amendment C, I have represented Integrity at the Diocesan Convention. I always have been treated with respect, even by those that are, to put it mildly, not in agreement with Integrity's mission.


It will be quite excellent!