Integrity

Integrity USA – The Episcopal Rainbow

            Integrity was founded over 40 years ago by Dr. Louie Crew-Clay as a way to begin to integrate lesbians and gay men into the life and work of The Episcopal Church. Its members worked together toward the goal of full inclusion in the life of the church for lesbians and gays initially and then, over time for people who are bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning. (LGBTQ)

            The road was long and really winding but the members and leaders of Integrity labored faithfully for changes at the canonical, constitutional, and policy levels of The Episcopal Church via many General Conventions and many interactions with committees, commissions, agencies and boards of The Episcopal Church, including the Executive Council. Those changes came about so that the “official” position of The Episcopal Church forbids discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression in all aspects of church life including ordination and marriage.

            The important work remaining needs to be accomplished at the parish, diocesan and 

provincial levels…the grass roots of our church. Hearts and minds change when issues suddenly have faces.  It is more difficult to dismiss a face than an issue. As Integrity shifts to a different model, it will need more than ever the commitment of all to achieve the full measure of inclusion at all levels of the church that is due all LGBTQ folks, just like everyone else who regularly vows to respect the dignity of every human being and to seek and serve Christ in all, loving neighbor as self.

- integrityusa.org