From: lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Louie Crew)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Into the Highways and Hedges
Date: 21 Jul 92 07:49:47 GMT
Reply-To: <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Some of you might like to read these excerpts from a secular account
of the Presiding Bishop's visit to lesbigay in the highways and hedges.
It was a notice I posted about that upcoming visit that began this 
chain some time back.  
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 The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop told gay and 
lesbian members not to lose hope despite ongoing 
division in the 2.5 million-member denomination over 
homosexuality.
 "The gay and lesbian community is tired of being 
treated as an issue.  They want to be treated as people," 
the Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning said during a 
special Integrity convention forum Saturday at Palmer 
Memorial Church.
 His remarks came during a national meeting of 
Integrity, a 2,500-member group for gay and lesbian 
Episcopalians.  It was the first time a presiding bishop 
preached and gave communion to the group....
 In his role as bishop, Browning said he remained as 
committed as ever to being an advocate for an open, 
inclusive and compassionate church.  He told about 100 
women and men on Saturday to share their personal 
stories with others and stay involved in church affairs.
 "You are contributing to the health and well-being of 
the whole church.  You are part of this church," 
Browning said.  "It sounds patronizing, but you've got to 
know how important it is for you to hang in."...
 He celebrated an opening Eucharist service of about 
450 people at Palmer, assisted by six ministers, 
including the new dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the 
Rev. Walter Taylor. Episcopal Diocese of Texas Bishop 
Maurice M. Benitez did not attend, as he had 
announced earlier.
 Reconciliation was Browning's sermon topic....
 "It's going to depend on you.  You have to be willing 
to press your diocesan bishops.  You need to see that 
this (study) material is used and be involved so your 
voices can be heard," Browning said.
 ..Speakers included a lesbian 
priest forced from her clergy position, the director of a 
Newark, N.J. outreach ministry, Diocese of Texas lay 
members and Integrity founder Louie Crew.
 The Rev. David Norgard, who heads up the Newark 
Diocese's Oasis center, said his ministry brings new 
people into the church.  Browning later said critics who 
contend the church will be destroyed by programs like 
Oasis are wrong....
 Crew, a Rutgers University professor who is involved 
in prison ministry in Rahway, N.J., summed up the no-
nonsense faith of speakers on Saturday.
 "Jesus is always with the people in need," Crew said.  
"We are not here to ask into the church.  We are the 
church.  We are the body of Christ."

From:

The Houston Post, Sunday, July 12, 1992, page A-30

Episcopal bishop tells gays, lesbians not to lose hope

By Steve Brunsman
Post Religion Reporter

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  Louie Crew, Assoc. Prof., Academic Foundations Dept., Rutgers U./NWK 07102
  lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu                                   201-485-4503