in-tég-ri-ty,
n.
1. Soundness of and adherence to moral principle and character; uprightness; honesty.
2. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.
1. Soundness of and adherence to moral principle and character; uprightness; honesty.
2. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.
1: WHAT DOES INTEGRITY DO ?
Integrity is an international organisation of gay and lesbian Anglicans and their friends. The primary goal of Integrity is to help its members discover and affirm that we can be both Christian and homosexual. We believe that spiritual and mental health are found only when the whole person is involved in human activity. Integrity has active chapters in many large urban centres (several in Canada, and over 70 world-wide) and also serves as a network for homosexual persons in small towns and rural areas.
2: IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP LIMITED ONLY TO HOMOSEXUALS? ONLY TO ANGLICANS?No. Membership in Integrity is open to everyone, gay and straight, Anglicans and otherwise.
3: IS INTEGRITY INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PARISH LIFE?Integrity is a support group which helps its members pursue meaningful involvement in their respective parishes. Many homosexual persons have been hurt by the Church. They have been taught that their homosexuality is sick or sinful and have been led to believe that they are inferior in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the Church. They have often been forced to hide their sexuality under a pretence of heterosexuality or celibacy. Integrity hopes to be a corrective force, enabling gay and lesbian people to be open, honest, practising Christians within the parish life of the Church
4: DOES THE CHURCH REALLY OPPRESS HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE?Though this is slowly changing, homosexual persons are sometimes met with open hostility or mere grudging tolerance. In either guise, that oppression serves to isolate homosexual people. The Church helps to celebrate sexuality in many ways - family-related sermons, weddings, young married groups, etc. At the same time, it asks its homosexual members to repress their sexuality and keep it secret, and refrain from making their own healthy families. This deception contributes to loneliness, self- hatred and bitterness, and does not encourage gay and lesbian persons to relate the Good News of scripture to the wholeness of their lives.
5: WHY DO HOMOSEXUALS MAKE AN ISSUE OF THEIR SEXUALITY WHEN NON-HOMOSEXUALS DO NOT?Non-homosexuals DO make an issue of their sexuality. In social situations, they make it a point to introduce their husbands or wives, their girlfriends or boyfriends. They hold hands in public and show pictures of their children. They wear rings on their fingers which convey information about their mates and sexual life-styles. Gay and lesbian persons also need opportunities to speak affirmatively about themselves in the same way, without being accused of flaunting their sexuality.
6: DOES INTEGRITY SPEAK FOR ALL GAY AND LESBIAN ANGLICANS?No. Integrity is active mainly in North America and Australia. However, there are other Christian groups throughout the world which minister to gay and lesbian members of the Anglican World Communion. Not all lesbian/gay Anglicans are members of Integrity or related Christian homosexual groups. Many individuals are still afraid to let it be known that they are homosexual. It should also be noted that our membership reflects a wide variety of viewpoints - a situation common to many Church organisations.
7: DOESN'T THE BIBLE SAY THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS SINFUL?No, not if by "the Bible" is meant Scripture in its full depth and entirety. The seven passages which have traditionally been taken to condemn homosexuality: (Gen 19:1-11, Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13, Deut 23:17-19, Rom 1:26-27, 1 Cor 6:9-10, 1 Tim 1:8-11) in fact condemn homosexual rape, idolatry or prostitution. We cannot permit these passages to be misinterpreted. They are not speaking of the loving, committed homosexual relationships that we know in the twentieth century. These texts, like all scriptures, must be taken in the context of the entire bible. The biblical witness is God's love for the creation, which is embodied in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we realise that heterosexuality does not always exemplify this love, nor homosexuality deny it. These passages condemn the sins of being unloving and idolatrous. Today these sins are seen in the denial of love to lesbians and gays, and the idolatrous presumption that heterosexuality alone embodies the will of God.
8: WHAT IS INTEGRITY'S SCRIPTURAL AND SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION?On the sixth day God saw that all creation was very good, and we rejoice that we are part of that creation. When we read the gospels, we know that Jesus came for all of us. We are members of the body of Christ. Through Integrity, we explore the meaning of salvation in spite of the rejection and misunderstanding we often experience at the hands of both society and the Church.
9: HOW DOES INTEGRITY RELATE TO THE GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT?Integrity is part of the human liberation movement. There are some who have denounced the Church because they regard it as a source of oppression. This has often been the case, but as members of Integrity, we want to work within our Church to overcome the oppression of lesbians and gays.
10: DO YOU SEEK CONVERTS?Absolutely not. Sexual orientation is set by the age of five, and is non-elective. One cannot convert. We want the Church and society to appreciate the variety of human existence and help all people to be creative, loving and affirming individuals.
11: WHAT ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE?When a person discovers his/her own sexuality, supportive people are needed to help the individual learn the importance, the joys and responsibilities that sexuality entails. Homosexual self-hatred starts very early. If a young person comes to a cleric, teacher, or parent and confides her/his homosexuality, there is a much greater chance for health and wholeness if that caregiver can help the young person direct this discovery in positive ways. Trying to change a person's sexual orientation is not only impossible, it will do serious psychological damage. Homosexual youth is in peril in today's society. A Winnipeg study of gay/lesbian youth indicated that two- thirds of them have contemplated suicide, and one-quarter of them attempted suicide. [The Village Clinic, Winnipeg, 1989]. US studies show the same thing: homosexual youths are three times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers, and thirty per cent of all teen suicides are by gays.[US Dept of Health Human Services, 1989]
12: WHAT IS INTEGRITY ASKING OF THE CHURCH?We are asking our brothers and sisters in the Church to speak to us, to ask questions, to help gain visibility for homosexuals in the church. Christ was sent to proclaim release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Homosexuals today are numbered among the outcasts. Integrity calls upon the Church to follow Christ's example.
13: HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT INTEGRITY?Click to find a chapter in your area. Or consider visting the Integrity/USA home page and/or the Integrity/Toronto home page. Also ready our other pamphlet on Integrity.
