======= The following is a description of last year's Celebration =====

Celebrating The Feast of St. Aelred
January 12, 2002
by David Gary

A cross-section crowd of approximately 110 people gathered at Birmingham's St. Andrews Episcopal Church for a celebration of St. Aelred, Abbott of Rievaulx on his feast day January 12, 2002.   A dinner, hosted by Integrity Alabama, followed the service. 

According to Marshall Johnson, convener of Integrity Alabama, the organization serves as, "a witness of the Episcopal Church to the gay and lesbian community and as a witness of the gay and lesbian community to the Episcopal Church.  We work to find or help establish worship in supportive environments, provide emotional support, spiritual nourishment, service and outreach."

The local chapter, which has monthly meetings with a typical attendance of 20, is affiliated with national Integrity, Inc., "a non-profit 
organization founded more than 25 years ago in rural Georgia by Dr. Louie Crew, as a grassroots voice for the full inclusion of homosexuals in the Episcopal Church and equal access to those rights," according to literature distributed by the group.

Sharing the altar with St. Andrew's rector, the Rev. Marc Burnette, were the Rev. J.R. Finney from Birmingham's Covenant MCC, the Rev. Timothy Holder from Grace Church Woodlawn and the Rev. Kevin Higgs, pastor of Fairfield's Highlands United Methodist Church.  

Higgs is national board member of Affirmation, a ministry of and to gay Methodists, providing forum and support within the United Methodist Church.

People traveled from cities including Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Anniston and Jacksonville to attend the 6th annual service, which recognizes the patron saint of Integrity, who is also known as the patron saint of friendship. 

Jim Creasy, an Episcopal priest said, “I look forward to this annual event in which gay spirituality is recognized and celebrated.  Joining with a worshiping congregation in which gay people are recognized and affirmed reminds me that God is love and that sexual orientation has nothing to do with God's acceptance of me.

He continued, “We give thanks and praise God because Jesus died on the cross, not to save me from my sexuality, but because he loved me enough to die for me, one of his friends.   Gay and straight, male and female, bi, trans, what ever -- we are all equal in the eyes of God and all loved equally by God.  The fact that gay couples can sit together openly in the congregation and at the banquet afterward affirms our relationships as valid and good in the eyes of God.

Historians report that during Aelred's time (1109-1167), intimate male friendship was common in the old Celtic culture, and Aelred's models and intimate friends included Simon and Waldef, sons of King David of Scotland.

In his sermon, the Rev. Burnette affirmed the respect and dignity of all people, pointing out the need for all people to remain in "open communication" concerning gay issues, while acknowledging hardships endured by the community. 

"I think that Father Marc Burnette touched on the most central truth of the matter when he said that Jesus didn't die just for the people who lived and thought exactly as he would prefer, but he died for all of us. Most churches teach this, and some even believe it, and sometimes the church teaches it very beautifully, but, often, the people still treat  us like social lepers," said Rachel Stephenson, of Birmingham.  

She continued, "This night, though, I was very proud of Integrity, and St. Andrew's, for providing us with a wonderful evening in which our differences were noted, but not in a way that left us feeling unblessed. Grace Episcopal Church, MCC, and the United Methodist Church that joinedus made this a special evening.   I am encouraged to imagine a day -- shall WE, too, have a Dream? -- When all churches will believe in lovingall their neighbors, and not just the straight ones.  Oh, well, maybethey'll love me when I stop kvetching about them!"

Communion, to which all baptized Christians were invited to the altar for the sacraments and to which all others were invited for a blessing, was included as a part of the service.  The mission statement of St. Andrew's parish states the church is a, "diverse community that seeks unity with God and neighbor through Christ in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of liturgy and service, promoting justice, peace and love."

Kim Beckett, an Episcopalian mother from Jacksonville who attended the event with her husband and 12-year old son said,  "My family and I were honored to be included in the celebration. To be asked to participate in the breaking of the bread with a community that has suffered so much from our ignorance and prejudices is an honor indeed.  I will not forget this evening."  Beckett is also the sister of a gay man who once was an active church member who now feels estranged from the church and rarely attends services.

Prayers of the people for the service moved many in attendance to tears. Compiled by Integrity member Jerry Sapp, the prayers included a numberof quotes from newspaper articles, first-hand accounts and research analysis concerning gay bashing, gay youth and adult suicide relating to coming out issues were recounted during the prayers. 

A "straight-but-not-narrow" friend of Integrity said, "Whenever I experience things like this, I'm always left wishing more straight 
people were there. I may be an eternal optimist, but I think that even the most hard-nosed conservative would have to be affected by the quotes from those prayers.  The sermon was good, too.   And I'm once again struck that it's our job to be tolerant now. Whether 'they' tolerate me and you is totally their problem now. It's our church and we have to love and tolerate those who don't get it yet until they do get it. Thanks for the reminder."

Another participant termed the experience as "very empowering" for GLBT persons of faith.   "The outpouring of true 'Christian love' was in great contrast to the 'Christian fear and lack of understanding' we often experience. It is wonderful to see the Church opening its heart to all persons," said Ken Baker from Montgomery.

Musical selection for the service were provided by St. Andrew's recently installed organist and choirmaster Steven Schneider who directed Virginia _____  and Valerie Maize in a stunning rendition of Simon Lole's "The Father's Love."  Schneider's Mendelssohn's "Sonata IV: Allegro con brio" ended the service to great enthusiasm. 

People from the following faith communities attended the service: Immanuel Presbyterian and St. Bede's Catholic  in Montgomery, Canterbury Chapel in Tuscaloosa, St. Michael's and All Angels in Anniston, Covenant MCC, Grace Woodlawn, and St. Luke's Episcopal, Temple Emanuel, Southside Baptist and the Cathedral Church of the Advent.

A lasagna feast followed the service. The was event clearly classified as a celebration as Integrity board members greeted guests at the doors of the parish hall with colorful Mardi Gras beads.  Tables were draped with red and gold tablecloths.  Decorations included fresh runners of ivy with votive candles, miniature figurines of famous churches of the world and reproduction icons of St. Aelred, which were given as door prizes.  Nine sunflower arrangements, provided by Highland Floral, also adorned the tables. 

Harold Warren, a member of St. Andrew's said, "I am so pleased that the doors of our buildings and hearts of our people can be open to groups such as Integrity. I found the St Aelred's service to be genuinely moving experience and Fr Brunette's words to be poignant. I came away from the service with a different perspective on how people of any background, committed in love, can be Christians, and regardless of our own abilities, God is always committed to love all his children." 

When asked of his impression of the evening, Frank Romanowicz, one of the founders of Integrity Alabama said, "The sermon was what I carried away with me - about unconditional love, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. And when Marc (the celebrant and preacher) asked all of us if we would lay down our life for the one we love, it really struck me dumb the first time he asked it, and I heard my partner say yes immediately, unhesitatingly, and when Marc asked it again, I said yes too. That was strong stuff, and cut to the quick, so to speak."

Speaking on activities of Integrity over the past year, Johnson pointed out that in addition to monthly meetings, which included guest speaker programs and worship services, the group also completed two successful service projects.  An $800 fundraiser benefiting Balm of Gilead, the hospice unit at Cooper Green Hospital in Birmingham, took place in the spring.  Also, more than 100 blankets were collected and distributed to the poor as cold weather hit Alabama.

Of the evening, Crestwood resident Howard J. Bayless III said, "It was very moving to see the power and love of our savior moving through us, bringing us all together to celebrate.  His love is our catalyst for us to reveal to others that he is an integral part of our lives."

The Rev. Elizabeth O'Neill of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Montgomery offered the following assessment of the evening:  "The experience of participating in the service at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in celebration of St. Aelred was a rich experience of grace; generating hope and witnessing to Love.  Gathering with members and friends of the GLBT community in a traditional church setting and sharing in a traditional worship service was, in fact, a return to ancient truth: that is, God's Word is a word of unconditional grace. 

"Saturday, the community that gathered extended God's word of grace in a traditional setting through the gift of presence.  The particular setting demonstrated the call of the church to swing the doors wide open; to welcome and affirm all of God's children.  Hope was stirred by the wide diversity of those present.  The genuine love and affection that was extended witnessed to the source of love; a love Aelred understood and wrote about...  a love demonstrated freely around tables where bread was broken and wine was poured out...  The bread of life, the cup of salvation.  Praise God, from who all blessings flow!"