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Celebrating our 10th Year…
Integrity
Alabama 2004 Year in Review By David Gary
contact: 205-595-3159
or davidgary1@aol.com |
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In addition to our home parish interactions and personal ministries, Integrity Alabama, its members and friends facilitated, partnered and participated in many events representing one or more aspect of our mission and ministry:
Our fourth annual Christmas blanket drive service
project celebrated unprecedented giving, both monetarily and through more than
60 volunteer hours. We were able to
provide 1,058 blankets through ten social service agencies at more than a dozen
distribution points. This year's effort benefited Birmingham-area
homeless, working poor, immigrant families, indigent nursing home patients,
clients of two homeless shelters, people affected by AIDS and mentally ill
group home residents. We also contributed to 310 gift boxes to clients of
Birmingham AIDS Outreach and AIDS Alabama, including Agape and Jasper Houses,
congregant living facilities for people with AIDS and addiction challenges
related to HIV disease. Episcopal
distribution points included the needy and homeless serviced by Grace
Church-Woodlawn, St. Andrews, Trinity
Church-Bessemer and All Saint’s-Homewood .
A liturgy of remembrance for Billy Jack Gaither and all who have died as a result of hate was led on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery
We
celebrated the Feast of St. Aelred with Grace Church – Woodlawn, hosting a
dinner for more than 100. Dr. Louie
Crew, Integrity founder, preached. Crew
has served in many ECUSA positions, including the House of Deputies and Member
of Executive Council.
Regular
monthly meetings with speakers and worship were held. Popular meetings featured the Dr. Steve
Haeberlee, a renowned political science professor at the University of Alabama
at Birmingham and Harry Knox of the Freedom to Marry collaborative in New York
City.
Our convener (2002-2004) Brad LaMonte served on the international board of directors.
Then today, Sunday, Integrity Alabama was represented well at the Magic City AIDS Walk held in Birmingham benefiting Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) when members manned an informational booth at Caldwell Park and participated in the march, carrying a large icon of Bishop Gene Robinson.
More than 20 people from across the state and Tennessee attended our fifth annual Spring Retreat . “Justice, Prayer, Scripture and the Living God” was led by the Rev. Ed Bacon. His parish (All Saints-Pasadena, California) has risen to national acclaim, founding Beyond Inclusion and co-founding the Witness and the Every Voice Network and is considered premier progressive resources for information and communication on issues of justice and peace.
Integrity participated in the Interfaith Pride Week kickoff service for Central Alabama Pride. Information packages and olivewood crosses were distributed from an Integrity information booth at Central Alabama Pride’s Sunday in the Park.
In August, a number of members and friends, including Integrity founder Dr. Louie Crew, participated in the annual Jonathan Myrick Daniels pilgrimage in Hayneville. A diverse crowd of more than 20 assembled for a post-event theological reflection in Montgomery led by Crew.
Integrity members and leaders were prominent participants and volunteers in various lecture series including Bishop John Shelby Spong and Matthew Fox events in Montgomery and Birmingham.
In September, several members were actively involved in the third annual Day of Equality sponsored by Equality Alabama.
In October, several members participated in the “Justice is Orthodox Theology” conference in Atlanta which coincided with the 30th anniversary of Integrity’s founding. Included in the noteworthy speaker lineup was Bishop V. Gene Robinson who celebrated the Eucharist.
In the fall, members and friends gathered several times for potluck supper -theater events in Birmingham.
Popular spring and fall home Eucharists were held in Birmingham.
Throughout the year, we provided networking and referral assistance to GLBT persons in need.