Welcome to Integrity Canada!

Integrity Canada is a national network of local Integrity chapters, members, and friends working toward the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the life and ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada. Learn more about us here.

The tabs to the left will help you explore some helpful resources: Sexual Orientation 101, personal testimonies of LGBT Christians, study aids for your biblical and theological reflection, plus contact information for Integrity chapters across the country. Below you'll find recent Integrity Canada news and links to our newsletter, Integrator.

For more information, or if you'd like to speak to someone about a personal concern, please contact us. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you're welcome here!

Integrity Canada news . . .

Integrity Canada calls on Bishops to end the moratorium. “We contend that the moratorium on same-sex blessings has served its purpose, that dioceses have exercised due diligence in discerning the movement of the Spirit in their midst, and that those whose consciences allow must now be permitted to express their convictions in accordance with the core doctrine of our Church. We ask the House of Bishops to lift the moratorium on same-sex blessings.” See Integrity’s 24 October 2007 letter to the Primate here (pdf format).

Ottawa and Montreal support Same-Sex Relationships! Congratulations to Integrity friends in the dioceses of Ottawa and Montreal! Your hard work has contributed to decisions (on 13 and 19 October, respectively) in favour of blessings for civilly married same-sex couples. We now await the assent of the bishops of Ottawa, Montreal, and Niagara, whose synod voted in favour of blessings three years ago. New Westminster (Vancouver) is currently the only Canadian diocese to allow blessings for lesbian and gay couples.

FILM: Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Ex-Gay Movement. A 2007 feature-length documentary, "For the Bible Tells Me So," features Bishop Gene Robinson and other Integrity friends who have suffered as a result of the traditionalist interpretation of scripture (watch the trailer). In June, the CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos interviewed psychiatrist Alicia Salzer about the ALGP's short film, Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement. Both films document the corrosive effect of fundamentalist rhetoric on the faith and health of homosexual people. Integrity Canada wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury on this topic in November 2006.

SCM stands with LGBT Anglicans and Lutherans. The national board of the Student Christian Movement of Canada expressed its support for Integrity and Lutherans Concerned following the failure of both the Anglican and Evangelical Lutheran churches in Canada to approve same-sex blessings in June. "You have struggled long and hard to be recognized, affirmed and blessed as full and equal children of God. You have endured abstract and often ignorant debates centered on you as though no sexual minorities or allies were present to speak for yourselves. But of course, you have spoken! And you have been heard." Read their 29 June 2007statement of solidarity here.

InFocus: Local Option, Blessing Same-Sex Unions, and the Bible. In advance of General Synod (June 2007), Integrity published two InFocus summary guides to current issues facing the Church, plus three full-length essays, all found in the Publications section:
       "Local Option: It's the Anglican Way," by Neil Fernyhough.
       "On Blessings, Same-Sex Covenants, and Pastoral Response," by William Crockett.
       "Challenging Conventional Wisdom: How a conservative reading of the biblical references to homosexuality fails to support their traditional interpretation," by Steve Schuh.

Gay Anglicans rebuff Bishops' proposals for 'pastoral care' and more study. Members of Integrity Canada are at turns offended, disappointed, and confused by the Canadian House of Bishops' "possible pastoral responses" and its demands for prolonged dialogue and study. Integrity's 4 May 2007 media release is here.

Our national newsletter, Integrator …

From the June 2007 issue:

The Bumpy Road to Winnipeg General Synod is poised to make decisions against a backdrop of Communion unrest and agitation. "These are stressful times for the Anglican Communion, especially for those (like Integrity supporters) who want the church to change current policies," writes Chris Ambidge.

Crisis of Conscience Some Anglican clergy are already counting the cost of the Church's failure to move forward more quickly. They foretell the consequences should General Synod decide for the status quo, or worse, warns Steve Schuh.

The Gospel Imperative "We proclaim a Gospel that welcomes diversity of thought and encourages free and open theological debate as a way of seeking God's truth. If that means that others reject us and communion with us, as some have already done, we must with great regret and sorrow accept their decision." From the US House of Bishops.

Integrator Archives. Lots more good stuff to read.