Date: Fri, 05 May 1995 17:51:55 BST From: Andrew Sharp Subject: Action for Lesbian & Gay Ordination Hello, I would like to submit this for inclusion within the QRD's Religious section. This is a British-based campaign, but should have implications for the whole of the Anglican (Episcopalian) Church world-wide. It should be noted that the British AGLO has nothing whatever to do with the Roman Catholic "ex-gay" movement. Thanks very much, Andrew Sharp a.sharp@uea.ac.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Launching a campaign to promote the ordination of lesbians and gay men with a service at St. James's Piccadilly, London, England on 17th May. A.G.L.O Action for Gay & Lesbian Ordination It is time for the Church of England to be honest about its gay clergy and to stop discriminating against them. AGLO is a single-issue pressure group which will campaign for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals to be equal with heterosexuals in the Anglican priesthood. The Bishops' 1991 statement "Issues in Human Sexuality" decided that gay men and lesbians can be priests only if they abstain from sex. In reality, this forces gay priests and their partners into lies, and cuts them off from pastoral support. It denies the godliness of same-sex relationships. It alienates gay and lesbian candidates for ordination. So far the loudest protest has come from Outrage!, a non-christian group using the contraversial tactic of outing. Now the church needs to hear the voice of Anglicans - lay and ordained, gay & heterosexual - who believe that the Bishop's policy is hypocritical and unjust. AGLO aims to be this voice - to organise and lobby and reason, without putting a spotlight on individual clergy, until their is equality in the ordained ministry. All welcome at the Launch service & Celebration at St. James's Piccadilly on 17 May 1995 at 7pm Contact Rachel Carr or Tim Robertson at AGLO, PO Box 5716, London W10 6WN, England ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you want to become a member of AGLO they have a rate of #5 (waged), #3 (unwaged) and #4 (LGCM member). If you write offering time & ideas, if helps if you can included the name of the diocese in which you live. This initiative has the support of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, but is an independent venture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------