FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 1995

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

John C. Bradley
301-294-5573 (work)
301-565-0325 (home)
johnclint@aol.com (e-mail)

WASHINGTON, DC--The Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., clearly affirmed
its support today for gay and lesbian people.  During its annual convention,
lay and clerical delegates from approximately 100 congregations voted in
favor of two gay-positive resolutions.

One of the resolutions expressed support for Maryland legislation making it
illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gays in housing and employment.
 The other resolution affirmed that the church should support same-sex unions
and that qualified gays and lesbians should be ordained to the priesthood. 

For several years, a bill has been introduced in the Maryland Assembly to add
sexual orientation to the list of classes protected from housing and
employment discrimination.  The bill has not yet succeeded, partially due to
the opposition of the radical religious right.  

"The unanimous passage of the Maryland civil rights resolution shows
legislators that most people of faith support nondiscrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation," said John Bradley, co-convener of Integrity/Washington
, the group of gay and lesbian Episcopalians that initiated the resolution.
 "This resolution sends a strong message of social justice from our diocese
to Maryland lawmakers."  The Diocese of Washington includes several counties
in southern Maryland.

In the summer of 1994, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, the
Right Rev. John S. Spong of Newark presented a document called the Koinonia
Statement to his sister and brother bishops.  (Koinonia is a Greek word that
means "community" or "fellowship.")

The Koinonia Statement declares that sexual orientation is "morally neutral"
and that both heterosexuality and homosexuality can be lived out "with
beauty, honor, holiness, and integrity."  The statement also says that
"faithful, monogamous, committed, lifegiving, and holy relationships" between
gay and lesbian couples should be recognized and supported by the church.  It
affirms the ordination of gay and lesbian people who meet all other
qualifications for the priesthood.  The statement, however, does not grant
permission for either of these activities or mandate that they be performed. 
To date, 70 bishops have signed the Koinonia Statement.  

During his speech to the diocesan convention in favor of the resolution, the
Rev. Michael W. Hopkins--an openly gay priest serving a congregation in the
diocese and one of the original cosponsors of the Koinonia resolution--said,
"As a gay man, I have long waited for the Church to come to my house and see.
 I have nothing to hide.  Any of you who are skeptical, you are welcome at
either table where my life is centered--either the Table at which I am
privileged to preside at St. George's Chapel or the table I share with my
partner in our home.  Any time, come and see.  I stand before you to put a
human face on this issue...I am one of you."

After the Koinonia resolution passed, Father Hopkins said, "Passing this resol
ution acknowledged a reality that already exists in our diocese.  There are
many gay and lesbian people in our diocese.  These clergy and laity guide our
parishes, play our organs, lead our choirs, teach our Sunday Schools, and pay
our pledges.  By passing this resolution, our diocese has said to these gay
and lesbian Episcopalians, 'We are glad to have you gathering together around
the altar with us as fellow children of God.'"

Before the vote, 62 delegates asked to be listed as cosponsors of the
Koinonia resolution.  During debate on the resolution, several delegates told
moving stories about the struggle of their gay and lesbian relatives to find
acceptance in the church.  When the vote was taken, over two-thirds of
convention delegates voted in favor of the Koinonia resolution.