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Sisters and brothers in Christ:

It is with honor and joy that I write to express my support and gratitude for the ministry of the Southeast Michigan chapter of Integrity and to welcome you to this site.

In 2001 two gifted Episcopal Priests offered an important addition to the many wonderful resources celebrating and articulating the gift of diversity from God in their book, Gifted by Otherness. On the back cover of that book is a marvelous description of what our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters encounter again and again on their spiritual journeys:

Gay and lesbian Christians are in the awkward position of trying to explain themselves to two mutually hostile audiences. On the one side, the gay and lesbian community is often deeply suspicious of anyone connected with Christianity. On the other side sits the church, which has historically wished that gays and lesbians would simply go away, or at least simply disappear into the woodwork quietly. But the gay and lesbian community has a unique vocation in today’s church, one of challenging the church to be inclusive of all God’s children—the central message of the gospel.
The work of the Southeast Michigan chapter of Integrity is focused on that vocation. Embracing LGBT and making a permanent place for our brothers and sisters to be heard and healed, celebrated and affirmed, and invited into a community based on God’s love. This is some of the most transformational work the church can and should be engaged in. It is a vocation of inclusion and reconciliation; of baptismal ministry and striving to live out the gospel in our lives and relationships. It is a vocation that is shared and celebrated by the Diocese of Michigan as well. Let us go forth from this place of common purpose, common mission and common commitment to making disciples for Christ by affirming once again God’s love for all as we strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
Again, welcome!

In Christ,

The Rt. Rev’d Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr.
10th Bishop of Michigan