T H E Y EA R IN
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
DECEMBER 9. 2011
21_J«
- fa ith ^
Classes, demonstrations and
everything you need for your
urban homestead.
8012 SE 13th Ave • Portland, OR 97202
503.233.8691
homesteadsupplyco.com
Integrity USA’s Andy McQuery with the
Rev. Mary Piper at the first Southern
Oregon Pride Parade
1 I ■ , ï 1 "r -,
■
L 1
i
1
»
cided to retire.
Leo and spouse Diane Syrcle—the
minister of music at Bridgeport UCC, as
well as executive director of the Oregon
Ballet Theatre—founded the church 13
years ago. Syrcle also announced she would
be leaving her post at Bridgeport. Bridge
port UCC is an LG BTQ_ welcoming con
gregation, with an estimated 50 percent of
the adults in the church identifying as gay,
lesbian or bisexual.
. “God called me to start this church, build
it and bring it along for 13 years,” Leo said
in a statement. “Now I feel God calling me
out and into the next phase of my life, and I
must heed that call.”
On that note, Rabbi Debra Kolodny ar
rived from Washington, D.C. in September
to head Portland’s P’nai Or synagogue.
With transition comes new opportunities
for area faithful. Surely, inclusive efforts on
the part of the community ought to be
ramped up. In 2012, Just Out will continue
to provide coverage surrounding the olive
branch extended to Mars Hill, as well as the
hardworking believers the city over.
1 I
I r. 9
I!
, Jil l a l
■ 1
-f, r-*
''M
1
SS3
i
■
Despite very vocal town hall-style meet
ings discussing the issue, both Mars Hill
and Q_Center agreed to hold regular meet
ings between members of the evangelical
Christian and LGBTQ_communities.
Before the shadow was cast by the Mars
Hill debacle, the positive work of Portland’s
chapter of Integrity USA emerged as a criti
cal progressive story regionally. Helmed by
Andy McQuery, the local chapter expanded
on the LGBTQ_Episcopalian community’s
goals of leading the grassroots effort for the
full inclusion of LGBTQ. persons in the
Episcopal Church and access to its rites.
The chapter’s highlights included walking
in this year’s Portland Pride parade, with
Michael J. Hanley, bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Oregon, at its side. Bishop Gene
Robinson, the Episcopal Church’s first
openly gay bishop, paid a visit to Portland in
June, speaking at the Trinity Episcopal
Church, as well as during a forum for Equity
Foundation.Christopher Senyonjo, a re
tired Anglican bishop from Uganda on a
cross-counfry tour of the States, also spoke
at Trinity Episcopal Church in September.
In May, the Reverend Susan Leo, long
time minister of Bridgeport United Cljurch
of Christ, announced that after more than a
decade of running the church, she had de-
It ’ 9 ffli
r* 1 -'1
I«
JvÊÊM
Most Insurance and Flex Benefits
expire on December 31st
Exams Available • On-Site Lab • 1 Hour Service
Thousands of Frames
Eye Exams by Dr. Nancy Buset
Independent Optom etrie Physician
925 SW Taylor S treet PDX, OR 9 7 2 0 5
Centrally located in downtow n,
q
justout columnists:
queer view of Portland
Jewel Robinson
Remember
Eyemed, Regence BC/BS, ODS and most other insurance
PRINCIPAL REAL ESTATE BROKER
87ILLI0N DOLLAR PRODUCER
to Breathe
www.hendrixmcguire.com
jewelofthepearl.com
jewelrobinson.com
cell 503.708.9508
jewelrocks@gmail.com
M Realty LLC
2211 NW Front Ave, Ste. 101
Portland, OR 97209
office 503.459.4474
Who is Jewel...?
see for yourself
• BRING IN THIS COUPON FOR OUR -
j FREE FRAMES j
http://avant2d.com/sites/jewelofthepearl
| FOR FAMILY PROMOTION OFFER
I
Hendrix & McGuire Optical. Offer Expires 12/31/2011
•
|