Welcome to the Sexual Diversity Task Force web site!

 

The Sexual Diversity Task Force was created in September 2000 in the Diocese of Rhode Island in direct response to Resolution A009: Homosexuality: Identification of "Safe Spaces" passed by the House of Bishops at the Seventy-Third General Convention.
The resolution states:

 

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Executive Council establish a formal process for congregations to identify themselves as "safe spaces" for lesbians and gays and others who understand themselves to be part of a sexual minority to tell their stories and be heard with love, care, and assurance of appropriate confidentiality; and be it further

 

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop's staff work with counterparts within the Anglican Communion to encourage similar "safe spaces" within the Communion.

 

The name of the task force was originally called Safe Church Task Force in order to reflect the intent of the original resolution.During the first year, the task force worked on preparing a workshop to open the dialogue on this resolution.The workshop was held on March 17, 2001 at St. Michael’s Church in Bristol.A copy of the Oasis curriculum from the Diocese of Newark was presented to each church.For those churches who did not attend, a copy of the curriculum was mailed to them.A copy of the results of the workshop can be found at the link:

 

·        March 17, 2001 Safe Church Task Force Workshop Results

 

The task force then presented the following resolution to the 211^thconvention of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.It passed with an overwhelming majority.  The resolution stated:

 

Resolved, That this 211^thConvention of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island call clergy and laity of the churches of the Diocese to participate in workshops to make churches safe for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people led by the Safe Church Task Force to be held in each Deanery within the next year to work with churches on issues concerning diversity, sensitivity, and cultural differences.

 

Following the 2001 Convention, the task force changed its name to the Sexual Diversity Task Force, and has been working on developing the following options for parishes and individuals who wish to pursue this resolution.

 

·        Three 2 hour session curriculum for adult education using a modified Oasis curriculum

·        Speakers at coffee hour, vestry meetings, adult education

·        Clergy for sermons

·        Private discussions with clergy or laity who wish to discuss ways to broach this subject in their parish

 

For further information about these programs, please contact the Task Force via St. Augustine's, Kingston by calling 401-874-2739, or email at diversity@EpiscopalRI.org.

 

For those who wish to do reading on this subject, please go to the following link:

 

·        Bibliography of books on gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered subjects