Integrity USA

Integrity USA
Name	Integrity USA
Founded	1974
Dissolved	2021
Type	Nonprofit advocacy group
Headquarters	United States
Focus	LGBT advocacy within religious institutions

Integrity USA was an American advocacy organization founded to promote the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the Episcopal Church (United States), the Anglican Communion, and associated institutions. It engaged in public policy debates, diocesan advocacy, liturgical initiatives, and cultural campaigns, interacting with religious bodies, civil rights groups, and media organizations. The organization operated alongside and sometimes in opposition to other faith-based and secular LGBT groups during major controversies such as the 1998 Lambeth Conference and the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson.

History

Integrity USA was established in 1974 amid the post-Stonewall era that saw the rise of groups like Gay Liberation Front, Metropolitan Community Church, and the Human Rights Campaign. Early activities included participation in diocesan conventions, responses to decisions by bodies such as the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (United States), and engagement with theological debate stirred by figures like William Sloane Coffin and John Shelby Spong. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Integrity USA coordinated with organizations responding to the AIDS epidemic alongside groups such as the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, ACT UP, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The group’s profile rose during the controversies surrounding the Lambeth Conference (1998), the election and consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003, and the subsequent realignments that led to the formation of bodies like the Anglican Church in North America and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Mission and Activities

Integrity USA’s stated mission centered on achieving full inclusion of LGBT people within the life and governance of Episcopal Church (United States), advocating at gatherings such as the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (United States), and producing liturgical resources paralleling work by liturgists affiliated with institutions like Church Publishing Incorporated and seminaries such as General Theological Seminary. It organized annual conferences, partnered with advocacy networks like the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and civil rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union on intersectional campaigns, and issued public statements in response to actions by bodies including the House of Bishops (Episcopal Church) and the Anglican Consultative Council. Activities included grassroots organizing, publishing pastoral materials, lobbying diocesan councils, and coordinating with allied organizations such as DignityUSA, PFLAG, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (now National LGBTQ Task Force).

Organizational Structure

Integrity USA operated with a national board, regional chapters, and volunteer committees patterned after nonprofit governance seen in organizations like the American Red Cross and United Way. Leadership roles included an executive director, board chair, treasurer, and secretary; the organization also maintained advisory panels composed of clergy from dioceses such as Episcopal Diocese of New York and Episcopal Diocese of California, theologians from seminaries like Union Theological Seminary, and activists who had worked with groups like Lambda Legal and GLAAD. Chapters coordinated local programming in parishes, held training sessions akin to evangelism workshops run by organizations like Forward Movement USA, and collaborated on media outreach through contacts in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and National Public Radio.

Controversies and Criticism

Integrity USA became a focal point of controversy during doctrinal disputes that involved actors including the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury, and conservative leaders such as GAFCON founders. Critics included conservative Anglican bodies, traditionalist clergy associated with the Anglican Church in North America, and commentators from publications like First Things. Debates centered on the organization’s support for same-sex marriage rites, public responses to episcopal elections, and engagement in polity debates at General Convention of the Episcopal Church (United States), drawing criticism from diocesan leaders and laity aligned with groups such as Forward in Faith and American Anglican Council. Internal disputes over governance, finances, and strategic direction produced legal and organizational challenges comparable to those experienced by other advocacy nonprofits like Log Cabin Republicans and Human Rights Campaign. High-profile clashes during the early 2000s prompted intervention from mediators familiar with ecclesial disputes, including retired bishops and church lawyers from institutions such as the Episcopal Church Center.

Affiliations and Partnerships

Integrity USA worked with a network that included faith-based, civil rights, and health organizations: ecumenical partners like United Church of Christ congregations, collaborations with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and relationships with LGBT legal advocates such as Lambda Legal and Legal Services Corporation-linked counsel. It engaged with campus ministries and theological schools including Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, allied with activist networks like Employment Non-Discrimination Act proponents and coalitions such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Internationally, the group intersected with Anglican entities like the Episcopal Church in Scotland and advocacy networks active in contexts such as the World Council of Churches.

Legacy and Impact

The organization’s legacy is visible in shifts within the Episcopal Church (United States) regarding clergy discipline policies, liturgical experimentation, and resolutions adopted at successive General Convention of the Episcopal Church (United States). Its activities contributed to broader social changes seen alongside legal milestones such as the Obergefell v. Hodges decision and cultural debates reflected in media produced by outlets like PBS and CNN. While internal challenges and external opposition limited aspects of its work, Integrity USA influenced parish ministries, fueled theological scholarship in journals published by Seabury Press-affiliated authors, and left archival material consulted by researchers at institutions such as the Library of Congress and university special collections including Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Category:LGBT religious organizations Category:Episcopal Church (United States) organizations