St. Paul's is a place where ALL are welcome!
Integrity is a nonprofit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] Episcopalians and our straight friends. Since our founding by Dr. Louie Crew in rural Georgia in 1974, Integrity has been the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church and our equal access to its rites. However, advocacy is only one facet of our ministry. At the national level and in local chapters and diocesan networks throughout the country, the primary activities are:
worship * fellowship * education * communication * outreach, * service to the church
Through Integrity's evangelism, thousands of LGBT people, estranged from the Episcopal Church and other denominations, have returned to parish life. Contact Lori for more info 699-5880.
worship * fellowship * education * communication * outreach, * service to the church
Through Integrity's evangelism, thousands of LGBT people, estranged from the Episcopal Church and other denominations, have returned to parish life. Contact Lori for more info 699-5880.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
You are invited to join us for Eucharist on Sundays at 10am and coffee hour following the service. Bakersfield Pride October 12, 2019 @ Stramler Park Look for our Booth ALL ARE WELCOME! For more information contact Lori Toia ltoia867@yahoo.com or Tanya Brown Antoinettem.brown@yahoo.com 
Lori, Bishop Gene Robinson, and Aaron. Bishop Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church.
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LGBT Resources: (Click on name)
The Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity CSUB GLBTQ Library Parents, Family & Friends of Gays A Letter to Dr. Laura
The Bible's Suprisingly Mixed Messages on Sexuality On gay rights, tolerant Christians need to come out of the closet. Bishop's Committee Announcement
The Bishop's Committee of St. Paul's Episcopal Church has unanimously approved the following motion:
Moved: St. Paul's Episcopal Church affirms that it is a Welcoming Congregation, one in which gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgender persons, either singly or with their partners, are welcomed and treated the same as all other persons or couples in the parish. Additionally, being welcoming means that all LGBT persons will be considered for leadership positions, including serious and honest consideration for Holy Orders, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, St. Paul's Episcopal Church affirms that the rites "Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage" and "The Blessing of a Civil Marriage" are available for all LGBT couples. Come Join Us! Same-Gender Blessing in the
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This Week
by Tanya Brown,
Bishop's Committee Member
My Journey to St Paul’s
Growing up my family did not go to church except for weddings, funerals, and baptisms. No-one ever talked to me about God, religion, or faith. I had no connection to anything faith based, yet I felt called to explore my spirituality. There was one problem, I was locked inside my closet. I hid the fact that I was gay from everyone.
Every chance I had I would go to church with anyone who would invite me. I was baptized Catholic, but I explored a lot of different denominations. I quickly learned I was not going to be accepted. Every church I visited made me feel like more of an outcast. I kept hearing how people like me were never going to be good enough to walk through the pearly gates of Heaven. I kept thinking, Why did God Create me as I am?
One of the many churches I found was Victory Outreach. I loved the music, and i loved how everyone was so confident in their faith. They told me that all I had to do was give myself to God and be saved. Then i would be allowed into Heaven when it was my time. So, I got saved not once, or even twice. I was saved four times.
I kept waiting to be enveloped in that unconditional love that I kept hearing about. It never happened. I thought, Maybe I’m doing something wrong? I mean, I was still Gay. I stopped going to church. I came out, and I met my first girlfriend. I quickly found out I was dating a pastors daughter. I went to his church, and I thought I had finally found a church home. I was wrong. No matter what the sermon was on the days I went, as soon as my girlfriend and I walked in, the topic quickly changed. I was prayed over by preachers to release me from my demons. I was still Gay. They brought in evangelists that laid hands on me. I was still Gay. An ex girlfriends mom called me the dark cloud that came over their family. Somehow I was the cause of their child's homosexuality.
That was it. I gave up on going to church. I felt like I was who God intended me to be. I accepted my spirituality. I gave up on finding a church. Then, one day I was invited to a wedding, and Not just any wedding. It was a blessing of a union of two women, and it was in a church. I was extremely skeptical. There had to be a catch. There was no way my relationship would be excepted. It wasn’t even called “Marriage”. I really had no intention of going, but I found I still felt called to explore more than a spirituality.
I went. I expected nothing different from all I had already experienced. I went because the couple was awesome and i wanted to be there for them. I told myself I would leave at the slightest hint of homophobia. I walked into Grace very nervous. I didn’t want to feel that crushing feeling of being an outcast. That never happened. For the first time I was welcomed. For the first time I was hugged by people I had never met before. I kept waiting for that alter call to come. Come be saved from your sin even though I was at a Blessing for two women. After the service I was invited back. I thought, next time ill be prayed over to release me of my demons. It never happened. Every Sunday I was welcomed and treated as family. I was accepted as I was. My family was excepted completely.
One evening at a soup supper, the priest sat with my family and asked, “When are you two getting married?” It was at that moment that I knew I was finally where I was supposed to be. I found my spiritual home. I found Grace, and Grace found me. Thank you Lori and Arcelia for inviting me, and helping me find my spiritual home. Thank you St Paul’s for excepting me as I am. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
Growing up my family did not go to church except for weddings, funerals, and baptisms. No-one ever talked to me about God, religion, or faith. I had no connection to anything faith based, yet I felt called to explore my spirituality. There was one problem, I was locked inside my closet. I hid the fact that I was gay from everyone.
Every chance I had I would go to church with anyone who would invite me. I was baptized Catholic, but I explored a lot of different denominations. I quickly learned I was not going to be accepted. Every church I visited made me feel like more of an outcast. I kept hearing how people like me were never going to be good enough to walk through the pearly gates of Heaven. I kept thinking, Why did God Create me as I am?
One of the many churches I found was Victory Outreach. I loved the music, and i loved how everyone was so confident in their faith. They told me that all I had to do was give myself to God and be saved. Then i would be allowed into Heaven when it was my time. So, I got saved not once, or even twice. I was saved four times.
I kept waiting to be enveloped in that unconditional love that I kept hearing about. It never happened. I thought, Maybe I’m doing something wrong? I mean, I was still Gay. I stopped going to church. I came out, and I met my first girlfriend. I quickly found out I was dating a pastors daughter. I went to his church, and I thought I had finally found a church home. I was wrong. No matter what the sermon was on the days I went, as soon as my girlfriend and I walked in, the topic quickly changed. I was prayed over by preachers to release me from my demons. I was still Gay. They brought in evangelists that laid hands on me. I was still Gay. An ex girlfriends mom called me the dark cloud that came over their family. Somehow I was the cause of their child's homosexuality.
That was it. I gave up on going to church. I felt like I was who God intended me to be. I accepted my spirituality. I gave up on finding a church. Then, one day I was invited to a wedding, and Not just any wedding. It was a blessing of a union of two women, and it was in a church. I was extremely skeptical. There had to be a catch. There was no way my relationship would be excepted. It wasn’t even called “Marriage”. I really had no intention of going, but I found I still felt called to explore more than a spirituality.
I went. I expected nothing different from all I had already experienced. I went because the couple was awesome and i wanted to be there for them. I told myself I would leave at the slightest hint of homophobia. I walked into Grace very nervous. I didn’t want to feel that crushing feeling of being an outcast. That never happened. For the first time I was welcomed. For the first time I was hugged by people I had never met before. I kept waiting for that alter call to come. Come be saved from your sin even though I was at a Blessing for two women. After the service I was invited back. I thought, next time ill be prayed over to release me of my demons. It never happened. Every Sunday I was welcomed and treated as family. I was accepted as I was. My family was excepted completely.
One evening at a soup supper, the priest sat with my family and asked, “When are you two getting married?” It was at that moment that I knew I was finally where I was supposed to be. I found my spiritual home. I found Grace, and Grace found me. Thank you Lori and Arcelia for inviting me, and helping me find my spiritual home. Thank you St Paul’s for excepting me as I am. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
