St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Chicago Consultation Hopes Archbishop's Statement Signals New Course on LGBT Issues

CHICAGO, IL, January 28, 2011--The Chicago Consultation issued this statement today from its co-convener, the Rev. Lowell Grisham:

"The Chicago Consultation applauds the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, for his statements condemning the murder of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato. We hope the archbishop's statement signals a willingness to speak out against the persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people more directly and forcefully than he has in the past.

Posted February 4, 2011 | Permalink

Wage Theft Legislation

Today Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) introduced the Wage Theft Prevention and Community Partnership Act, which would authorize the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a competitive grant program to prevent wage theft. The bill would expand the efforts of enforcement agencies and community organizations to educate workers about their rights and the remedies available to them.

Posted November 4, 2010 | Permalink

Our Gulf Vigil reported by Episcopal News Service

TEXAS: Oil employees, environmental activists pledge to renew the environment together at Houston prayer vigil

By Pat McCaughan, June 25, 2010

[Episcopal News Service] Oil company employees and environmental activists alike gathered in vigil on June 24 at St. Stephen's Church in Houston, Texas, offering prayers for those affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill and pledging to help renew the environment.

Posted June 29, 2010 | Permalink

Gulf Oil Spill--We Are All Connected-Bishop Shori

The original peoples of the North American continent understand that we are all connected, and that harm to one part of the sacred circle of life harms the whole. Scientists, both the ecological and physical sorts, know the same reality, expressed in different terms. The Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) also charge human beings with care for the whole of creation, because it is God's good gift to humanity. Another way of saying this is that we are all connected and there is no escape; our common future depends on how we care for the rest of the natural world, not just the square feet of soil we may call "our own." We breathe the same air, our food comes from the same ground and seas, and the water we have to share cycles through the same airshed, watershed, and terra firma.

Posted June 15, 2010 | Permalink

Presiding bishop issues pastoral letter to the church

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued a pastoral letter to the Episcopal Church, in which she refers to the Pentecost letter from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and urges continued dialogue with those who disagree with recent actions "for we believe that the Spirit is always calling us to greater understanding."

Posted June 3, 2010 | Permalink