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Dioceses of Newark and New York bear witness together at NYC's Gay Pride March

Bishop Andrew M.L. Dietsche of New York and his wife Margaret
By: 
Nina Nicholson

Sporting T-shirts with rainbows, Episcopal shields and slogans such as "Our welcome is wide," "We are all part of one human family" and "I'm a Christian and I support equality," more than 200 Episcopalians from the Dioceses of Newark and New York marched together down 5th Avenue in NYC at the Gay Pride March on June 30.

Joining the Episcopal contingent were Bishop Andrew M.L. Dietsche of New York and his wife Margaret, who waved to the crowds from a float that proclaimed "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You."

"With the Supreme Court decisions this past week supporting marriage equality, it feels like a new day," said Dietsche. "I'm here to support our LGBT community, which is an important part of our inclusive community in the Diocese of New York."

Bishop Mark M. Beckwith of Newark was away on sabbatical on June 30. However on June 26, the day the Supreme Court issued rulings overturning DOMA and Prop 8, he wrote on his blog, "I celebrate the two rulings issued today by the Supreme Court. It brings us closer to marriage equality - and full equality, for all God's children."

The 22 congregations represented at the march included both the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NYC and Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral in Newark, NJ.

"The impact of a solid city block of Episcopalians sends a strong message to viewers that we are a church where they will be welcomed," said Christian Paolino, Chair of the Stakeholders' Council of Integrity USA, the nonprofit organization founded by Louie Crew in 1974 to advocate for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church.

Members of the LGBT Concerns Committee of the Diocese of New York volunteered as marshalls, which required them to attend training in advance, as well as collected funds for The Episcopal Church float.

During the four-hour wait on East 38th Street before stepping off in the march, the Episcopal contingent held a Street Eucharist organized by the NYC-Metro branch of Integrity and celebrated by the Rev. Megan Sanders, interim rector at St. Andrew's Church on Staten Island.

"Almighty God, you have called us by your prophets to bring justice to the peoples," Sanders prayed during the service. "Give us Grace to witness to your love with integrity of spirit."

This 5-minute video includes comments by several participants, as well as scenes from the Eucharist and the march.

Congregations represented from the Diocese of Newark:

  • Church of the Redeemer, Morristown, NJ
  • Christ Church, Hackensack, NJ
  • Grace Church, Newark, NJ
  • St. George's Church, Maplewood, NJ
  • St. John's Church, Montclair, NJ
  • St. Peter's Church, Clifton, NJ
  • St. Peter's Church, Livingston, NJ
  • Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark, NJ

Congregations represented from the Diocese of New York:

  • Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC
  • Church of St. Luke in the Fields, NYC
  • Church of the Ascension, NYC
  • Church of the Holy Apostles, NYC
  • Church of the Holy Trinity, NYC
  • Church of the Transfiguration, NYC
  • Christ Church, Tarrytown, NY
  • St. Andrew's Church, Staten Island, NY
  • St. Bartholomew's Church, NYC
  • St. Clement's Church, NYC
  • St. John's Church in the Village, NYC
  • St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, NYC
  • St. Michael's Church, NYC
  • St. Philip's in Harlem, NYC