You are invited to
PRAY, SING & FEAST
with us as we gather to farewell
our Parish Priest the Reverend Ali Wurmat St. Bede’s Anglican Church
200 Military Road Semaphoreon Sunday 21st August 2011
at 10am for worshipfollowed by BBQ lunch at noon
with the Choir of Hope & Harmony singing at 1pmwe hope you can join us for the service & lunch
but feel free to come to eitherlunch will cost $15 workers /$10 concession/$5 kids + coffee for sale BYO drinks
Please RSVP by Tuesday 16th August for catering purposes
phone St. Bede’s Office 8449-5064 or
email: stbedessemaphore@bigpond.comSt. Bede’s
Nurturing the Soul of Semaphore
Dear Friends,
I have been overwhelmed – in a very good way – by many hundreds of letters, cards, emails and calls from people all around Australia and other parts of the world (the USA in particular, where I lived for 5 years while doing my theological training).
I so appreciate so many people taking the time to write to me. Please excuse me if I don't respond to you all personally.
I want to assure you your thoughtfulness has made a real difference in helping me as I try to keep perspective and resilient in the face of the homophobia and discrimination that has been hurled my way. I have been deeply moved and felt very loved because of your support, along with that of so many others.
I want to ask if I can share your message of support to with others. I encourage you to make your support known in your own context and I am aware that some of you have already done this.
Specifically, I want to ask your permission to include your letter of support amongst others to line the walls of St. Bede’s hall for my farewell feast.
This will be a powerful expression and celebration of inclusive community and testimony to the multitude voices of justice who want to encourage healthy, constructive, mutual love and community life.
As you know, the broader social justice issue of homophobia within the Anglican Church in Australia and in many parts of the Anglican Communion carries great weight. Wherever any religious institutions and leaders allow and encourage discrimination against GLBTI people this undermines our communities of faith but also perpetuates homophobia in broader society.
Some of you may be aware of the various media articles and interviews in relation to my experience. For those of you who are keen to see what all the hoo har is about, links to these are listed at the bottom of this email.
Above is an invitation to my farewell at St. Bede’s on August 21st which I hope you can come to.
Please feel free to pass it on to friends, all of whom will be welcome.
Click here to see a copy of the letter I sent to members of Diocesan leadership .
If you would like to make your concerns known to the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide I encourage you to write a letter or email the Archbishop.
Address to: The Most Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Driver, Archbishop, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide
Please also send a copy (cc) to St. Bede's and me.
The three addresses to send a copy of your letter to are:
The Archbishop: jdriver@adelaide.anglican.com.au
St. Bede’s: stbedessemaphore@bigpond.com
Me: aliwurm@bigpond.com
Please let me know if you are happy for your letter to be displayed at Ali's Fea
Heartfelt thanks and please keep in touch as I prepare to move from Semaphore and St. Bede’s to my new Housekeeper job in the Flinders Ranges.
I look forward to this time of healing, renewal and holy adventures.
Ali
10/08/11
To explore the background to the current issues, click on the following links.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-06-24/gay-priest-quits-church-amid-discrimination-claims/2771018
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/claims-of-hierarchy-persecution-as-lesbian-anglican-priest-quits/story-e6frea6u-1226073666598
http://blaze.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/love-under-siege-004567.html
http://www.freedom2b.org/topic/1613
To read my letter to the Diocesan leaders, click on the below link.
Letter%20to%20Diocesan%20leaders%20with%20appendix
