"Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us." (POP - CPT Worship Booklet, 2008) The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and The Diocesan Committee on Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons sponsored a clergy pastoral training course ...

The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and The Diocesan Committee on Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons sponsored a clergy pastoral training course on meeting the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian persons and their family members at The Duncan M. Gray Camp & Conference Center, June 1^st and 2^nd.  The presenter, The Rev. Dr. Philip Culbertson, recently retired from The College of St. John the Evangelist, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, offered an inspiring, invigorating, and compassionate presentation on issues of justice and concerns faced by our gay men and women living in our church communities.  Dr. Culbertson’s presentation was based on Chapter 7, “Counseling Gays and Lesbians”, from his book “Caring for God’s People”.  Bishop Gray invited this event as a pastoral expression in the spirit of the consistent encouragement by Lambeth Conferences and our own church to provide pastoral care for gay and lesbian persons in our congregations.