Oasis Commission
Encyclopedia
The Oasis Commission is a ministry of the Episcopal Church to LGBT (lesbian
, gay
, bisexual and transgender
) persons.
The first Oasis group met at All Saints Church, Hoboken
, in 1990, while the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
was under the direction of Bishop John Shelby Spong
. At this time, making gay and lesbian people feel welcome in churches was the exception, rather than the rule. The Oasis provided a "safe space" for them to worship together, as well as social events, educational opportunities, etc.
Since that time the climate within the diocese has become much more welcoming, and today there are many welcoming congregations that contribute financially and spiritually to the work of the Oasis. Oasis works alongside the much larger IntegrityUSA
, a national group which was founded by Louie Crew
in 1974.
In addition, there are OASIS ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of California
(San Francisco), Michigan (Ann Arbor), Missouri (St. Louis), and New Jersey (Trenton). Each group operates similarly but independently.
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
) persons.
The first Oasis group met at All Saints Church, Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, in 1990, while the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Episcopal Diocese of Newark
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America comprising the northern third of New Jersey in the United States...
was under the direction of Bishop John Shelby Spong
John Shelby Spong
John Shelby "Jack" Spong is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was formerly the Bishop of Newark . He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author...
. At this time, making gay and lesbian people feel welcome in churches was the exception, rather than the rule. The Oasis provided a "safe space" for them to worship together, as well as social events, educational opportunities, etc.
Since that time the climate within the diocese has become much more welcoming, and today there are many welcoming congregations that contribute financially and spiritually to the work of the Oasis. Oasis works alongside the much larger IntegrityUSA
IntegrityUSA
IntegrityUSA is a U.S. not-for-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and straight friends. Integrity was founded by Dr...
, a national group which was founded by Louie Crew
Louie Crew
Erman Louie Crew, Jr. is an American professor emeritus of English at Rutgers University in Newark. He is best known for his long and increasingly successful campaign for the acceptance of gay and lesbian people by Christians in general, and the Episcopal Church in particular...
in 1974.
In addition, there are OASIS ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of California
Episcopal Diocese of California
The Episcopal Diocese of California is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in Northern California...
(San Francisco), Michigan (Ann Arbor), Missouri (St. Louis), and New Jersey (Trenton). Each group operates similarly but independently.