Integrity Ottawa is offering a Speakers Bureau as part of its commitment to outreach and education. The following three people are available for sermons, workshops, or other educational events as desired, on the following or related topics.

Ron Chaplin has, as convenor of the Diocesan Task Group on Gays and Lesbians, helped animate discussions in a number of local parishes around issues of sexuality, from both a theological and a pastoral perspective. He was a member of General Synod in 2004, and a member of the Diocesan Task Force on the Implications of Blessing Same-Sex Unions, during which he gained a greater understanding on Anglican Church polity and governance, and the implications of the debate on homosexual relationships on church unity. He is well versed in the evolving legal status of gay and lesbian persons and couples in Canada, having been a volunteer for many years with Egale, which is committed to securing equality rights under the law. Ron has also for several years been Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton Council on AIDS.
Contact: 241-3562 or rchaplin@netrover.com

Ron offers the following to parishes:

• Leading discussions of the pastoral issues which affect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, and their family members and friends
• Discussion of the Windsor Report and other reports on these issues in the Anglican Church of Canada and the Worldwide Communion
• Examination of those parts of Scripture which deal with sex and sexuality.

Ross Hammond began his faith journey in the Methodist tradition. He has a Master of Divinity degree and served for 13 years as a member of the clergy in the Free Methodist Church. At a time in his life when he was certain that neither God nor the church had a place for him because of his sexual orientation, he found refuge and hope in an Anglican parish. He and his partner, Albert, are actively involved in parish life and Ross has worked with the Ottawa Diocese and several local parishes in his professional role as a process facilitator and organizational development consultant.
Contact: 233-8635 or rosshammond@sympatico.ca

Ross offers the following to parishes:

• Sharing the lived experience of being both Christian and gay
• Examining the revelation and leadership of God's Spirit in times and debates like this
• Facilitating parish consultations and discussions.

Gillian Wallace is a straight woman who has been a Christian Education and Pastoral Care coordinator at two local churches and has her PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Ottawa, where she taught for several years. She has been a Christian gay rights activist for a long time now - ever since she became sensitized to the great suffering gays and lesbians were undergoing both inside and outside of the church because of the actions of Christians. As part of her advocacy work, she has been called upon to give media interviews, most recently taking part in a 2 hour CPAC tv show on moral issues in the recent election campaign.
Contact: 730 0408 or gillianwallace@gmail.com

Gillian offers the following to parishes:

• Why should straights care about a gay issue?
• What is the message of the Bible anyway?
• "All who love are born of God and know God." (1 John 4:7) - a sermon on love.