Integrity/Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors:

  • Convenor - Jim Demarest
  • Co-Convenor -Carl Sheffield
  • Secretary - Todd Hoover
  • Membership - Reggie Barnes
  • Liturgy - (the Rev.) Roger Allee
  • Special Events - Carl Sheffield
  • DIRECTORS:
  • Liz Ward
  • Bill Beemer
  • David Jenkins
  • Tom Lippart
  • Chaplain - Roger Allee
  • Chaplain ex-officio - (the Rev.) Sherod Mallow

  • Communications & Webmaster -  Jim Demarest

How the Fort Lauderdale chapter of Integrity began -

After an initial meeting of interest held in late October, 2000, a group of gay men and their supporters identified the need for a chapter of Integrity, Inc., a national organization within the Episcopal Church whose mission is "to be the witness of the lesbian and gay community in the Episcopal Church and [witness] of the Episcopal Church in the lesbian and gay community."

This group of men approached the rector of All Saint's Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale for advice and support and were welcomed with open arms. All Saint's Episcopal Church and The Reverend Sherod Mallow agreed to be the home parish for the newly formed chapter: Integrity/Fort Lauderdale. The first official meeting was held on November 4, 2000, as a yet to be named chapter of Integrity, Inc. The meeting included a Holy Eucharist celebrated by The Rev. Mallow with All Saint's assistant priest, retired, The Rev. Tom Lippart. Other clergy and lay persons from the diocese of Southeast Florida were in attendance to show their support. Suggestions were solicited for the program and future meeting content, and help was solicited for the planning and organization of the newly formed group. There were 38 people in attendance the very first meeting!
The next meeting was held December 3, 2000, at All Saint's, with The Reverend Jerry Anderson from the diocesan AIDS ministry office in Miami preaching. We were honored by the presence of the new associate rector of All Saint's, The Reverend John Sennette. There were 36 in attendance, many of whom were new. The total contact list quickly grew to over 65 people in just 2 months.
On December 15, 2000, Integrity/Fort Lauderdale was granted official Chapter Status by Integrity, Inc., and the task of organizing the group, meetings, officers, and programs was at hand. On January 20, 2001, the first annual meeting of Integrity/Fort Lauderdale was held in the parish hall at All Saint's Episcopal Church, preceded by a dinner and followed by a Holy Eucharist in the Nave. The celebrant was our own member and assistant priest, retired, of All Saint's, The Reverend Tom Shepherd. The meeting included the adoption of the bylaws and constitution of Integrity/Fort Lauderdale and the nomination and election of officers for the first year. There were 36 people in attendance and support and volunteering was remarkable!
As of January 2001, there were 33 full paid members of Integrity/Fort Lauderdale with more joining weekly. Integrity/Fort Lauderdale hopes to be a service to the lesbian and gay Christian community and was formed to be an outreach organization to bring gay men and lesbians back into the church. Success depends on your continued support.