Integrity is one of a number of groups sponsoring Many Stories, One Voice, the first North American convocation of pro-LGBT Christians, meeting in New Orleans Sept. 4-7. Information: www.welcomingresources.org.

Here is where some faiths stand on the issue:

* Judaism: Reform Judaism has allowed the ordination of homosexual rabbis since 1990. In 2007 Conservative Judaism decided to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis. Orthodox Judaism does not allow the ordination of gay rabbis.

* Islam: Disapproves of homosexuality and does not allow gay clergy.

* Episcopal Church of the USA: The Episcopal Church has been in a turmoil since the 2003 election of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, an openly gay priest in a longtime relationship. Some U.S. churches have left over the issue of gay clergy, while leaders in other parts of the 77-million strong, worldwide Anglican Communion asked that the Episcopal Church be sanctioned or expelled. A moratorium on electing gay bishops has been in place since 2006. Ordination of celibate gay clergy is allowed, and some dioceses will ordain partnered gay clergy. That decision is left to the local diocesan bishop. The diocese of Texas does not ordain noncelibate gay clergy.

* Presbyterian Church (USA): For 30 years the policy of the Presbyterian Church USA has been to not ordain gay and lesbian clergy unless they are celibate. This year the General Assembly approved a request to remove from its Book of Order the policy that prohibits ordination of gay and lesbian clergy. If approved by all 173 presbyterys in the country, that policy would take effect in 2010. The assembly also voted to let local governing bodies decide whether to ordain gays and lesbians who are in committed partnerships. The Presbytery of New Covenant, which represents all of southeast Texas, will vote on the partnered gay-clergy issue in February.

* United Methodist Church: At its 2004 General Conference, United Methodist Church leaders affirmed that "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals," could not be ordained as clergy. The prohibition against ordination of noncelibate homosexuals was voted on but not changed after an emotional debate at the church's latest General Conference, held earlier this year in Fort Worth. After the vote, several hundred demonstrators protested against the decision.

* United Church of Christ: In the 1970s the UCC allowed the ordination of the first openly gay man and the first openly lesbian woman. Ordination of practicing homosexuals was officially accepted in 1980. But since the UCC believes in local autonomy, some regions and congregations do not accept gay clergy.

* Roman Catholic Church: In 2005, the Vatican released a document approved by Pope Benedict XVI that said the church "cannot admit to the seminary and the sacred orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply-rooted homosexual tendencies or support so-called gay culture."

* Other faiths: Conservative-minded evangelical and fundamentalist churches that will not ordain homosexuals include the Southern Baptist Convention and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. Some African-American churches and churches in the Pentecostal tradition are also opposed to gay clergy.

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