Hello from Atlanta! More Light Presbyterians at The Big Tent Conference
Posted Friday, June 12 2009 @ 04:11 AM by Michael Adee
Atlanta, GA: Nearly 2,000 Presbyterians have come to Atlanta this week for a unique kind of Presbyterian Church gathering called the Big Tent. The theme of the gathering is taken from the Gospel of John 1:14 ..."and the Word became flesh." Rev. Janet Edwards, Co-Moderator, MLP and I are here representing More Light Presbyterians and participating in the gathering.
The Big Tent has been called “a denominational happening” and “a big Presbyterian family reunion.” The event will be celebratory, diverse, participatory and intergenerational. We will worship together and share meals. The partner conferences are planning plenary sessions, panels, Bible studies, workshops, tours and networking opportunities. The exhibit hall will feature displays of the PC(USA) agencies and some of their related organizations. We will close with a Saturday evening celebration at Atlanta's Centennial Park. (www.pcusa.org)
A unique feature of this historic gathering is that ten Presbyterian agencies or networks that typically hold their own stand-alone conferences have come together in one place. Those ten agencies or networks holding their conferences here include: the PHEWA Social Justice Biennial Conference, Racial Ethic Convocation, National Multicultural Church Conference, Peacemaking Conference, New Immigrants Ministries Convocation, Evangelism and Church Growth Conference, Healthy Ministry Conference, Presbyterian Communicators' Network Conference, Stewardship and Investment Conference and the National Elders Conference.
Janet is participating in the Racial Ethnic Convocation and I am participating in the PHEWA Social Justice Biennial Conference. As an openly gay Elder in the PCUSA, I will also participate in part of the National Elders Conference as well.
The last 2 days, Rev. Will McGarvey, pastor, The Community Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg, CA and I have been taking the Building Beloved Community anti-racism training course. Will served as one of the leaders of the MLP Chapter at San Francisco Theological Seminary when he was a student there.
Tonight Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence preached on the Mark 2: 1 - 12 text about Jesus' healing of the paralyzed man that his four friends brought to him by cutting a hole in the roof of the house in Capernaum where Jesus was staying at the time. Anna teaches preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in nearby Decatur and serves as one of the faculty sponsors of the seminary's GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) beautifully called "Imago Dei."
Janet and I are having a great time seeing so many supporters and friends of More Light Presbyterians while we are here in Atlanta. So many people have shared stories of hope and grace from their presbytery about Amendment 08-B and their belief that the anti-gay discriminatory policies must be removed from the life and policies of our Church. And, at meals or on breaks elders and ministers are sharing with both Janet and me about the pro-LGBT Overtures they want to see for the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis, MN in June 2010. And, Janet is receiving lots of inquiries about her educational outreach work focused on correcting the mistranslation of the Heidelberg Catechism.
The Big Tent ends officially with a celebration in Centennial Park on Saturday evening and we are encouraged to worship on Sunday morning in local Presbyterian churches. I will have the privilege of worshipping at Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, a welcoming and affirming More Light Presbyterian Church on Sunday. Ormewood Park affiliated and became a community of witness with MLP in 1997. Rev. Dana Hughes serves as pastor. I also look forward to seeing MLP's beloved friend, the Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson, who served as Co-Moderator for MLP and continues to serve as our national liaison for transgender education.
Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator, 218th General Assembly, will address the gathering here in Atlanta. And, Bruce will be serving as the keynote speaker and preacher at The National Welcoming and Affirming Presbyterian Conference, "God's Whole Family!"
September 4 - 6, Nashville, TN, hosted by Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville and produced by MLP. For more information and online registration go now to: www.mlp.org/mlp2009reg
So hello from Janet and me in Atlanta. And, we look forward to seeing you in Nashville, September 4 - 6, for "God's Whole Family!"
with hope and grace,
Michael
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA (505) 820-7082, michaeladee@aol.com, www.mlp.org
Presbyterian Equality Project
More Light Presbyterians