 God's Whole Family! worship celebration at
Second Presbyterian Church, Nashvillephoto by Ray Bagnuolo
Nashville, TN: They came from "north and south, east
and west," literally. Over 150 people attended "God's
Whole Family!" the National Welcoming and Affirming Presbyterian
Conference hosted by Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee and
produced by More Light Presbyterians over the recent Labor Day weekend.
Presbyterians from 24 states and the
District of Columbia came together for worship, inspiration, spiritual growth
and Christian community. From California and Oregon, Arizona to
Connecticut, New York to Florida, Presbyterians came together to celebrate God's
love for all of God's children and creation, no exceptions. Guided by the
conference Biblical text of 1 John 3:1, "How great is
the love God has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And
that is what we are," conference participants reflected upon the Gospel
of Jesus Christ that embraces, not excludes. Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator, PCUSA
offered the Rosemarie Wallace keynote that honored the life,
ministry and witness of one of our beloved pioneers. Rev. Debra
Peevey, Rev. Janet Edwards and Rev. Ray
Bagnuolo were the keynote preachers with Patrick
Evans as conference musician and worship leader.
Special features included ten educational workshops, the
premiere of "God's New Family!" MLP's new film funded by the
Carpenter Foundation, a "Believe Out Loud" campaign
presentation by Sun Won Park from the National Religious Voices
Project, and a concert by Nashville in Harmony - A City Chorus for GLBT
People & Allies.
Twenty Presbyterian leaders met in a pre-conference
gathering facilitated by Rev. Debra Peevey,
MLP's Outreach Coordinator for the recent Amendment 08-B
Campaign. These leaders represented all of the organizations working
to end discrimination against LGBT people and their families in the PCUSA:
Covenant Network, More Light Presbyterians,
Presbyterian Promise, Presbyterian Welcome,
TAMFS, and Witherspoon Society-Voices
of Sophia. Evaluation of the 08-B Campaign in light of the
creation of spiritual, ordination and marriage equality overtures for GA 2010
was the purpose of this gathering.
Conference displays and exhibits included all of the
organizations above plus Love Makes a Family,
the Shower of Stoles Project, Telling
Our Stories, Institute of Welcoming
Resources of NGLTF, and HRC's Religion & Faith
Program.
Extraordinary southern hospitality was offered by the
staff and members of Second Presbyterian
Church and the Middle Tennessee MLP Chapter
coordinated by Trice Gibbons, Tom Ekman, Jared
Boustead and Rev. Jim Kitchens. Your donations to MLP
made it possible for us to provide over 2 dozen
MLP scholarships to college and seminary students.
Riley Kern, OSU student and member of
First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, OK said of the conference: "This
past weekend was amazing. Refreshing, encouraging, challenging, motivating. I
can't wait to continue the important work for the Gospel of embrace."
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