MLP

Stonewall @ 40 years... Remembering & Becoming One Human Family

Stonewall Riots in NYC

June 28, 1969... June 28, 2009

It began at a bar. The Stonewall Bar in New York City, the West Village. It could have been at church. Finally, they had enough of being told they could not be who they were, love who they fell in love with, even be safe in public.

J.E. Freeman was 24 at the time. Of his experience at the Stonewall Bar riot, he said: "That night the world changed for me and for every other gay, lesbian, bi, cross-dressing and transgender person on the planet. That night we were all reborn in the baptism of that hose's 'holy' water."

Presbyterian Equality Project - Passing the EmploymentNon-Discrimination Act

Rea Carey, NGLTF

The Presbyterian Equality Project of More Light Presbyterians applauds the introduction on June 25 of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure was introduced by House Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis.

I know something about discrimination in the workplace. In 1992, while teaching at Northern Kentucky University, I was fired from my university teaching position for being "controversial" simply because I started the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance or LGBT Group) and was honest about being gay. This situation was described as one of the worst cases of discrimination in the history of the school, the state and in the country. And, there was no legal recourse for me, a level-playing field of fairness and justice did not apply. This is why a federal law, ENDA, is absolutely necessary.

US Conference of Mayors Pass Resolution Supporting Freedom to Marry

Presbyterian Equality Project

www.mlp.org

Good News! The US Conference of Mayors passed a resolution supporting the Freedom to Marry for same-gender loving couples. They also endorsed federal bills such as Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Hello from Atlanta! More Light Presbyterians at The Big Tent Conference

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)

Rev. Janet Edwards to open the American Shorts' series in Pittsburgh

Andy Starnes/Post-Gazette

Rev. Janet Edwards, Co-Moderator, More Light Presbyterians, will open the season of the American Shorts' series on June 10 in Pittsburgh.

The Rev. Janet Edwards presents "Sexuality & Faith: A Program for Pride" to open the season of the American Shorts series, now called American Shorts @ WYEP, June 10 at 7 p.m. The program will be held at the WYEP-FM Community Broadcast Center, 67 Bedford Square, South Side, Pittsburgh. See the full article on the series below.

For those of you in the Pittsburgh area, please join Janet for this wonderful program and bring friends from your church, campus or seminary community to this important program with you. If you have friends or relatives in the Pittsburgh area, please share this invitation with them.

This is a great way to kick-off and celebrate LGBT Pride in Pittsburgh. Please do forward this email invitation to others in your family, church, youth group, campus ministry or seminary community. Thanks. Together we are building a Church for All God's people and a society that is just, loving and fair to all.

More Light Presbyterians lament the decision to uphold Proposition 8, and commit to keep working for marriage equality

May 26. This morning, the California State Supreme Court announced its deeply disappointing decision to uphold Proposition 8. While More Light Presbyterians is pleased that the court recognized the legal marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples married in 2008, we are profoundly disappointed by its decision to uphold the anti-LGBT, discriminatory Proposition 8 that was narrowly passed by a ballot initiative.

It is incredulous that the legal, equal and civil rights were not protected by either the Court or the electorate in a state within a country that is committed to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for all of its citizens.

The Church of Scotland sustains pastoral call of openly gay minister

Edinburgh, Scotland

Rev. Lindsay Louise Biddle, Chaplain of Affirmation Scotland, author of the Biblical Self-Defense Course and former National MLP Board Member, shared with us this good news from The Church of Scotland:

"After 3 1/2 hours of debate, the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday evening, May 23, 2009, voted 326 for and 267 against the Presbytery of Aberdeen's action (taken in January 2009) to sustain the call (issued in November 2008) from Queen's Cross Parish Church in Aberdeen, to the Rev. Scott Rennie, an openly-gay minister in The Church of Scotland who is in a committed relationship with his Christian partner, David, who is a religious education teacher."

Good News!! Missouri River Valley Presbytery votes Yes on the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08-B

On May 19, by a vote of 50 - 41 - 6, the Missouri River Valley Presbytery became the 78th presbytery to approve Amendment 08-B and the 34rd presbytery to "flip" from opposition in 2002 to support for LGBT equality and justice in 2009. Missouri River Valley presbytery is in greater Omaha, Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.

Missouri River Valley's approval of 08-B reached the historic milestone record as the 78th presbytery to support ordination standards based upon faith and character, not marital status or sexual orientation. We rejoice that 78 presbyteries call for the end of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians who are gifted and called by God to serve as Ministers, Elders and Deacons.

78 supportive presbyteries are 36 more than the final count of 42 in 2002 with one more presbytery yet to vote. Suroeste Presbytery, Puerto Rico, is scheduled to vote on May 30. As the prophet Isaiah spoke, "surely God is doing a new thing in our midst."

Celebrating a Church for All God's Children: More Light Sunday 2009

As our "Answering God's Call to Serve!" YES on Amendment 08-B draws to a close on May 30, now more than ever it is important for us, for our Church, to recognize and celebrate the presence and gifts of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and their families in our local congregations. We believe in a Gospel and a Church for all God's children.

While we do recognize and give thanks for the extraordinary, history-making progress made during the Amendment 08-B Campaign, we also reckon with the reality that its ratification was narrowly defeated. This is a time of mixed emotions, celebration and lamentation.

So, we celebrate that a record number of 77 presbyteries so far have affirmed fair and equal ordination standards; and we lament that 92 have held to the status quo of discrimination against faithful LGBT Presbyterians simply seeking to answer God's call to serve. So, it is time for us to gather in community in every possible congregation, MLP Chapter, campus or seminary group for a time of reflection, prayer, healing and solidarity.

Good News!! Pacific Presbytery and the Presbytery of East Iowa vote Yes on the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08

On May 12, by a vote of 100 - 90 - 3, the Pacific Presbytery became the 33rd presbytery to "flip" from opposition in 2002 to support for LGBT equality and justice in 2009.

The same day, the Presbytery of East Iowa voted Yes on 08-B, 74 to 21, which is a 25% pro-LGBT shift from its vote in 2002.

Pacific and East Iowa's approval of 08-B reached historic milestone records as the 76th and 77th presbyteries that support ordination standards based upon faith and character, not marital status or sexual orientation. We rejoice that 77 presbyteries call for the end of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians who are gifted and called by God to serve as Ministers, Elders and Deacons.