MLP

Myth Number Two: Timing Is Everything

Who can ask the question of time? As an out gay Presbyterian Elder, Christian and human rights activist, for me the context of location makes all the difference in the world. In any discussion of "time," one must ask who is most affected by the persistence and continuation of the prejudice, discrimination, injustice, false witness and the harm? Any question about "time" -- can well be informed by the Civil Rights movement and the women's equality movement.

It was in 1974 that the Rev. David Sindt came out to the entire Presbyterian Church and world with his sign at that summer's General Assembly, "Is Anyone Else Out There Gay?" This was the watershed moment of more light breaking forth in our Church. The "More Light" statement in 1978 of sanctuary, advocacy and witness by West Park Presbyterian Church, New York City inspired and inspire today other Presbyterian Churches to minister, affiliate and witness as More Light Churches.

Presbyterian to speak at National Religious Colloquy at Equality Forum 2008, A Global LGBT Conference, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA: On April 30, Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians, and Presbyterian elder from Santa Fe, New Mexico will speak at the 11th Annual National Religious Colloquy of the Equality Forum 2008, a Global LGBT Conference in Philadelphia. This colloquy explores the intersections of religion, faith and the LGBT community.

"As an out gay Presbyterian Elder and a Christian working for affirmation and justice for LGBT persons and their families within our Church and equal rights in civil society, Michael is wonderfully suited to participate in this national conversation about faith and the LGBT community at the Equality Forum 2008," said Vikki Dearing, Co-Moderator.

A Moral Right to Love & Be Loved: PCUSA Court hears marriage equality case

More Light Presbyterians call for Marriage Equality with GAPJC decision and support for the Baltimore Overture at 218th G.A. in San Jose

"Each person --- regardless of gender, sexual orientation or bodily condition -- has a moral right to love and be loved." This excerpt is from "More Light on Marriage," a teaching resource on marriage equality which may be found here.

More Light Presbyterians stand with National Day of Silence, April 25

More Light Presbyterians stand in solidarity with the National Day of Silence, April 25, to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. As More Light Presbyterians work to create and support safe places for LGBT persons and their families in local churches and our denomination, we also support safe places for all students within schools.

The National Day of Silence is sponsored by GLSEN: The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, New York City, NY. We commend and call all Presbyterians to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider how all of us can work to provide safety and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer students in the schools within our local communities and presbyteries.

Myth Number One: Removing G-6.0106b, Ordination Barriers to LGBT Presbyterians, will split the Presbyterian Church (USA)

I commend to you this thoughtful and faithful teaching, a Call to justice and advocacy groups within our Church, and a Call to the Presbyterian Church (USA) from one of our own, Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, Minister of the Word and Sacrament, PCUSA, serving as pastor with Palisades Presbyterian Church, Palisades, NY, a welcoming and affirming More Light Presbyterian congregation.

The Session of Palisades Presbyterian Church sent the Ordination Equality Overture which was adopted by Hudson River Presbytery, now called the Hudson River Overture. The National Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians and I give thanks to God for the vision and commitment of this fine congregation, Session and its pastor.

Overtures Call for End to Discrimination at the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA): It's About Time

Santa Fe, NM: "Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with your God" is the theme for the upcoming 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in San Jose, CA, June 21 - 28. In a time like now, and in the world as it is, the ancient Hebrew prophet Micah's call has a profoundly contemporary and timely ring.

Many important matters of vision and mission face this Assembly and our Church: the election of a new Stated Clerk; the election of the Moderator of our Church; the growing needs of our country and world in terms of peacemaking, economic justice and addressing the real world problems of hunger, homelessness, HIV-AIDS within the USA and around the globe, fair and just immigration policy, etc.

Dr. Michael J. Adee named as Executive Director & Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The National Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael J. Adee has been named as the Executive Director & Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians. This decision was made at our recent national board meeting at Ghost Ranch Conference Center, Santa Fe, NM.

Michael has been serving as our National Field Organizer since May of 1999. He served as a volunteer with More Light Presbyterians from 1991 to 1999 before being hired in our first staff position. Michael was ordained as the first openly gay Elder at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, a More Light Church. He moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1997.

"We are deeply grateful for the leadership and service Michael has offered for nine years in our first staff position as National Field Organizer. Because of the exponential growth of our educational program, outreach and advocacy work, it is necessary for MLP to update our operational structure. A major grant for organizational development allows us to promote Michael to this new position and to create a second staff position in the near future," said Vikki Dearing, Co-Moderator.

Good News!! First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, Ohio affirms ministry, affiliation and witness as a More Light Church!

The National Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians is delighted to announce that on February 28, the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, Ohio voted to minister, affiliate and witness as a welcoming and affirming, More Light Presbyterian Church.

"We rejoice and give thanks to God for the mission decision and witness of First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green to make clear their welcome and affirmation to all of God's children, including God's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and their families. We gratefully welcome First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green into the national network, fellowship and witness of More Light Churches," said Vikki Dearing and Bear Ride, Co-Moderators, More Light Presbyterians.

Founded in 1860, First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green describe themselves as: "A community of believers who worship and serve God in a changing world. We are committed to: celebrate the peace and fulfillment which comes from our acceptance of God's love for us in Jesus Christ; spread the good news of God who has come to us in Jesus Christ and who reaches out to all people through the Holy Spirit; nurture our community of believers of all ages and the larger community; give our time, talent, and resources in gratitude for what we have received; involve everyone in the rewarding mission of this church." Rev. Stephen V. Moulton serves as the interim minister. Rev. Mouton is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Michigan Law School.

Marcy St. John, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, served on the More Light Ministry Team that provided the educational program for their congregation's discernment and study process. Of the questions and opportunities for ministry facing their local congregation and denomination, Marcy declared: "We at First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green believe that it is time for our church, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) to cease discriminating against a significant segment of our brothers and sisters, segregating them from full membership, participation and leadership in the church."

To read Marcy's full statement posted on the church's web site go to:

http://www.bgpresb.org/activities/MoreLight-Presbytery-marcy.pdf

First Presbyterian Church's welcome statement is clearly inspired by life, ministry and teachings of Jesus with the lifting up of the great commandment text from the Gospel of Mark 12: 28 - 31:

Jesus said that the most important commandments are to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In that spirit, we welcome and affirm persons of every race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, family status, economic status, and physical, mental, or emotional ability into full participation in our faith community.

"At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and their families have every reason to wonder if they will receive a genuine welcome in any church, it is heartening and inspiring when Presbyterian churches step up to offer a clear witness, safe space and to become advocates working for justice and to end discrimination against LGBT persons and their families.

First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, Ohio is the third congregation in Ohio committed to living out a theology of hospitality for all and a 'no-boundaries' Gospel that is indeed good news to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and other human differences. Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati and Noble Road Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights are the other More Light Churches in Ohio," said Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians.

A Call to Knit and Pray our Way to the GA in San Jose!

Something anyone or everyone can do right now�

Last summer the Lutherans held their Churchwide Assembly. Before that gathering, Lutherans Concerned/North America, More Light Presbyterians sister organization, proposed to their supporters the knitting of lovely rainbow scarves to mark their hopes and prayers for that assembly. Now it is our opportunity to combine the truth of LGBT inclusion and the beauty of handcrafted creativity into an unmistakable visual sign of God's all embracing love. The LGBT supporters were clearly marked at the Lutheran Assembly - let's be marked too at our GA!

An Open Letter to the Presbyterian Church (USA) from a group of our LGBTQ inquirers and candidates for ministry in the PCUSA

Recently our General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission has released some troubling rulings that greatly affect our work together, in particular those individuals pursuing ministry who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.

For more information about these rulings and the "It's About Time!" statement by your National More Light Presbyterians Board of Directors go to www.mlp.org and http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=ItsAboutTime.

You can also find a response to these rulings and the barriers to ordination for LGBTQ persons in our Church at: http://www.presweldevotional.blogspot.com. This is a special blog that is part of the ministry of Presbyterian Welcome of New York City.

Please forward this Open Letter to others within your church, campus ministry and seminary community. And, please join us in holding in prayer and solidarity this list and all of our LGBTQ inquirers and candidates for ministry in our Church.