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All new chapters, formed November 2004 or later, need to agree to the most current version of the MLP chapter guidelines, which appear below. We also have a PDF version available.

To strengthen the national movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality within the Presbyterian Church USA, More Light Presbyterians encourages MLP supporters to create local More Light chapters. An MLP chapter is a group of at least two people who commit to taking action to advance the More Light movement.

These guidelines set the expectations that MLP has of More Light chapters, and describe what your chapter can expect from MLP as a national organization. The guidelines are established by the national board of MLP and will likely change slowly over time as the board adds clarifications. The board of directors approves the chapter status and name of all MLP chapters, and similarly has the power to revoke a group's MLP chapter status.

Chapters are the hands and feet of the national More Light movement, which has always placed a strong emphasis on grass roots participation. The board of MLP seeks to work with our chapters as partners in the struggle for LGBT equality.

1. MLP's expectations of chapters

- Chapters need to endorse and support the mission of More Light Presbyterians: "to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA)".

- Chapters need to have at least two active members, and should organize at least one MLP-supportive chapter activity each year.

- Chapters need to keep MLP up to date on any leadership changes, so that we have current contact information for you.

- Chapters are run on a volunteer basis and must not hire their own paid staff. Obviously it's perfectly fine (and often desirable) to have the staff members at your church participate in chapter meetings and activities, but the More Light chapter itself should not hire staff to carry out the work of the chapter. This rule is designed to protect chapters from the heavy burden of having to fundraise to support staff salary, and to protect the More Light movement from competing with itself for funds and donors.

- If your chapter wants to organize a joint fundraiser, you first need to get the approval of the MLP board. A "joint fundraiser" is a fundraising event where your chapter splits the funds raised with another organization.

- When chapters sponsor events, your materials need to include the name of your chapter in the sponsorship listing. For example, if you're the Geneva Presbytery chapter of MLP and you organize a spaghetti dinner with a dinner speaker, your fliers for the event might say "sponsored by More Light Presbyterians, Geneva Presbytery chapter" or "sponsored by Geneva Presbytery chapter of More Light Presbyterians", but not just "sponsored by More Light Presbyterians". This guideline simply asks you to make it clear that your events are organized by the chapter, not by MLP as a whole.

- Chapters can't take formal positions that contradict MLP's official position on national issues within the PCUSA. In general, MLP discourages chapters from issuing formal statements on national Presbyterian LGBT issues -- we encourage you to let the MLP board issue statements at the national level, while you're of course free to issue statements on LGBT issues of local importance.

- Chapters must not engage in partisan political activity, or any other activity which places MLP's 501c(3) non-profit status at risk.

- To allow new people to get involved in your group, you need to hold occasional chapter meetings, at least once every 3 months. We also encourage chapters to get involved at the Presbytery level to make LGBT concerns more visible there. Presbytery involvement isn't required, but it's always a good idea.

- Chapter dues are $100 per year, which are waived if:

• Your chapter signed up at least two new MLP members during the previous year.
  
• OR, if your chapter is associated with a church that already contributes to MLP.

MLP won't be requesting chapter dues until 2006.

2. What chapters can expect from MLP

- You get to decide how your chapter runs, how often you meet, who your leadership is, and what activities you want to organize. Chapters have a very high level of flexibility in what you choose to do. Chapters are part of the grass roots soul of More Light Presbyterians, so we want you to have the freedom to organize pro-LGBT activities that work best for your community and your Presbytery. The national board of MLP never issues directives to chapters - we may encourage some activities over others, but we don't give orders.

- MLP will list your chapter, and contact information for chapter leadership, on our web site. This makes it easier for local MLP supporters to find you.

- Chapters are high on the priority list for communication and mentoring with the MLP board and staff. As MLP grows and strengthens the chapter program, we hope to increase the opportunities for leadership development and coordination with programs such as periodic leadership conference calls, leadership development materials and conferences, and other means of improving our ability to work together for equality.

- MLP will add the email addresses of your chapter leaders (1 or 2 people) to the MLPchapterLeaders email list.

- MLP will occasionally mail you new information about new resources, projects, and activities that we're coordinating at a national leve.

- Chapters may use the More Light Presbyterians name and logo as part of their chapter name, materials, and activities.

- MLP will provide chapters with opportunities each year for coordinated national activities. For example, two national events that we expect to coordinate each year are More Light Sunday, a day on which we encourage More Light and welcoming churches to incorporate More Light concerns into the Sunday worship service; and Coming Out for More Light Weekend, which in 2004 we structured as a national series of house parties. Chapters can choose whether to participate or not participate in these national opportunities - none of them are mandatory.