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Tips for Organizing a Chapter of More Light Presbyterians
revised version, Oct. 2004

It doesn't take a tremendously large group of interested people to start a chapter of More Light Presbyterians. Four or five persons willing to commit even a modest amount of energy and time can do it. Yet the value of an additional presence and visibility in a community and in a presbytery area can hardly be overestimated as we continue our struggle to achieve full inclusiveness within the Presbyterian Church. Each new chapter can help move us closer to that goal. Here some suggestions on how to do it.

Form a Steering Group.
A small group of interested Presbyterians -- gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight supporters can form a steering group in order to plan the organizing effort. Where there are More Light congregations in the area, be sure to include some of their members in the steering group. Members of a More Light Church may wish to serve as the initiating body.

Make use of the MLP Mailing List.
The steering group can request a copy of the mailing list for a specific area; the list of those receiving More Light Update. This will give the steering group an idea as to who in the area is at least interested enough in the cause to receive our regular mailings. You should mail the initial meeting announcement to all on the list. The board member who serves as chapter coordinator can arrange for the list to be sent to a designated person -- send email to chapters@mlp.org to request assistance.

Find Supportive Clergy.
Identify Presbyterian ministers who are supportive and invite their participation and advice.

Meeting Places:
Find a friendly church for a meeting space. Where there are More Light congregations in the area this should be easy to arrange. Otherwise approach the pastor of a church you know or believe is supportive and ask that the session approve the use of church facilities for regular chapter meetings. If this is not possible in your area, groups can of course meet in one another’s homes or locate other public space that might be available at low or no cost.

The First Meeting:
Plan an initial meeting with the expressed purpose of gauging the amount of personal interest in being part of a chapter. Give plenty of advance notice. In addition to using the mailing list for an attractive announcement of the meeting, members of the steering group should contact key people personally or by phone to encourage their attendance. Plan the initial meeting well and involve several people in its leadership.

Develop a Chapter Mailing List.
Be sure to take a record of attendance at each meeting including full address information and develop a contact list for the chapter, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. MLP encourages you to provide this contact information to us at the chapters@mlp.org email address, so that we can add your chapter members to our low-traffic MLPnews email list, and ensure that your chapter participants have an opportunity to sign up as MLP members.

What Chapters Do:
Some MLP chapters serve primarily in a pastoral / support role for LGBT people, in which case typical activities might include self-introductions, sharing of personal journeys and information about local resources in support of lavender people, watching videos, hearing a speaker or panel -- and usually food or refreshments. Other chapters emphasize activities which promote legislative change within the PCUSA by winning hearts and minds of people in your presbytery for LGBT equality. Also very meaningful for local chapters is the opportunity for worship together using resources which stress the love and justice of God for the whole human family. You might want tonsider various meeting patterns, recognizing that geographic considerations affect how often and where meetings need to be held. Your initial meeting should allow plenty of time for brain-storming ideas for the future and will need to identify two leaders who will own the responsibility of convening regular meetings, preparing meeting agendas, facilitating the meetings, and being the points of contact with the MLP national board.

Financial Considerations
Money is always a necessary consideration. Mailing and program costs need to be covered. Some fund raising may be needed although most chapters just depend on individual contributions gathered at the meetings. Sometimes a friendly church can provide financial services for a chapter at least until it needs to establish its own bank account.

Newsletters are Helpful.
Larger chapters might want to consider publishing an occasional newsletter, however don't take on this task without an awareness of the large number of volunteer hours that it can require. You could include reprints of helpful articles or opinion pieces written by group members as well as local news of chapter activities, Presbytery issues, etc. If you do publish a chapter newsletter, the MLP board would love to see your work - please send a courtesy copy to us at our Minnetonka, MN mailing address.

Time for Sharing and Support
If one of the goals of your chapter is support, then during meetings give plenty of time just for sharing and telling personal stories as persons are comfortable, providing support based on getting to know one another well. Chapters can be of inestimable value in supporting Presbyterians in the process of coming out to themselves and/or to family, friends or congregations.

Share your Story.
Send news of your chapter's development to our national newsletter and Web site. Take pictures of chapter events and write stories about your activities to submit to More Light Update, and www.MLP.org.

Membership in MLP
Encourage people to become individual members of MLP through an annual contribution of $50 (or whatever a person can afford). Members will receive copies of the More Light Update.

Publicize the name of a Contact Person.
Place the name of a contact person with address, phone and email information in local GLBT publications and organization listings and send that information also to the national MLP board person coordinating chapter development so that we can list your chapter on the MLP web site.

Inform the Presbytery.
Be sure to get out a mailing to all ministers and churches in the presbytery area about the forming of the chapter and request announcements in the churches about its meetings. Describe what the chapter has to offer the churches of the presbytery. Plan an appropriate presence at presbytery meetings, providing literature, offering to join in panel discussions or to provide speakers or videos for congregational education events. Chapters can help organize strategies for presbytery action, helping to draft overtures, and assisting with get-out-the vote campaigns. They can also assist congregations which are thinking about becoming More Light churches.

Public Presence
Arrange a chapter presence in local gay/lesbian pride marches and AIDS walks with an appropriate banner. Consider outreach to GLBT persons and groups at a local college, university or seminary. Establish a legislative watch group to monitor local GLBT issues so as to be ready for advocacy.

Ecumenical Contacts
Establish relationships with other religious GLBT groups in the area in order to foster joint programs, and community advocacy efforts.

Plan an Annual Large-Scale Event.
You can plan a big meeting once a year, bringing in an outside speaker. Invite the whole community. Arrange lots of publicity including local media coverage. Be aware that large events take a lot of planning time and a head start of 3 to 6 months. For more advice on event planning, see the MLP Fundraiser and Event Planning Guide.