MLP Press Release

Mitzi Henderson, MLP Co-moderator, went on to explain, "If the church is serious about the importance of faith to family life, to wholeness of relationships, it cannot continue to ignore the commitments of same gender couples. The public blessing of love and fidelity, before family and friends, has a profoundly spiritual significance. We urge pastors and presbyteries to consider the pastoral implications of this proposed amendment."

Bill Moss, MLP Co-moderator and a gay man in a committed relationship, expressed concern over the message that the assembly's action delivers to LGBT church members. "It's so hard for gay and lesbian couples, with all the pressures society puts on us. We have to endure pressures that most heterosexual relationships could not withstand. Therefore, we need to find support for our relationships and our families, and if we can't find that support in our church, where can we find it?"

Same gender commitment ceremonies are an important ministry of many congregations reaching out to the LGBT community. Martha Juillerat of Minneapolis, MN, a former Presbyterian minister, talked about the significance of her commitment ceremony with her life partner of thirteen years, Tammy Lindahl. "A holy union is important to me not only because I am a lesbian, but even more so because I am a person of faith. As a person of faith I commit all of my life to God -- my work, my family, my friendships, my service. How can I not commit the most important human relationship in my life to God? As a pastor, how can I ever deny this to others to commit their life and love in this way?"

Chris Glaser of Atlanta, GA, a former candidate for ministry in the Presbyterian Church who was denied ordination because of his sexual ordination, shared his feelings as well. "When I had a same gender commitment ceremony myself, I realized how transforming an experience it is. I felt the support of my congregation. I loved more dearly my partner and understood the sacred nature of our relationship in a way I never experienced before."

Harold Brockus, pastor of Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church, Pinellas Park, FL, has performed many same gender commitment ceremonies and feels they have been a plus for his congregation. "Holy unions celebrate God's love in the committed relationships of our LGBT church members. For our congregation holy unions are a great joy. They are exquisite moments of liturgical affirmation in which the 'yes' of human intimacy finds its ultimate meaning in the 'yes' of God's grace in Jesus Christ."

Henderson expressed concern for the denomination. "Our church has long held a respect for diversity of membership, of theological understandings, and of liturgical practice. This action would violate the freedom of pastors and congregations to minister to their members as they feel called. It would interfere with the existing right of sessions to determine the use of church facilities. We believe churches and presbyteries will reject these new restrictions on their ability to reach out to gay and lesbian persons and to other members of their communities."

"More Light Presbyterians will work faithfully over the coming months to defeat this amendment in the presbyteries and to create a church that fully includes all of God's children. And this includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons of faith and their families," Moss added.

A similar legislative action occurred in 1994 and was not ratified. A May 2000 judicial action reaffirmed the church's existing policy of permitting same gender commitment ceremonies in Presbyterian churches conducted by Presbyterian pastors.

More Light Presbyterians is a national organization and network of individuals and churches that work for the full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Contact: MLP Co-Moderators

Bill Moss, 415-864-0477, whmoss@excite.com

Mitzi Henderson, 650-854-2598, MHenderson@pcusa.org, mitzigh@aol.com