Join a network of people seeking the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The National Board of Directors & Staff of More Light Presbyterians
wish to congratulate Dr. Donna Riley, longtime MLP supporter and one of
our distinguished former Co-Moderators, for being selected to receive
the GLBTA Educator of the Year Award from the National Organization of
Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Donna serves
as an Associate Professor of Engineering at Smith College, Northampton,
Mass. Congratulations Donna!
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals
2010 Recognition Awards
The NOGLSTP Recognition Awards were established as a means of
identifying, honoring, and documenting the contributions of outstanding
GLBT science, engineering and technology professionals, as well as
corporations, academic institutions, and businesses that support GLBT
professionals in the fields of science and technology.
Hello from Dallas, Texas, the buckle of the Bible belt. I am here meeting with local Presbyterian pastors and with Betsy Winters. Grace Presbytery was one of the 34 presbyteries with a transformative vote for Amendment 08-B on Ordination last year. I am also joining over 2,000 activists for Creating Change, the National Conference on LGBT Equality. Creating Change is produced by NGLTF, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Sue Hyde, Creating Change director, said, "Let's organize, agitate, skill build, network, learn and teach to create a transformed society that embraces full self-determination and justice. There is no time to wait or waste. Come to the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change and work to achieve this vision in communities all over the country."
I will participate in the American Prayer Hour service here on February 4. The American Prayer Hour is a multi-city alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC whose leaders have ties to the anti-gay bill in Uganda. I am representing More Light Presbyterians at IWR, the Institute for Welcoming Resources, events and also NRLR, the National Religious Leadership Roundtable. It is exciting and heartening to me to see progressive and pro-LGBT faith voices front and center here in Dallas and around the country.
Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer
Over the next several months we are going to publish MLP's DVD God's New Family! on YouTube. God's New Family! includes the history, stories and journeys of More Light Presbyterians. In Part 1, we survey the emergence of LGBT issues in the Presbyterian Church USA.
Believe Out Loud, a trans-denominational effort to promote LGBT equality, will go public on Valentine's Day. We expect many expressions of affirmation and celebration to take place in congregations across the country. You can put together a Believe Out Loud celebration for your congregation, MLP Chapter, campus ministry or seminary community now.
Since 1974, More Light Presbyterians have been believing out loud. We are excited to see this new campaign calling for people of faith to make their private beliefs and care for LGBT people and their families known publicly.
It is here -- among congregations who are committed to welcome and affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families -- that the this new movement will gather its strength. That a movement for LGBT equality is emerging from within Christian congregations instead of over against the religious community already marks this effort as something special.
The National Board of Directors and Staff of More Light Presbyterians congratulates the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, New York, a welcoming and affirming More Light congregation, for being named "Best Religious Organization" in its community by Outlook Magazine.
Rev. Betsy Simpson serves as pastor. We encourage you to learn more about this extraordinary congregation at http://www.openchurchgc.org/.
The PCUSA 2008 General Assembly recedes in our memories as we prepare for the coming GA in the Twin Cities this July. One of the lasting impressions of the San Jose assembly has to be the rainbow scarves knitted so lovingly by so many and then worn by so many as a witness to the Gospel truth of radically extravagant love.
Some of you have asked: “Shall we knit again to pray our way to GA?” YES!!
Herewith we invite you to knit scarves and pray our way to GA with the challenge that we will have a scarf for every commissioner and advocate sent to the assembly (that’s about 1,500) because we trust the Holy Spirit to move every heart there to want one.
Since 1974, we have been working to nurture understanding, create
equality and end discrimination in both Church and society for LGBT
people and their families. The early days of our justice movement
contexually focused upon gay and lesbian people and ordination. From
these early days as well was the parallel commitment and work to
provide life-giving, even life-saving sanctuary through welcoming and
affirming More Light Churches. Congregations becoming communities of
sanctuary, ministry, advocacy and witness is still as important today
as it was in the 1970's.
More Light work has always been about individuals, families and
congregations. Moreover, the pro-LGBT work on Presbyterian college and
seminary campuses remains a priority commitment of More Light
Presbyterians.
On January 18, 2010 we are called to remember the life,
teachings and legacy of the Rev. Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. and
the Civil Rights Movement. Over 100 countries
celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
More Light Presbyterians is committed to ending
racism along with removing sexism, heterosexism and homophobia from the
Presbyterian Church (USA) and the body of Christ.
Today, we call all Presbyterians to
study for the first time, or again, the teachings, sermons and writings of
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his challenge to end prejudice and
discrimination against African-Americans and their families.
Today, we call upon all Presbyterians to take
seriously the life-taking force of racism within our Church,
communities and the world… and for those of us who are white, to be mindful
of white privilege and internalized racism within us.
We have much to be grateful for and to
learn from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, The
King Center in Atlanta, the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movement, to
be sure. What are some of the parallels and lessons for us, for the
Pro-LGBT Equality Movement in the Presbyterian Church
(USA)?
Chances are that if you are a person who
is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender - and you have struggled
within the church - chances are, somewhere along the way you heard
these words: "We love you but hate your sin." Nothing directed toward
people who identify as LGBT could be more disingenuous, more filled
with hubris than combining love for another with hatred of some part of
their being.
Hamartia or ἁμαρτία, the Greek word for sin frequently used in the
Second or New Testament has the meaning of "missing the mark." The idea
that distance from God is what needs to be shortened in our faith and
personal journeys removes the dialectical premise that Love either
replaces sin or leaves one in the throes of sin, pitied and "loved"
from a distance.
As we begin 2010, we'd like to invite you to help shape MLP Communications by completing an online survey. Your voice matters and we appreciate your feedback and ideas. Your participation will help strengthen our communications and therefore enable us to achieve LGBT justice and equality. To say thank you for taking the survey, you will have the opportunity to participate in a drawing for the pro-LGBT film, "For The Bible Tells Me So". The survey ends on Friday, January 22.
Hello from Dallas, Texas, the buckle of the Bible belt. I am here meeting with local Presbyterian pastors and with Betsy Winters. Grace Presbytery was one of the 34 presbyteries with a transformative vote for Amendment 08-B on Ordination last year. I am also joining over 2,000 activists for 
Believe Out Loud, a trans-denominational effort to promote LGBT equality, will go public on Valentine's Day. We expect many expressions of affirmation and celebration to take place in congregations across the country. You can put together a Believe Out Loud celebration for your congregation, MLP Chapter, campus ministry or seminary community now. 
The National Board of Directors and Staff of More Light Presbyterians congratulates the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, New York, a welcoming and affirming More Light congregation, for being named "Best Religious Organization" in its community by Outlook Magazine. 
On January 18, 2010 we are called to remember the life,
teachings and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
the Civil Rights Movement. Over 100 countries
celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 
By Ray Bagnuolo
As we begin 2010, we'd like to invite you to help shape MLP Communications by completing an online survey. Your voice matters and we appreciate your feedback and ideas. Your participation will help strengthen our communications and therefore enable us to achieve LGBT justice and equality. To say thank you for taking the survey, you will have the opportunity to participate in a drawing for the pro-LGBT film, "For The Bible Tells Me So". The survey ends on Friday, January 22.
