Our Story

The Rev. David Sindt worked diligently and strategically to help form the Presbyterian Gay Caucus (PGC), a group of people concerned about the issues affecting gay and lesbian persons in the Church. In 1974, Rev. Sindt stood on the floor of the General Assembly with a sign that read “Is anyone else out there gay?” His courageous act shook the fabric of the Presbyterian Church and made it clear that LGBTQIA+ were beloved and needed members of God’s kin-dom.

The PGC renamed themselves the Presbyterians for Gay Concerns and the Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. (PLGC). The General Assembly refused to recognize or accept the report of this organization.

The Presbytery of New York City sent an overture to the UPCUSA General Assembly seeking “definitive guidance” on the ordination of homosexual persons. A national task force was appointed to study the question.

The Task Force on Homosexuality of the UPCUSA was fully welcoming to homosexual people in the church and in society, though a minority of the Task Force dissented. The committee of the General Assembly adopted the minority report, and instead of affirmation, recommended that “unrepentant homosexual practice does not accord with the requirements for ordination set forth in the Form of Government…” and adopted as definitive guidance that, “self affirming, practicing, homosexual persons should not be ordained. Those identifying at Lesbian or Gay who were already ordained were ‘grandfathered’ in, in order to maintain their ordination status.

Rev. Bob Davidson led his congregation, West Park Presbyterian Church of New York City Presbytery to offer an affirmative welcome to gay and lesbian people as full members of the church, including election and ordination as officers. The church named itself as a More Light congregation, drawing on a phrase from the 1620 sermon of Pastor John Robinson to the departing Mayflower pilgrims: “the Lord hath yet more Truth and Light to break forth from his Holy Word.” The More Light Church movement was born in dissent and defiance of “definitive guidance.”

UPCUSA General Assembly recognized PLGC as a “Chapter 9” organization, and received their annual report for the first time. This made it possible for PLGC (and later MLP) to have a booth in the exhibit hall at future General Assembly meetings — and we have been there ever since!

Since its conception in 1978 several churches around the country had committed to More Light principles. In this year, Westminster Presbyterian Church (DC), Rev. Jeanne MacKenzie, pastor, adopted a More Light statement and became the first More Light congregation in the National Capital Presbytery.

The Presbyterian Church in the United States, (PCUS) and the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, (UPCUSA) united to become the Presbyterian Church, USA.

The first court case attacking a More Light church (Westminster, Buffalo, NY) reached the GA Permanent Judicial Commission, (PJC), which declared it illegal for Presbyterian churches to welcome lesbian and gay people into full membership. The dissenting minority called the ruling, “the kind of discriminatory treatment that we have been taught to abhor.”

The GA-PJC declared the “grandparent” clause of the 1978 “definitive guidance” to be invalid. Rev. Janie Spahr was barred from accepting any call to a church position. Her call to the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY was voided. At the same time, the PJC rejected the certification by Twin Cities Presbytery, MN, of Candidate Lisa Larges who had completed all the trials for ordination.

Downtown church in Rochester began the “That All May Freely Serve” ministry and commissioned Janie Spahr as “Lesbian Evangelist” to the whole church. The Synod of the Northeast declares itself “More Light.”

The GA-PJC endorsed the right of a presbytery to appoint an administrative commission to investigate, or even take over, a congregation that refuses to renounce its More Light status.

Called OUT: The Voices and gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Presbyterians was published.

The infamous “Amendment B” was passed by the 208th General Assembly claiming, “Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage of a man and a woman (W-4.9001) or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the Confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”

The “Shower of Stoles” was begun under the leadership of two ministers from Heartland Presbytery, Rev. Martha Juilleriat and Rev. Tammy Lindahl. This is a collection of liturgical stoles that represent those Presbyterian ministers and elders who had been unable to be open about their sexuality, or had been removed or rejected from the church because of it. Like a cloud of witnesses, the Shower of Stoles continues to surround local and national Presbyterian meetings to remind us all of what we have lost.

Rev. Erin Swenson transitions and KEEPS her ordination.

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians was formed.

Michael Adee was called as Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians.

PLGC and More Light Church merged to officially become More Light Presbyterians.

PC(USA) Generally assembly votes on Amendment 10-A to finally allow for the ordination of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians.

Alex McNeill is hired as Executive Director. Jess Cook hired as Communications Director. Shift in organizational structure begins.

The PC(USA) Generally Assembly votes to allow ministers and sessions their own discernment to perform same-sex/same-gender weddings The Book of Order was also amended to include same-sex/gender relationships in the marriage section.

First openly Transgender and Gender Non-Binary persons were ordained as Teaching Elders.

MLP takes an intentional hiatus to discern where God is calling them in the church and the world and to discern its overall mission following the achievement of 2 original goals (marriage, ordination).

The General Assembly approves the creation of LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Committee.

The Board restructures its Board and Staffing, creating an equitable and co-director model. MLP hires Rev. Claudia Aguilar as the Director of Engagement.

MLP hires Elder Jesy Littlejohn as the Director of Operations.

MLP adopts a new Mission Statement: More Light Presbyterians’ mission is to center and celebrate the lives, gifts, and leadership of LGBTQIA+ people in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and beyond. We accomplish this by igniting the prophetic witness of our ministry partners and by cultivating relationships rooted in mutual accountability and care. Together, we journey toward God’s promised liberation and flourishing for all creation.

The PC(USA) adopts Amendment 24A which adds “Sexual Orientation” and Gender Identity” as protected classes in F.10403 of the Book of Order.