Update
More Light Update
, October 2011|1VOL. 31, NO. 3OCTOBER 2011
What’s Next? A Church that Celebrates All Good Gifts
WWW.MLP.ORG
Photos: Jeremy Stratton-Smith, ElizabethMcDonald-Zwoyer and Brian Symonds.
W
e asked four board membersat More Light Presbyteriansexactly that question. Here is whatthey had to say.
Marc Jung
“What’s next?” is beingasked by many folks.Members of PresbyteryCommittees are meetingto discern how best toimplement Amendment10-A. To support ourmission of full participa-tion in the PresbyterianChurch (USA) we mustcontinue to build relation-ships with others of varyingviewpoints and share ourstories. All of us will have tolisten carefully and try to rec-ognize that in order for diversi-
ty to ourish in our denomina
-tion, we will need to be open tonew ways of doing things. It’s impor-tant for all of us to stay focused onnew developments and ensure thateach church sends informed eldercommissioners to Presbytery. SoonPresbytery’s Nominating Committee
starts the process to ll committee
vacancies. Get involved! There isplenty yet to do, and many opportu-nities for us to participate!
Marc Jung serves on the MLP Boardand at Mission Bay PC.
Beth Van Sickle
In a multitude of ways, our MLPmovement is only beginning thework needed to become a fully inclu-sive church. Until G-2.0104 wentinto effect, LGBTQ ordained andunder-care members of the PC(USA)existed largely as sub-members.Now we have the opportunity to
move up to the ground oor, so to
speak, and, in communion with oursisters and brothers in Christ, to be-gin shaping our Churchinto one that lives intobeing a true commu-nity of God. We will nothave full inclusion untilour Elders can providepastoral care and sacredrites for all members of the PC(USA).
Beth Van Sickle serveson the MLP Board andis an LPTS student.
Trice Gibbons
Now that Amendment 10-A is incor-porated into the Book of Order as G-2.0104, MLP has a lot of important work to do in moving fromadvocating for ordination standardsthat recognize LGBT people of faithas children of God and as giftedleaders in ministry to fair imple-mentation of and adherence to thestandards. Our work is certainly
NOT nished. The church is NOT
yet fully inclusive. Publicationand distribution of the “Ordination
Guide” was MLP’s rst response to
G-2.0104. MLP’s Board and staff areworking to develop additional waysto support LGBT candidates, to helpLGBT teaching elders in receivingcalls, to achieve marriage equal-ity, and to enhance the hospitalityafforded by the church to LGBTpeople. We are extremelygrateful for ongoing support inpursuing this critical work.
Trice Gibbons serves on theMLP Board and is a VDS student.
Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards
What I see is the work of MLPexploding now that 10-A haspassed! First, G-2.0104returns us to the his-toric trust in ordainingbodies to examine
candidates for ofce.
First we need to helpLGBT Presbyteriansarticulate how Scriptureand tradition sustain ourcalls to serve. Second, weneed to encourage con-gregations eager for ourgifts to issue calls. Third,we need to continue towork within the church formarriage equality. We must build onevery great conversation we had lastyear to strengthen relationships thatare worthy of the Body of Christ— I’m ready. I hope you are!
Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards serves on theMLP Board and served as Moderatorof Pittsburgh Presbytery.
2|
More Light Update
, October 2011
On the Horizon, Echoes of God’s Love for All
By Michael Adee
W
hat’s up and next for MLP? Inlarge measure, our present andfuture is informed by what MLP hasbeen since its genesis. More LightPresbyterians has been working forchange in our Church since 1974.This seems like a life-time and formany this work for LGBT justiceand equality has been a lifetime.Together we’ve kept a laser-sharpfocus on repealing the anti-LGBTordination policy of G-6.0106b for thelast 14 years and anti-gay policiesthat go back to 1978.Our mission, work andlives transcend changingchurch policies. It’s alsoabout what kind of Churchwe are and what kind of Christians we want to bein the world.It’s a joy and privilege forMLP to simply echo theblessing spoken long ago inthe heart and nature of theGod who creates and lovesall of us. We want to echothe the unconditional loveand acceptance offered toall persons through Jesus’example and teachings. Noexceptions. No conditions. No litmustests: a gracious and loving welcometo all. “All” means all. No one isoutside of God’s love and heart. Webelieve and trust in the “no-boundar-ies” Gospel of Jesus Christ. As people of faith, Christians andPresbyterians, the call and choicefor us is for be faithful and gener-ous stewards of God’s love. Imaginerelationships, families, churches,communities, nations and a worldthat simply echo the embrace, loveand grace of God?Our hearts, bodies and spirits long
for sacred spaces and afrming
experiences. The psalmist’s reminderthat all of us are created by Godoffers a comforting and healing wordfor all persons especially for God’sLGBT children and their families.Psalm 139:13-14a “For it was you[God] who formed my inward parts;you knit me together in my mother’swomb. I praise you, for I am fearfullyand wonderfully made.”God’s love and justice cannot beseparated. Cornell West reminds usthat “Justice is what Love looks likein public.” The PC(USA) entereda new era of justice and equalitythrough the passage of 10-A on May10. On July 10, Amendment 10-A went into effect as G-2.0104 in ourBook of Order. Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer calls this historic moment:“July 10-A.” Our work now is mov-ing ordination policy to practice.Imagine the blessing of thousands of
qualied LGBT deacons, elders and
ministers serving in local congrega-tions.In a profound way, G-2.0104 is thestart of a new chapter in the work of removing homophobia andheterosexism within our lives andthe Church. A false witness has beenborne against this part of God’s goodcreation; God’s LGBT children. Wehave more than 30 years of negative,anti-gay teachings and churchpolicies to remove from the soul of our Church and those who have notyet let go of them. Healing andliberation is possible for all of us.We are keenly aware of the witnessand impact of the passage of 10-A with regard to our Presbyterian glob-al partners in over 100 countries.Our work for justice and love startswith the PC(USA) and certainlydoes not end with the borders of ourcountry.Marriage equality, restoring integ-rity to the translation of the Hei-delberg Catechism, reconsiderationof the Belhar Confession, support-
ing same-sex pension benets -- all
of these are part of what’s next interms of legislative and advocacywork as we prepare for the 220thGeneral Assembly, Pitts-burgh, PA in 2012.We’re excited about thenew “Go More Light Now!”
afliation campaign. We
invite every welcomingchurch that is not yet
afliated and offering the
witness of More Light intheir communities andpresbyteries to consider“going More Light.” A bet-ter time could not existthan now. We’re committedto outreach, resources andsupport for the hundreds of churches that are consider-ing ways to live into thegift of G.2.0104, to ministerto LGBT persons and their familiesand to become a witness for God’slove for all in their communities.Please contact me today at michael@mlp.org or 505.820.7082 about yourchurch or campus ministry and itsnext steps! You might be new to this pro-LGBTfaith work, or someone who has beenworking for LGBT equality fordecades. Whatever your faith journey or life experience, we’regrateful that you’re part of MoreLight Presbyterians. Together we’re
building a Church that reects God’s
heart.With hope and grace,Michael
Michael Adee serves as Executive Di-rector and Field Organizer at MLP.
Photo: Trice Gibbons, Michael Adee and Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards
More Light Update
, October 2011|3
F
ollowing the risen Christ, andseeking to make the Church atrue community of hospitality, themission of More Light Presbyte-rians is to work for the full par-ticipation of lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender people of faith inthe life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Co-Moderators
Trice Gibbons (2012)Rev. Heidi Peterson (2011)
Secretary/Treasurer
Rev. Ray Bagnuolo (2012)
Additional Board Member
s
Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards (2013)Patrick Evans (2013)Kevin Henderson (2014)Rev. Madeline Jervis (2013)Marc Jung (2013)Rev. Will McGarvey (2011)Nathan Sobers (2012)Jeananne Stine (2013)John Thompson (2012)Beth Van Sickle (2011)
Nominating Committee
Ralph CarterDerrick Kikuchi
STAFF
Dr. Michael J. Adee,
Executive Director and FieldOrganizer
Faye Burdick
More Light Update Editor
Antony Hebblethwaite,
Communications/TechnologyManager
Susan Robertson,
Financial Assistant
CONTACT MLP
Full contact information athttp://www.mlp.org/index.php?topic=aboutmlp.
M
ichael Adee said, “I would not be in church, any church, if not forMount Auburn Presbyterian Church. This is the church that loved meback to faith.” On August 14, Mount Auburn celebrated 20 years of a genu-
ine welcome and afrmation of LGBT persons and their families. Adee wasthe rst openly gay Elder at Mount Auburn church. He serves as Executive
Director and Field Organizer with More Light Presbyterians.Rev. Susan Bryan, pastor, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, created aremarkable worship service and celebration that included sharing by Rev.Harold G. Porter, Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig and Michael Adee. Hal Porter
served as pastor when Mount Auburn decided to afliate, minister and wit
-
ness as a welcoming and afrming More Light church. Mount Auburn wasthe rst More Light church in Ohio.
Mount Auburn Presbyterian ChurchCelebrates 20 Years of More Light
Tricia Dykers-Koenig, former co-pastor of Noble Road Presbyterian Church,Cleveland Heights, Ohio with her husband Mark Koenig, thanked Mount Auburn for being an inspiration to Noble Road during their journey to
afrming and afliating as a More Light church. Dykers-Koenig served on
the National MLP Board of Directors with Porter. She now serves as Nation-al Organizer for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.Porter said: “When Mount Auburn Church faced this issue in 1991, and didso as fully as any Presbyterian congregation I know by totally rejecting thethen dominant cultural and religious view that homosexual persons wereof sub-human worth, not equally made in the image of God, it seemed anatural and uncomplicated step for it to take. Already this congregation hadre-decided that we are here to worship and serve God’s unbounded love forthis world and all who dwell in it. We needed to serve God in this world with justice and compassion, just as did Jesus.” You may read Rev. Harold G.Porter’s full remarks at http://bit.ly/mtauburnwelcome
Photos: Left: Rev. Susan Bryan, Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koening, Michael Adee and Rev. Harold G. Porter. Top Right: Chico Converse & Chris Miller. Bottom Right: Celebration Service.
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