[MLPnews] Victory 2006 begins: form a local More Light chapter today

[mlpnews at mylist.net]

"*But the word of God is not chained*" - 2 Tim. 2:9

Dear supporters of More Light Presbyterians,

Since November 2, many of us have experienced all of the emotions that 
come with a sense of great loss.  Frustration, denial, fear, despair... 
the list goes on.  As the weeks go by, remember to take time to be with 
friends and supporters, to mourn, to talk, and to remember that through 
it all, as the author of 2 Timothy writes, "the word of God is not 
chained".

In a moment we're going to ask you to take a bold step with us into the 
future.  But first, let's take a look at some recent events that show 
that even in midst of frustration and fear, another world of equality is 
possible for all of us:
	

*
Join the More Light grassroots team!*

MLP is kicking off our Victory 2006 campaign by asking you to *create a 
local More Light chapter* where you live.  Sign up by clicking here 
<http://www.mlp.org/chapters/newchapter.html>.

Sign up <http://www.mlp.org/chapters/newchapter.html>

    * In Vermont in 2000, after passage of the state civil unions bill,
      anti-gay activists vowed to punish civil unions supporters at the
      polls... and punish them they did, tossing out 17 pro-civil union
      incumbents and replacing them with anti-gay legislators.  Yet a
      funny thing happened to the backlash movement: it rapidly ran out
      of steam and failed even in its attempt to repeal the civil unions
      law.  LGBT supporters continued to field strong candidates, and
      most of them won.  As of the November 2004 elections, pro-LGBT
      groups estimate a 21-9 pro-gay majority in the Vermont Senate, an
      87-63 pro-gay majority in the House, and at least 16 formerly
      anti-gay House seats won by pro-LGBT candidates.

    * In Cincinnati in 1993, an offshoot of the Christian Coalition
      fielded an anti-gay ballot initiative which amended the city
      charter to explicitly declare that gay, lesbian and bisexual
      people were /not/ entitled to equal protection.  Tragically, the
      initiative passed with 62% of the vote.  But this year, another
      coalition which included some of our own Cincinnati-area More
      Light supporters put a repeal initiative onto the ballot... and
      thanks to their many months of hard work, the repeal passed by
      54%, a phenomenal 16% shift in public opinion in only 11 years.

    * Within our own denomination, in New Hope Presbytery, MLP
      supporters have organized a More Light information table at every
      Presbytery meeting for the past 3 years.  Since 2001, reaction to
      the table has shifted from avoiding it like the plague to nearly
      complete acceptance.  "[People are now] interested in taking
      material with them, and they engage in very pleasant conversation
      with us," notes one of our local New Hope organizers.  Their
      presence at Presbytery changes hearts and minds... and in 2006,
      their groundwork will also change Presbytery votes in New Hope.

What's the single most important factor that's made the difference in 
success stories like these?  It's not money, and it's not about what 
area of the country you live in.  What made the difference was a 
committed, organized, local group of LGBT supporters who tirelessly 
spoke a message of inclusion and equality to anyone who would listen.  
*What made the difference... is you*.
__________________________________________

And now, we're asking you to join us in the first step towards our 
Victory 2006 campaign by *forming a local More Light chapter* where you 
live.  All you need is a single co-leader to form the chapter with you.  
Sign up today at:

       http://www.mlp.org/chapters/newchapter.html


It's not hard to be a co-leader of a chapter, and we make it even easier 
by providing you with a Chapter Leaders Kit that includes leadership 
training materials and More Light resources.

All you need is yourself, one other person willing to serve as chapter 
co-chair, plus you agree to hold occasional meetings
(quarterly is fine) and to follow a brief list of MLP chapter guidelines.

Call one of your MLP-supportive friends right now and get a chapter 
going today:

      http://www.mlp.org/chapters/newchapter.html

If you're stuck and you're not sure if you can find a co-organizer near 
you, that's OK - the web form has a box that you can check to ask us to 
put you in touch with other potential co-chairs.

If you already have a More Light committee or study group at your 
church, that's great.  We encourage you to sign up as a chapter so that 
we can more easily communicate with you, and you can more easily 
communicate with the national movement.

Got some questions about chapters?  We've got answers... see our Chapter 
FAQ at www.mlp.org/chapters/chapter-faq.html   If you've got questions 
not covered by our FAQ, you can email us directly at chapters at mlp.org.

The history of our movement shows that anti-LGBT backlash burns itself 
out quickly and is unsustainable.  Victory goes to the committed, 
patient, and relentless supporters of LGBT equality who know that the 
wind blows still in our direction, and who continue to plant seeds for 
the future even in the midst of disappointments.  As Dr. Martin Luther 
King Jr. said:

    /"When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair,
    and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us
    remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to
    pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to
    make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright
    tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but
    it bends toward justice."/

Help bend the arc of the universe toward justice... join the grass roots 
of our Victory 2006 campaign by forming a chapter 
<http://www.mlp.org/chapters/newchapter.html> today.

Yours in hope and truth,
  Donna Riley,
  Erin Swenson,
  Michael Adee,
  and the entire More Light board of directors.
_____________________________________

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