[MLPnews] MLP News April 19, 2004

[mlpnews at mylist.net]

      MLP News


      ....working for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith
      in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
     Volume 1
      Issue 4
      April 19, 2004










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In This Issue

  Welcoming Presbyterians Conference
  Churches Start to Plan for More Light Sunday
  GA Events and Update
  More Light Update Editor Chris Glaser to be GA Preacher
  Resource: Project Hearts and Minds gets underway

Welcoming Presbyterians Conference -- An invitation from Michael Adee, MLP
Field Organizer

The first-ever Welcoming Presbyterians Conference is fast approaching - May
20-23, 2004. Jointly sponsored by More Light Presbyterians, The Shower of
Stoles Project, and That All May Freely Serve and hosted by Central
Presbyterian Church in the great Heartland of Kansas City, MO, this
conference promises to be one of the largest and most energized gatherings
of our movement.

MLP is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and will do so in style
in KC, with Jazz, BBQ and over 30 workshops designed to empower and inspire
you to be and make the change you want in your church, on your college and
seminary campus, in your community and presbyery.

Spirited, inclusive worship put together by the ever-fabulous Patrick Evans
and Shelly Holle, preaching by Martha Juillerat, Tony Hoshaw and Heidi
Peterson, with the opening night keynote by the award-winning Kansas City
Star columnist, Bill Tammeus and an emsemble form the Heartland Men's
Chorus.

Uptown and affordable housing with a special conference rate at the Sheraton
Four Points Barcelo Hotel near the historic plaza. $39.50/PM per person in a
double room rate of $79.00/PM (even less more fun with 3 or 4!) Call
888-627-8178 by April 20 to secure this discounted conference rate.

There is still some community housing (free!) space available near the
church -please let the Registrar Nancy Young know of this request as you
register.

Kansas City is one of the most affordable cities to fly to - with several
low-cost carriers. Or, it could be a fun Road Trip!

Scholarship support is still available for college and seminary students,
youth and young adults, and special circumstances. Michael Adee is
coordinator of scholarships and from 4/15 - 5/9 please contact Catherine
Randolph, his administrative assistant, at 505820-7082 to leave your name
and contact information.

For more information about this conference and to register online - go to
www.mlp.org

Be part of history-making in the LGBT-affirming and welcoming movement in
our church. Be part of the 30th Anniversary of MLP and this justice work in
the Presbyterian Church (USA). Invest in your spiritual growth and your
skills as an activist, educator, and agent of change in your church and
world. And bring a friend, your partner, parents, family, or a group from
your church, presbytery or campus.

Register today! Join us in Kansas City. See you there!


Churches Start to Plan More Light Sunday Preparation for June 6, 2004

Since MLP's announcement that June 6, 2004 will be the first annual More
Light Sunday grassroots action day, churches have already started to tell us
about their plans for participation. The first church to announce
participation is First Palo Alto (California), www.fprespa.org, which will
make its entire worship service part of More Light Sunday. The sermon will
be given by one of First Palo Alto's openly gay elders, and the local More
Light Action Team will host a rainbow-cookie reception after the service.

What's YOUR church doing for More Light Sunday? Use our online resource kit
at www.mlp.org/morelightsunday for ideas, then tell us about your plans at
morelightsunday at mlp.org

GA Update and Events Listing

MLP is busy working with our partner organizations in the movement to host a
series of events and mount effective action at this year's General Assembly,
June 26 - July 3, 2004, Richmond, VA.

MLP-sponsored Events include:

1. Saturday, June 26: Welcoming Presbyterians' National Celebration of MLP,
TAMFS & The Shower of Stoles Project, with Dr. Marvin Ellison, ethicist and
author, Bangor Theological Seminary, on "Queer Eye on the PC(USA): Church,
Ordination, Gay Marriage & Other Make-Overs." Reception 4 - 5:30 PM, Dinner
& Program 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Marriott Hotel.

2. Sunday, June 27: Welcoming Presbyterians' "Celebrating Our Witness,
Awaiting Our Welcome" with MLP, TAMFS, & The Shower of Stoles Project.
9:15 - 10:00 AM pre-worship service rally outside main entrance of
Convention Center.

3. Sunday, June 27: Welcoming Presbyterians' National Worship Service with
MLP, TAMFS, & The Shower of Stoles Project. All are welcome as we recognize
and celebrate the gifts of LGBT persons, their families and allies with Eily
Marlow and Michael Adee, preachers. 3 - 4:30 PM Convention Center.

4. Tuesday, June 29: Welcoming Presbyterians' National Educational Luncheon
with MLP, TAMFS, & The Shower of Stoles Project. Sylvia Thorson-Smith,
Co-Author of BODY & SOUL: RETHINKING SEXUALITY AS JUSTICE LOVE, moderates a
panel with same-sex couples on "Can Marriage be Gay? Civil Marriage and
Sacred Unions." 12:30 - 2:00 PM

5. Thursday, July 1: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Allies
Seminarians' Network luncheon, 12:30 - 2:00 PM. For information about this
Network & to reserve your participation in the luncheon sign up at the MLP
or TAMFS Booth in the Exhibition Hall.

6. June 26 - July 3: Hospitality Suite offered by MLP, TAMFS, & The Shower
of Stoles Project, open 8 PM to midnight with LGBT-themed films each
evening. For information about the suite, film series, and pastoral care go
to the MLP, TAMFS, or TSOSP Booths in the Exhibition Hall.

7. June 26 - July 2: Evening Meditations & Briefing, in the Hospitality
Suite offered by MLP, TAMFS & The Shower of Stoles Project each evening at
9:15 PM. For more information about this go to the MLP, TAMFS, or TSOSP
Booths in the Exhibition Hall.

In addition to this busy schedule, MLP volunteers and staff will provide
testimony to committees, network with PCUSA members at our exhibition hall
booth and in other meetings, work with the media, and of course, seek the
removal of all barriers to the full participation of LGBT people in the
life, ministry, and witness of the PCUSA. For more information on business
before GA dealing with issues of LGBT inclusion, visit www.mlp.org/ga.html.

If you are planning to come to Richmond, contact MLP co-moderator Donna
Riley (driley at alumni.princeton.edu) to learn about opportunities to serve
and make a difference at GA.

More Light Editor Chris Glaser to be GA Preacher

Chris Glaser, openly gay Presbyterian and best-selling author, has been
invited to preach during the morning GA worship on Saturday, July 3,
8:30-9:15 AM. Chris has been active in our movement for 30 years, beginning
with the founding of a campus group at Yale Divinity School in 1974. Chris
served our denomination as the only openly gay member of the Presbyterian
Task Force to Study Homosexuality, only to see the 1978 General Assembly
reject its report recommending inclusion and instead issue the Defninitive
Guidance prohibiting gay ordination. Chris directed the Lazarus Project from
1977-1987, and has been co-Moderator of Presbyterians for Lesbian & Gay
Concerns (MLP's predecessor organization). Chris is the current and past
editor of the More Light Update.

Resource: Project Hearts & Minds Gets Underway
MLP's new DVD/VHS educational video series, "Project Hearts & Minds" is
getting interest from all over the country. Since we announced the
availability of these videos on June 5, we've had orders from Iowa, North
Carolina, South Carolina, California, New York, Oklahoma, Maryland,
Washington, Texas, and Florida. One educational curriculum developer has
already initiated plans to use one of the interviews in conjunction with the
national GLSEN-sponsored Day of Silence (www.dayofsilence.org) How soon can
we get orders from all 50 states? Tell your friends, or order your copies
today, from www.mlp.org/heartsandminds. Show it to your congregation and
nearby congregations, and win hearts & minds for equality today!



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