[MLPnews] MLPnews Nov. 8, 2005

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MLP News

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....working for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith
in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

	

Volume 2
Issue 10
  Nov. 8, 2005



 

 

 

/Editor's note: In response to font size problems for AOL users and 
others, this MLPnews uses a font size one step larger than past issues.  
If the font size is still too small, drop us a note at news at mlp.org and 
we can directly email you a text-only version of the news.  Thanks for 
your patience as we continue to experiment with what works best for 
everyone!

/

In this issue:

    - Share your stories: What have More Light churches or MLP meant to you?
    - MLP's Lights of Victory campaign is under way
    - New More Light church in Chicago!
    - MLP Louisville Conference a success, with more on the way
    - Some historical perspective on equality movements
    - Remembering and honoring Rev. Chuck McClain
    - PCUSA's anti-gay policies cause membership loss
    - Former Presbyterian Coalition moderator Jack Haberer to become new
    Outlook editor
    - MLP board member Heather Reichgott at More Light Sunday, First
    Palo Alto
    - By a razor-thin margin, New Hope Presbytery votes to prolong
    discrimination
    - More Light supporters in the news: Christopher Harris addresses
    U.S. Senate subcommittee
    - The fall 2005 More Light tour: 11 states, dozens of churches
    - Save the date: MLP Nashville regional conference, Feb. 10-12 2006


*Share your stories: What have More Light churches or MLP meant to you?*


What positive experiences have you had at More Light churches in their 
worship or program events, or what positive impacts have More Light 
churches or MLP had for you over the years? We're putting together 
another collective-input news piece for the web site, and invite you to 
share your stories and experiences. Just jot down a paragraph or two 
about what MLP or More Light churches have meant to you, and email it to 
us at news at mlp.org <mailto:news at mlp.org>. Let us know roughly where in 
the U.S. you live, and whether we can use your name or if you want to 
remain anonymous. We'll publish edited selections in a near-future 
article at www.mlp.org <http://www.mlp.org> and here in MLPnews.



*MLP's Lights of Victory campaign is under way*


In early September, More Light Presbyterians launched the 2005 Lights of 
Victory campaign, our first ever formal major donor effort, which offers 
MLP's major financial supporters the opportunity to work together with 
contributions to reach a campaign goal of $25,000 for 2005. The campaign 
is going well, with plenty of phone calls made by MLP board members, a 
lot of great conversations taking place, and a lot of tax-deductible 
checks happily being written. We recognize, however, that we might not 
have the contact information for everyone who'd like to participate in 
this year's Lights of Victory campaign. If you'd like to participate and 
offer your financial support to MLP at the $500 level or above in 2005, 
just drop us a note at victory at mlp.org <mailto:victory at mlp.org> with 
your name, postal address, and preferred phone number. We'll get a 
Lights of Victory information packet to you in the mail and then follow 
up by phone.



*New More Light Church in Chicago! * 

Last month, the Session of *Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church 
<http://www.gspc-chicago.org/> *, Chicago, IL voted to become affiliated 
as a More Light Presbyterian Church declaring their welcome and 
affirmation to all God's children with a particular word of welcome and 
affirmation to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and their 
families.

The National Board of Directors, More Light Presbyterians officially 
welcomes Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Chicago as our newest More 
Light Presbyterian Church.  Thank you Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church 
for your commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is indeed "good 
news" to all persons, including LGBT persons and our families.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051107082312621>*



*MLP Louisville Conference a success, with more on the way*


/A conference update from our field organizer Michael Adee./


Sojourning together... building community... being the Church in Kansas 
City, Louisville, Santa Fe, Pittsburgh, and Nashville...


MLP's second regional conference, held in Louisville, ended on October 
23 in the church hall basement of Central Presbyterian Church, with a 
packed SRO celebration luncheon that followed the keynote worship 
service with the Voices of Kentuckiana Chorus providing extraordinary 
music. Rainbow decorations on the tables greeted us along with the 
largest, gayest cakes you have ever seen complete with rainbow colored 
dot icing.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=2005110514012070>*



*Some historical perspective on equality movements *


Occasionally here at MLP, we receive what might be called "battle 
fatigue" letters or email messages, from folks who feel like calling it 
quits with the work of redeeming the PCUSA from its institutionalized 
anti-LGBT discrimination. Certainly if you're starting to feel burned 
out, by all means we encourage you to take a break for a while - no 
single person is responsible for the work of eliminating anti-gay 
prejudice from the Presbyterian Church! However as one way to get some 
historical perspective on our own justice movement, we did a bit of 
investigation on past movements for equality and came up with a few 
months and years:

- American Anti-Slavery Society founded in Philadelphia: December, 1833
- 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified, banning slavery: 
December, 1865
- Number of years in between: 32

*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051103212555541>
*



*Remembering and honoring Rev. Chuck McClain *


On November 1, the Rev. Chuck McLain, Parish Associate, Montclair 
Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA, a More Light Presbyterian Church, died 
after a valiant battle with cancer. He is survived by his sister, Louisa 
and her family, his Montclair church family and friends all across the 
country.

Those of us fortunate enough to have known Chuck remember and honor him 
and his faithful, generous and loving ministry as a Minister of the Word 
and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (USA). A graduate of McCormick 
Theological Seminary, Chuck served congregations in Los Angeles before 
moving to Oakland.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051101222141376>*



*PCUSA's anti-gay policies cause membership loss
*

Much noise is often made about the small number of presbyterians who 
perennially threaten to leave the PCUSA if the denomination removes its 
anti-gay laws and policies. The real news story that doesn't get 
covered, however, is that people are leaving our denomination right now 
/because of/ the PCUSA's anti-gay policies. These folks don't organize 
annual conferences, don't make public threats to leave the denomination, 
and don't get interviewed by reporters with the religious press - they 
simply, one by one, come to the conclusion that the Presbyterian Church 
doesn't welcome them or their friends and doesn't treat them as equals, 
and so they go elsewhere. This form of denominational loss will continue 
every year until the PCUSA deletes G6.0106b and our anti-gay 
Authoritative Interpretation.

MLP recently invited people to share their stories if they had left, or 
knew of people who had left the PCUSA due to the denomination's 
anti-LGBT stance. Here are extracts from some of the responses that we 
received in reply.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=200510261503037>*




*Former Presbyterian Coalition moderator Jack Haberer to become new 
Outlook editor*


Presbyterian News Service recently reported 
<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2005/05554.htm> that Rev. John "Jack" 
Haberer, a former moderator of The Presbyterian Coalition [1], past 
president of the board of Presbyterians for Renewal [2], and a member of 
the PCUSA's Theological Task Force has been chosen as the new editor of 
The Presbyterian Outlook <http://www.pres-outlook.com/>, an independent 
Presbyterian news magazine with about 10,000 subscribers. Haberer is 
scheduled to assume the editorship of the Outlook on Dec. 12 of this year.

Over the past few years, the Outlook's coverage of LGBT issues has on 
the whole been reasonable and fair, avoiding defamatory language, 
avoiding conflations of the term "chastity" with "celibacy", and 
avoiding any characterization of the struggle for Presbyterian LGBT 
equality using anti-gay framings such as "standards versus libertinism". 
Whether Haberer's appointment as editor of the Outlook will change the 
magazine's approach to reporting on equality issues remains to be seen.

*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051020161730973>
*



*MLP board member Heather Reichgott at More Light Sunday, First Palo Alto*


More Light Presbyterians national board member Heather Reichgott joined 
the congregation of More Light church First Palo Alto 
<http://www.fprespa.org> on Sunday Oct. 16 for First Palo Alto's marking 
of More Light Sunday <http://www.mlp.org/morelightsunday>, a day when 
LGBT-supportive churches emphasize their participation in the movement 
for LGBT equality within the PCUSA and their support of More Light 
Presbyterians. Nationally, More Light Sunday falls on the first Sunday 
in June each year, but churches are free to choose a different Sunday if 
it fits better with their local church calendar.

More Light Sunday at First Palo Alto this year included a sanctuary 
display of over 100 stoles from The Shower of Stoles Project 
<http://www.showerofstoles.org/>, a More Light information table, and an 
adult education class facilitated by MLP board member Heather Reichgott, 
who also gave the morning's sermon, "How Do You Get Married in Heaven?" 
<http://www.fprespa.org/married_heaven.htm>

*Read more and see the photo... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051020194008615>
*



*By a razor-thin margin, New Hope Presbytery votes to prolong 
discrimination*


On Saturday October 15, by a slim 4 votes, New Hope Presbytery 
(northeast North Carolina) turned down an opportunity to support 
ordination equality in the PCUSA. As a substitute for a motion which 
would have sent a delete-B overture to the 2006 General Assembly, the 
Presbytery voted instead to have a "period of discernment" and postpone 
any vote on G6.0106b until at least October 2006, after General Assembly 
is over. The substitute motion to postpone passed and replaced the 
proposed delete-B overture by a vote of 83 for, 79 against (51% to 49%). 
The vote percentages are consistent with previous voting patterns on 
LGBT equality within New Hope Presbytery, and suggest that in a few more 
years as our movement wins more hearts and minds, New Hope will begin to 
consistently vote for equality.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051019235304304>*




*More Light supporters in the news: Christopher Harris addresses U.S. 
Senate subcommittee
*

**

Dr. Christopher Harris, Presbyterian elder and an early leader at More 
Light Church Mt. Auburn Presbyterian <http://www.mtauburnpresby.org/> in 
Cincinnati, testified on Thursday Oct. 20 before a U.S. Senate 
subcommittee about the "Federal Marriage Amendment", a proposed U.S. 
Constitutional change which should more accurately be called the 
/Federal Anti-Marriage Amendment/, since its intent is to prevent people 
from marrying. MLP field organizer Michael Adee brings us more details 
and a copy of the media advisory issued by Vanderbilt University, where 
Dr. Harris serves as an assistant professor.

"Christopher Harris, MD to address US Senate Subcommittee on Federal 
Marriage Amendment as a physician and a gay dad"
*Read more...* <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051019233311959>

**



*The fall 2005 More Light tour: 11 states, dozens of churches*

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/An update and invitation for 2006 from our field organizer Michael Adee./
*Is More Light Coming to your Town? The "More Light Tour" to Eleven 
States in Fall 2005 & Openings for 2006*

Hello from Detroit, MI and the home of Barb and Ken Smith. We are 
celebrating the completion of a remarkable "More Light Weekend" here 
with outreach and programming at three area churches: Northside 
Presbyterian Church <http://www.northsidepres.org/>, Ann Arbor; 
Southfield Presbyterian Church 
<http://fm2.forministry.com/Church/Home.asp?SiteId=48075SPC>, 
Southfield; and Church of Our Savior, West Bloomfield. Chuck 
Booker-Hirsch was the local organizer who put this weekend together and 
he just completed a term of leadership and service on the National MLP 
Board. Chuck is the pastor of Northside Presbyterian Church, a More 
Light Presbyterian Church.

This More Light Weekend in Detroit is part of a wonderful 
continent-crossing "More Light Tour" this fall to 11 states plus 
Washington, DC that began Labor Day weekend with a visits to Cincinnati, 
OH and Louisville, KY followed by outreach in Chicago, IL following our 
National MLP Board Meeting held at McCormick Theological Seminary.
**

*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051019134942792>*
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*Save the date: MLP Nashville regional conference, Feb. 10-12 2006*

Celebrating our faith, preparing for 2006 General Assembly, and being 
with your MLP Family and Welcoming/Affirming Community in Nashville, TN, 
February 10 - 12, 2006

Give yourself the gift of a weekend of inspiration, LGBT-affirming and 
inclusive worship, celebration, spiritual nourishment, educational 
workshops and resources to empower you and your local church or campus 
ministry, organizing for GA 2006, plus times for reflection and 
recreation. You are not alone, you are invited to join your MLP Family 
as we gather together as a rainbow community of faith in Nashville.
*Read more...* <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20051107185135368>


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MLPnews is published every 3-4 weeks by More Light Presbyterians 
<http://www.mlp.org>.  Text not attributed otherwise is copyright (c) 
2005 More Light Presbyterians.  MLP permits and encourages the 
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More Light Presbyterians is a member-supported, 501c(3) organization 
which works for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and 
transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the 
Presbyterian Church (USA) <http://www.pcusa.org>.  Your financial 
contributions are a key part of our witness, activities, and efforts to 
bring equality to the PCUSA.  You can contribute to MLP online, or print 
a mail-in signup form, at www.mlp.org/join.html 
<http://www.mlp.org/join.html>

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