[MLPnews] MLPnews July 10, 2006

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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 3
Issue 8
  July 10, 2006



 

 

 


In this issue:

    - "Until our Church gets it right": MLP statement on passage of the
    Theological Task Force report
    - "Letters from a Birmingham Assembly" - Michael Adee's Birmingham
    keynote address
    - More Light Sunday church participation in 2006: stronger than ever
    at 54 churches
    - More Light supporters and friends at San Francisco Pride
    **- More Light Sunday at Westminster Hills, Hayward CA
    - More Light Sunday at Christ Church, Burlington
    - 2006 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women

    *General Assembly day by day recap:*
    June 15:
      - "The stakes are high" -- day one at General Assembly
      - MLP Dinner a Huge Success
      - Overflow crowd packs MLP national dinner at General Assembly
      - Presbyterian News Service story on the MLP dinner
      - We have a moderator!
    June 16:
      - Friday GA update... plus, MLP co-moderator Kim Smith-King comes out
      - More Light supporters testify to the Church Orders committee
      - Church Orders committee gives thumbs-down to anti-marriage overtures
      - Movies for the Welcoming Church
    June 17:
      - Committee questioning unintentionally demonstrates how G6.0106b
    is a tool for prejudice
      - Committee testimony by MLP team member Janet Edwards
      - Church Orders committee votes 30-28 to disapprove Heartland overture
      - Michael Adee's comments on the Church Orders committee vote
    June 18:
      - MLP on the nightly news - Michael interviewed on WBRC-TV Birmingham
      - "Now Is The Time" - June 18 sermon by MLP co-moderator Bear Ride
      - Ecclesiology committee approves all Theological Task Force
    recommendations
      - Pictures from MLP General Assembly events
      - "It's like a rollercoaster" - one volunteer's reflections on GA
    June 19:
      - Church Orders committee wrapup: "NO" on almost everything, good
    and bad
      - Pictures from the MLP/welcoming witness event
      - Pictures from the MLP convention floor booth
      - Picture from the Voices of Sophia breakfast
    June 20:
      - On Being Voted On
      - All Task Force recommendations passed, 298-221
      - The Associated Press take on today's Task Force vote
    June 21:
      - Pictures and thanks from the MLP board dinner
    June 23:
      - Press articles on General Assembly action: no consensus
      - Michael Adee in the Washington Blade
    June 24:
      - MLP and General Assembly in the Arizona Daily Star

*

**"Until our Church gets it right": MLP statement on passage of the 
Theological Task Force report*

June 20, 2006, Birmingham, Alabama.

Earlier this evening after a spirited three-hour debate, the 217th 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted by a margin of 
57% to 43% to approve the Theological Task Force's Peace, Unity and 
Purity Report and its recommendations. Bear Ride, Co-Moderator, said of 
this decision: "This is not where we had hoped to be, but this is where 
we are - not an altogether unfamiliar place for those of us who are 
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. And yet, somehow we remain in the 
Presbyterian Church (USA)."

The approval of the Task Force Report and its recommendation to not send 
a constitutional amendment from this year's General Assembly that would 
have removed the discriminatory ban against faithful LGBT Presbyterians 
seeking ordination inevitably led to the defeat of the Heartland 
Ordination Overture 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20050419234203172>. "We are 
grateful for the 22 presbyteries that believed in the full embrace of 
our LGBT sisters and brothers who came to Birmingham to work for 
justice. MLP is committed to bringing ordination overtures every General 
Assembly until our Church gets it right," responded Kim Smith King, 
Co-Moderator.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060620190047332>*



*"Letters from a Birmingham Assembly" - Michael Adee's Birmingham 
keynote address*

June 15, 2006
Michael J. Adee
National More Light Presbyterians Dinner Celebration, 217th General 
Assembly, PCUSA, Birmingham, AL

"The celebrated author of Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen, wrote that, "It 
is in the telling of our stories that we find our way."  Birmingham, 
Alabama is a place of many stories. This is the place where Martin 
Luther King, Jr. wrote his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." The Civil 
Rights Insitute & Museum that houses his jail cell is just a few blocks 
from this hotel. You can see that very jail cell where he wrote his 
letter that challenged the Church and changed our nation.

Presbyterians are story-telling people. We are part of an ancient stream 
of people of faith, the Hebrew people who told their faith stories 
through midrash. As Presbyterians there are stories of us taking on 
tough issues - with our heads, hearts and minds - stories that 
illustrate our individual consciences and collective conscience as a 
Church - consider our taking on tough issues in our past Slavery, 
segregation, the ordination of women, divorce and remarriage, trusting 
women to be their own moral agents with reproductive rights and choices, 
economic justice and peace-making...
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060623225904543>*


*More Light Sunday church participation in 2006: stronger than ever at 
54 churches** *

Now that our news work for General Assembly is complete, we've got the 
time to say many thank-yous and congratulations to all the churches that 
signed up and participated in More Light Sunday 
<http://www.mlp.org/morelightsunday> this year, the annual day for 
churches and More Light supporters across the country come together for 
local actions to support the movement for LGBT equality within the 
PCUSA, and to support More Light Presbyterians.  Our count so far is 54 
participating churches for 2006.  That's over four times as many 
churches marking More Light Sunday as in its first year in 2004. It's 
because of our More Light Sunday participation that we were able to 
deliver thousands of signed postcards 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060504113540727> to this year's 
General Assembly commissioners -- your voices made a difference, and 
will sow seeds that continue to bear fruit for years to come.

*More Light Sunday participating churches, 2006 - thanks to all of you!*
Ashland First Presbyterian, Ashland OR
Bethany Presbyterian, Spokane WA
*Read more and see the full list of participating churches... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060625181436383>*



*More Light supporters and friends at San Francisco Pride*

/Picture and summary received from Marcus Jung./
Here's the first picture that we've received from the June 25th San 
Francisco Pride <http://www.sfpride.org> parade. That's me (Mission Bay 
NCD) on the left in yellow, helping Larry Eng (Seventh Ave.) hold up 
Seventh Avenue's banner.
*Read the full article and see the photo... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=2006070914463841>*



*More Light Sunday at Westminster Hills, Hayward CA*

/More Light Sunday local coordinator John Wichmann sent us this great 
picture of More Light Sunday at Westminster Hills Presbyterian Church in 
Hayward, CA./
More Light Sunday at Westminster Hills 
<http://www.mlp.org/images/articles/20060625222708428_1_original.jpg>
(Click the thumbnail to see a larger version.)



*More Light Sunday at Christ Church, Burlington*

We celebrated More Light Sunday on June 18 at Christ Church, 
Presbyterian in Burlington, VT. The entire liturgy (with a nod to 
Fathers' Day during the children's time) was built around our commitment 
to More Light.
More Light Sunday at Christ Church 
<http://www.mlp.org/images/articles/20060625214910225_1_original.jpg>
(Click the thumbnail to see a larger version.)


*2006 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women*

More Light Presbyterian members, supporters, donors, friends & allies:
Re: MLPs and "More Light" at 2006 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian 
Women, Louisville, KY July 7 - 11.

5,000 Presbyterian Women from around the country and world are expected 
in Louisville for their triennial Churchwide Gathering. More Light 
Presbyterians will be there offering an educational outreach booth in 
the Exhibition Hall.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060706063809387> *
*


General Assembly day by day news items*
*
June 15:*
*
"The stakes are high" -- day one at General Assembly*
/Relayed by MLP's field organizer Michael Adee -- article by MLP web editor/
Thursday June 15 was both the setup day and the first open display day 
for MLP's General Assembly exhibit floor booth, which this year covers 
two standard booth slots, the largest booth ever run by MLP at a General 
Assembly. In addition to displaying our own large set of print, video, 
and other resources, we're also offering space to the /Telling Our 
Stories/ project based in Pittsburgh, which collects and offers stories 
of LGBT people, and to the Shower of Stoles Project 
<http://welcomingresources.org/sosp.htm>.*
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060615230616684>Read more... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060615230616684>*


*MLP Dinner a Huge Success*
More than 200 supporters and friends of MLP joined together for what 
board member Travis Stevens has termed "Quite possibly the most fabulous 
dinner yet held at a General Assembly function." Shouts of "Right Now!" 
filled the air in response to a series of speakers who focused on where 
they found hope for the LGBT movement.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060615234414765>*

*
Overflow crowd packs MLP national dinner at General Assembly*
An enthusiastic crowd of over 200 people packed the Thursday night More 
Light Presbyterians national dinner, overflowing a space that was 
originally set for an estimated attendance of 150. When MLP sold out all 
of its tickets, we extended the dinner plate count as much as the hotel 
would allow, added three additional tables for seating, and then invited 
the remaining overflow attendees to bring a brown bag dinner so that 
everyone would have a place at the table. *
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060615220225177>*


*Presbyterian News Service story on the MLP dinner*
The denomination's official news service has published a brief article 
about Thursday evening's MLP national dinner. Extracts appear below, and 
you can read the full article 
<http://www.pcusa.org/ga217/newsandphotos/ga06009.htm> on the PCUSA's 
web site.
*
More Light wants more inclusion*
by Mike Ferguson
BIRMINGHAM, June 15 -- Michael Adee, field director for More Light 
Presbyterians, tells the story of a boy in a Bible study he was leading 
who decided he didn't care what the Bible has to say about 
homosexuality. The boy wanted to know only one thing: "Does God love me 
the way I am?"
*Read the full article... 
<http://www.pcusa.org/ga217/newsandphotos/ga06009.htm>*


*We have a moderator*
The 217th General Assembly elected Joan S. Gray Thursday evening to 
serve as moderator.The Rev. Gray was endorsed by the Presbytery of 
Greater Atlanta. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia 
Theological Seminary, Johnson C. Smith Seminary, and Princeton 
Theological Seminary.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060615233837807>*


*June 16:

**Friday GA update... plus, MLP co-moderator Kim Smith-King comes out*

Prophetic words from LGBT and allied Presbyterians graced General 
Assembly on Friday June 16. Encouraging votes occurred regarding 
marriage in the Church Orders committee. All three overtures attempting 
to prevent pastors from any involvement in same-gender marriage or civil 
unions of any sort were rejected by the committee... Several of our More 
Light friends and members spoke out. Board member Janet Edwards 
testified, "When prejudice is talked about, we know it is dying."
*Read more...* <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060616223653770>


*More Light supporters testify to the Church Orders committee*

The General Assembly committee dealing with LGBT ordination issues - the 
Church Orders commitee - spent the bulk of the day on Friday hearing 
testimonies - both pro-LGBT and anti. Many, many familiar voices from 
our movement had the opportunity to speak... New to our family line up 
is Joshua Carr, a fabulous gay Presbyterian from deep in the heart of 
Orange County, California. Josh's story is particularly poignant, and 
brought tears to the eyes of the crustiest of old-time GA geeks. Joshua 
has given us permission to share the transcript of his comments, which 
appear below.

"Honesty is not always the best policy..."
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060616210313883>*


*
Church Orders committee gives thumbs-down to anti-marriage overtures*

Good news! Presbyterian News Service is now reporting that the Church 
Orders committee has voted to recommend that the General Assembly reject 
two anti-marriage, anti-LGBT overtures. This vote of the committee is 
consistent with MLP's legislative recommendations 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060513140818147>, which 
recommended that commissioners reject the various anti-marriage 
overtures submitted to GA. Three such overtures (overtures 010, 027, and 
028) were sent to General Assembly and the PNS article below only 
mentions two of them... we'll post an update once we learn more details 
about whether any of these three overtures remains to be considered by 
the committee. [Saturday 2 AM update: the committee rejected all three 
anti-marriage overtures.]
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060616211446208>*


*Movies for the Welcoming Church*/
As just one example of the too-numerous-to-count activities that MLP is 
organizing at this year's General Assembly, here's the announcement of 
the four-day film series organized by MLP in our hospitality suite./*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060616224530659>*



*June 17:*

*Committee questioning unintentionally demonstrates how G6.0106b is a 
tool for prejudice
*
On an overture like Heartland 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20050419234203172>, which calls 
for the removal of anti-LGBT clause G6.0106b, it's not surprising that a 
question period "for clarification" was rather highly charged. On 
Friday, these questions became a live demonstration of the attacks on 
LGBT people that G-6.0106b encourages.  Kim Smith King and Ray Bagnuolo, 
two of the 22 Overture Advocates for the proposal to delete G-6.0106b 
from the Book of Order, had just made their presentation to the 
Committee on Church Orders. Bagnuolo told the story of his call to 
interim ministry at a church in New Jersey as an openly gay man. He said 
"They didn't call me because of my sexuality--they called me because 
they thought my gifts were what their church needed."
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060617124358509>*


*Committee testimony by MLP team member Janet Edwards*
/Here's MLP team member Janet Edwards' recap of her Friday June 16 
statement to the Committee on Church Orders, in opposition to the three 
anti-marriage overtures. The committee later voted to recommend 
disapproval of these overtures./

I am Janet Edwards, minister member of Pittsburgh Presbytery. I have 
never done anything like this before but I am compelled to speak by my 
experience of God moving a year ago next week at the wonderful June 
wedding of Nancy and Brenda which I was privileged to celebrate. God's 
loving Spirit was so tremendously present at that ceremony. All of us 
saw so clearly that the essence of marriage is the covenant between the 
two people. This is why marriage is such a meaningful image for the 
covenantal nature of God: God's covenant with creation, with God's 
people, with God's church.
*Read the full statement...* 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060617125909871>


*Church Orders committee votes 30-28 to disapprove Heartland overture
*At 3:18 PM central time today (June 17), in a virtual tie, the 
Committee on Church Orders voted 30 in favor, 28 opposed on a motion to 
DISapprove the Heartland overture, which calls for the deletion of 
G-6.0106b.  This committee vote means that the Heartland pro-LGBT 
delete-B overture and its 21 supportive overtures and concurrences have 
received a nominal thumbs-down from the committee, however the vote is 
so obviously divided that it may have little significance when the 
General Assembly plenary session begins.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060617145118143>*


***Michael Adee's comments on the Church Orders committee vote*
Minutes ago, the Church Orders' Committee of the General Assembly voted 
30-28 to disapprove the Heartland Presbytery Ordination Overture that 
would have removed discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and 
transgender persons in our church. While this vote is a disappointment, 
of course... this remarkably narrow vote is a message to the Assembly 
that there are indeed those in the Church willing to remove barriers to 
LGBT persons following God's call to service.

Those of us here in Birmingham witnessed many allies coming forward to 
speak from within this committee asking for fairness, the welcome and 
affirmation of LGBT people in our Church, and to end discrimination. 
With the committee discussion of the ordination orverture, many 
thoughtful, articulate, passionate voices spoke for change, for 
fairness, for justice.... calling for the committee, and our Church, to 
recognize the sacred worth and gifts for ministry of lesbian, gay, 
bisexual and transgender persons.*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060617145442507>*



*June 18:*

***MLP on the nightly news - Michael interviewed on WBRC-TV Birmingham*
The More Light Presbyterians booth and our field organizer Michael Adee 
were featured on Saturday night's evening news from WBRC-TV channel 6 in 
Birmingham. Although WBRC could probably do with a few copies of GLAAD's 
media style guide <http://www.glaad.org/media/guide/style.php>, given 
the segment's pervasive use of the pejorative term "homosexual" rather 
than "gay", overall the news segment is a fair treatment of the equal 
rights concerns that our movement represents. The news piece is 
available online - * click here 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFjepoBe0AE>* to watch it right now.
Michael Adee on the news <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFjepoBe0AE>


***"Now Is The Time" - June 18 sermon by MLP co-moderator Bear Ride*
/MLP co-moderator Bear Ride gave this sermon at the More Light 
Presbyterians worship service at Pilgrim Congregational Church 
<http://www.blueroof.org/>. The church was packed, with nearly 300 in 
attendance. /**

Scripture text: Mark 4:26-34

My grandmother and her 9 brothers and sisters were born and raised in 
the small Southern Minnesota whistle-stop town of Butterfield. Several 
years ago I took a trip out to the wholesome land of my forebears and 
was taken on a pilgrimage by my great Aunt Pearl to what's left of their 
little hometown.  As you can imagine there were many highlights to this 
trip... But the REAL treat of the trip was, of all things, a theological 
one; for in the center of what remains of downtown is a little shop 
called "Butterfield Bible and Bait."*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060618141603338>*



*Ecclesiology committee approves all Theological Task Force recommendations*

On Sunday afternoon June 18, the General Assembly committee on 
Ecclesiology voted 41 to 22 in favor of recommendations 5 through 7 of 
the Theological Task Force report 
<http://www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity/resources/fullfinalreport.pdf>. 
Recommendations 1-4 had already passed during a previous committee 
session. Recommendation number 6, which now comes out of the committee 
with an affirmation in favor of its passage, is the infamous "no 
democracy for you" clause that recommends that this year's General 
Assembly make /no/ changes to ordination standards, and further 
recommends that GA make no policy changes on "Christology, biblical 
interpretation, essential tenets, [or] sexuality and ordination." MLP 
opposes passage of the Task Force report in particular because of this 
recommendation - see our 2006 legislative recommendations 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060513140818147> for the rationale.

MLP co-moderator Kim Smith-King made this formal statement in the wake 
of the committee's vote:

"We recognize that some in our community have hoped for and see 
possibility in the Authoritative Interpretation.  We of course hope the 
Assembly will reverse the committee's action regarding recommendation 6, 
which asks that General Assembly *not* send a delete-B overture to the 
Presbyteries.  We prayerfully call for full inclusion and justice * 
Right Now <http://www.mlp.org/rightnow>* for all LGBT Presbyterians."*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060618163909167>*


*Pictures from MLP General Assembly events*
Pictures from some MLP events in Birmingham are starting to come in. In 
this article we've posted a few from MLP's welcoming dinner on Thursday 
June 15, and from this morning's worship service as Pilgrim 
Congregational Church <http://www.blueroof.org/>.
*Read the full article and view the photos... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=2006061815091797>*


*"It's like a rollercoaster" - one volunteer's reflections on GA*/
MLP board member and self-described "General Assembly rookie" Janet 
Edwards has taken the time to write and share some thoughts about her GA 
experiences. Extracts appear below./

Saturday, June 17
Here is a description so far of my experience at GA: I am a rookie here 
(MLP board member Vickie Dearing calls herself a "GA virgin"). The best 
image for my experience so far is the Phantom rollercoaster ride at 
Kennywood, the historic amusement park in Pittsburgh. On the Phantom the 
first part of the ride is a slow ratcheting up a long, very long climb 
-- that was Tuesday and Wednesday with the setting up of the booth and 
hospitality suite, the election of the moderator.*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060618154031322>*



*June 19:

**Church Orders committee wrapup: "NO" on almost everything, good and bad*
By the time the Church Orders committee completed its work on Sunday 
June 18, the committee -- tasked to work through the 22 delete-B 
overtures and concurrences as well as 12 other overtures related to LGBT 
concerns -- had voted to disapprove every single overture except for 
item 04-05. That overture, from the Presbytery of Stockton, as amended 
by the committee calls for the Stated Clerk to use "electronic 
communication", presumably email, to send each congregation a copy of 
the antiquated and homophobic Policy Statement and Recommendations 
section of the 1978 UPCUSA document /The Church and Homosexuality/.  The 
vote counts are perhaps the more interesting side of the story, as they 
suggest a committee which was overall not interested in recommending 
anti-LGBT overtures, yet not quite ready to recommend the pro-LGBT 
overtures. Here's a rundown of the major vote counts, as reported by the 
GA "Les" system late Sunday night:*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060619203729512>*

*
****Pictures from the MLP/welcoming witness event*
At each General Assembly, the Presbyterian welcoming/pro-LGBT movement 
holds a public "witness event" for all GA attendees to see. This year's 
event - /Celebrating our Faith, Awaiting our Welcome/ - was held Sunday 
afternoon in front of the entrance for the Sunday evening worship service.
Witness event photo <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060619202144393>
*Click the thumbnail photo or this text to see all the photos...* 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060619202144393>

*
Pictures from the MLP convention floor booth*
Vikki Dearing of the MLP Birmingham ground team sent us some great 
photos taken at the MLP booth... and here they are.
MLP booth photo <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060619201832106>
*Click the thumbnail photo or this text to see all the photos... 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060619201832106>*



*Picture from the Voices of Sophia breakfast*
MLP supporters lead the group in song at Monday morning's Voices of 
Sophia breakfast.
vos <http://www.mlp.org/images/articles/20060619202908381_1_original.jpg>
*Click the image to see a larger version...* 
<http://www.mlp.org/images/articles/20060619202908381_1_original.jpg>



*June 20:*

*On Being Voted On*/
Sent from the floor of General Assembly in Birmingham by our field 
organizer Michael Adee./

Once again, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are being 
"voted on" in the Presbyterian Church (USA) today. The significance of 
this day, and these moments are not lost on those of us from MLP, and at 
the same time these moments feel all too strangely familiar. We have 
been here before. And, we will be here again, no matter what.  I pray, 
and hope for the day when "we" will not be voted upon, when the Church 
will simply recognize our presence, our faith, our calls to ministry, 
the gifts we bring to the Church and our congregations... when a level 
playing field of the same welcome and affirmation that heterosexual 
persons and their families receive every day exists freely, generously 
and lovingly for all God's children, not just heterosexuals.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060620091047834>*



*All Task Force recommendations passed, 298-221*
The General Assembly has passed all recommendations of the Theological 
Task Force, including the recommendation that calls for no changes to 
G6.0106b this year, by a vote of 298-221 (57% to 43%). The co-moderators 
of MLP have released a formal statement 
<http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060620190047332> in response.


*The Associated Press take on today's Task Force vote*

/Here's the initial Associated Press mini-article about the passage of 
the Task Force report. Although it lacks some nuances about what 
G6.0106b really says, it does give one example of how the non-religious 
press is reporting the vote./

*Presbyterians OK Leeway for Ordaining Gays*
By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer
June 20,2006 | BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 
national assembly voted Tuesday to create some leeway for gay clergy and 
lay officers to serve local congregations, despite a denominational ban 
on partnered gay ministers. A measure approved 298-221 by a Presbyterian 
national assembly keeps in place a church law that says clergy and lay 
elders and deacons must limit sexual relations to man-woman marriage. 
But the new legislation says local congregations and regional 
presbyteries can exercise some flexibility when choosing clergy and lay 
officers of local congregations if sexual orientation or other issues 
arise.*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=2006062017111364>*



*June 21:*

*Pictures and thanks from the MLP board dinner*
More Light Presbyterian Board members and friends celebrate and give 
thanks to the work and witness of /all God's children/ here in 
Birmingham.  Especially, the Board toasted Vikki Dearing and Michael 
Adee - our fearless leaders in organizing and deploying our volunteers 
in the many, many areas of MLP activity at this year's General Assembly.
*See the photos...* <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060621202405105>


*June 23: *

*Press articles on General Assembly action: no consensus*

/If you got the feeling that nobody really knows what the Authoritative 
Interpretation passed by General Assembly this past week will do, you're 
in good company. Below is a sampling of news headlines, with links to 
the full articles when available, from various media written in the wake 
of GA's passage of the Task Force report./

Washington Blade, June 23:
"Presbyterians won't ordain sexually active gays" 
<http://washingtonblade.com/2006/6-23/news/national/church.cfm>

Pinknews.co.uk, June 21:
"Protestant Church approves sexually active gay clergy" 
<http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1783.html>
<http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-presbyterian21jun21,1,4750055.story?coll=la-news-a_section>*Read 
more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060623233541639>*



*Michael Adee in the Washington Blade*/
MLP's field organizer Michael Adee was interviewed and quoted in a 
recent Washington Blade article about the results from General Assembly. 
Extracts appear below, and you can also read the full article 
<http://washingtonblade.com/2006/6-23/news/national/church.cfm> online. 
Whether the first half of the Blade's headline is accurate is a topic 
unto itself.../

*Presbyterians won't ordain sexually active gays
Church leader says 'homosexuality not God's will' *
By RYAN LEE
Jun. 23, 2006

The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted against opening the doors of 
ordination to gays in sexual relationships, but gay Presbyterians said 
important steps were taken at the denomination's 217th General Assembly 
in Birmingham, Ala., this week.*
Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=2006062323130119>*


*
June 24:*

*MLP and General Assembly in the Arizona Daily Star*/
Here are extracts from an article 
<http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/135093.php> recently published in 
the Arizona Daily Star./

*Local Presbyterians blocked on gay-clergy rule*
By Stephanie Innes   
June 24, 2006

A vote by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at its General Assembly in 
Birmingham, Ala. this week stopped short of changing the denomination's 
constitution, which says ordained church members must live in "fidelity 
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity 
in singleness," in spite of requests for a more inclusive rule.
*Read more... <http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=20060629203336111>*

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