Songs of Celebration and Justice

One of the most memorable experiences of the 219th General Assembly was the MLP Choir under the direction of Partick Evans. They sang at the Welcoming Worship Celebration and at the Soulforce Press Conference. Here is the choir at the Soulforce Press Conference.

Hidden In Plain View

Rev. Heidi Peterson, the pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, MO and MLP Board Member, preached the sermon at MLP's Welcoming Worship Celebration on Tuesday at General Assembly.

Sermon Text:

1 Corinthians 12:12-27



Hidden In Plain View, Part 2

Rev. Jean Southard on Marriage Equality

Rev. Jean Southard spoke at MLP's Educational Luncheon today about marriage equality and her trials in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Jean Southard is a retired Minister of the Word and Sacrament and officiated at a legal wedding of two women in Massachusetts. Charges were filed in the Presbytery of Boston and were dropped on August 22, 2009. This decision was appealed to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast. The Synod ruled against the Presbytery and Jean. The Synod decision will be appealed.



Rev. Jean Southard on Marriage Equality, Part 2

Today the Civil Unions and Marriage Committee are voting on overtures that allow pastoral/session discretion in performing weddings in those states that have legalized marriage for all couples.

MLP National Celebration Dinner Highlighted

The Presbyterian News Service highlighted MLP's National Celebration Dinner and awards on Saturday. If you have not had a chance to view the photos of the event, they are located on Flickr.

At Saturday night’s More Light Presbyterian (MLP) National Celebration Dinner at the 219th General Assembly (2010), Ross Murray, interim executive director for Lutherans Concerned/North America, issued reassurance to all dinner attendees: “One year ago, we, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), were meeting in this very place discussing the same issues [on homosexuality] when tornados and lightning struck and we knew we weren’t in Kansas anymore. Well, there was no little man hiding behind a curtain to help us … it’s been a year for us, and we are praying for you as you go through this process.”

The program that followed rallied support to face that storm head-on.

In his address to attendees at the dinner, Michael Adee, MLP executive director and a former college professor, recalled that in the 1990s, “Homosexuality [in the church] was greeted with either silence or hostility … from there the church began debating, voting and studying and we’re still debating, voting and studying.”

Keynote speaker the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, director of the Institute for Welcoming Resources, told of a traditional Jewish story about how God’s world is destroyed and that it takes all of God’s people to rebuild it. She related that story to the state of the Presbyterian church today. “The church is falling apart and it is only by acceptance and all of us working together that we can rebuild it,” said Voelkel.

“How desperately we need a church whose people can say that ours is a church where all people are accepted in love,” she concluded.

The award ceremony highlighted national support for MLP churches. The Rev. Jean Southard was awarded the Rev. David Sindt Leadership Award for her nationwide efforts in raising awareness of the necessity of MLP churches.

St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Wayzata, Minn., was awarded Outstanding More Light Church. The Rev. Gwin Pratt, pastor, proudly recalled that in 1988, St. Luke’s was referred to as “irregular,” and said, “We plan to stay that way.”

The Outstanding MLP Chapter award was given to Open Doors More Light Chapter in Washington, D.C. Accepting the award was the Rev. Jean Mackenzie.

The Three Faces of Power

During the keynote address at the National Celebration Dinner, Rev. Rebecca Voelkel of the Institute of Welcoming Resources shared some of the lessons she'd learned about the Pro-LGBT Religious Movement to support and inspire the critical work at the 219th General Assembly and beyond. The full speech is after the videos.



The Three Faces of Power, Part 2
Rev. Rebecca Voelkel's Speech National Celebration Dinner

Witness to God's Love and Acceptance of All God's Children

More Light Presbyterians gave witness to God's love and acceptance of ALL God's children as commissioners, advisory delegates and observers arrived for worship this morning. We gathered outside of the GA worship entrance to greet everyone with positive pro-LGBT signs and joyful songs to remind everyone that God's creation, love & blessing includes God's LGBT children and so should our Church.



Photographs of the witness are available on Flickr.

A Church of the Heart

Dr. Michael Adee, Executive Director and Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians, spoke at the National Celebration Dinner about a church of the heart. At the end of his speech, he celebrated new More Light Churches.



Church of the Heart, Part 2

Here is the Flickr Photo Set of the Reception and the National Celebration Dinner.

More Light Presbyterians Reception and National Celebration Dinner

You are invited to join More Light Presbyterians for a Reception and the National Celebration Dinner tonight, July 3. Members of the media are welcome (MLP Press Kit). The Reception is free and located in the Hilton Minneapolis (1001 Marquette Ave) Ballroom E between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. For the Dinner, you will need a ticket for the meal, but you are welcome to bring a sandwich and join us. The Dinner is located in the Hilton Minneapolis in Ballroom F and G between 5:00 and 6:45 pm.

Here is the program for the National Celebration Dinner.