MLP May Newsletter!

IN THIS ISSUE * Notes from the Staff * Pride Sunday Liturgy * Word From Our Partners * MLP in the news * Upcoming Events

From our Director of Engagement

I have to report to you all, gentle readers, that the MLP Retreat was AMAZING! We shared, we laughed, we cried, we ate, we hiked, we danced, we partook in God’s abundance in the shape of bread and wine (well, actually, in the shape of Pop Corners and Sprite… long story). It was a much needed time for all of us and the need for community became quickly evident. Community is the antidote to the isolation caused by individualism and predatory capitalism, so MLP continues to seek ways to create communities of mutual support, care, and accountability. And they are all available to you: you can join our Discord server and join one of our channels (from committees to book recommendations), you can join us on our More Light Mondays, or you can email us to set up a Zoom meeting. We are your community.  In November (11/12-11/22), we will gather again as a community; this time as part of the Mutual Liberation Delegation to Palestine, in collaboration with Sabeel and FOSNA. The participants of this delegation will focus on intersectionality and mutual liberation. Participants agree before registration to value, respect and honor queer identified folx, no exceptions. We will focus some of our conversations and explorations around the experience of queerness in the midst of occupation and its impacts. We will learn firsthand about daily life and realities on the ground, as well as the everyday work people are doing to survive and resist the conditions imposed upon them. We hope our people-to-people solidarity will serve to lessen the increasing isolation experienced by Palestinian communities as it deepens our own commitment to working for liberation. We will be creating community. Interested? Fill out this interest form, get acquainted with our partner organizations, and pray for peace for our siblings in the region.  -Claudia

From our Director of Operations

How is it May already? My head and heart are still clinging to the peace and community we fostered in Ferncliff for our MLP retreat. I am so thankful for the time we had together and the rest we prioritized as we prepared for the work ahead.  The 227th General Assembly is coming up, and yet again, the rights of LGBTQIA+ people will come before committees and possibly the plenary floor for debate. After last year's strenuous Olympia Overture debate and the many that have come before it, it would have been nice to have at least one year where we didn't have to defend our humanity, but alas, here we are.  MLP knows there are a few overtures coming to the assembly that directly concern LGBTQIA+ folks. We will be releasing a statement in the coming week regarding Overture 044 (requirements for Ministers of Word and Sacrament to be monogamous) and its implications for the LGBTQIA+ community. We also know there will be further discussion and clarity around the implentation of the of the requirements set forth in the Olympia Overture. These conversations can be overwhelming and exhausting, and we want you to know we stand with you in the thick of it all.  Please be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to engage with More Light Presbyterians as we prepare for GA227, including our next More Light Monday: Love Made Plural, Faithful Polyamory 101. Click the link in upcoming events to register.  -Jesy

More Light Sunday Liturgy: We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For

Today is May 1st, but we know Pride 2026 will be here before we all are fully prepared! As you plan for worship, and we hope, as you prepare to have a More Light/Pride Sunday service,  More Light Presbyterians is offering FREE liturgy for you to use.  The staff and board of MLP have prepared a complete order of worship for you to use, centered on the theme "We Are The Ones We've Been Waiting For," drawing inspiration from Psalm 121 and a phrase from June Jordan's 1978 poem.

Click Here to Download the 2026 Pride Liturgy

More Light Presbyterians in the News

MLP has recently been featured a few times in featured articles for Presbyterian Outlook. We are so thankful for the work our staff and board are doing, and the very needed public witness they offer to the world. As you are able, click the links below to read what we've been up to! More Light Presbyterians retreat centers rest, belonging and resistance — Written by MLP board member, Rev. Bethany Peerbolte. Church support and care for transgender congregants — featuring our director of engagement, Rev. Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava.

A Word From Our Partners

Our partners in ministry at Kin-dom Camp are looking for volunteers for their upcoming programming year! And if you’re searching for a joyful, LGBTQIA+-affirming camp experience for your youth, be sure to scan the QR code to learn more and register.

Upcoming Events!

Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming MLP events!

May 11: More Light Monday. This month, we are exploring the topic of polyamory. Come with all your questions, especially as General Assembly approaches.  May 16: Join Director of Engagement Claudia Aguilar at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, NM, from 3 to 5 pm in a conversation about why being part of our network is holy work.  May 17th: Rev. Claudia Aguilar, director of engagement, will be preaching at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, NM. June 7th: Join the MLP Board and Staff for our annual virtual Pride Worship Service! More information to come!          More Light Monday: Love Made Plural       Faithful Polyamory 101

Love Made Plural: Faithful Polyamory 101 What good news does the Triune God hold for those in non-monogamous relationships? What wisdom do polyamorous persons offer the Body of Christ? And what even is polyamory? Two polyamorous Christians share their stories and offer practical information for ministers and congregants — with plenty of space for your questions!

Click here to register

Get Involved!

Our collective wisdom and knowledge can take us farther than what we can do on our own. You can help us this month in a few ways: *Has your congregation paid dues this year? If not, you may submit them here. Your dues help us do this work. *Donate! We educate individuals and congregations, offer pastoral care to queer people and the ones who love them, we guide congregations as they seek to discern best steps, we advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community in our denomination and in the public arena. We can’t do it without your help.  *In light of recent political developments, the number of LGBTQIA+ couples seeking to get married has increased. More Light Presbyterians is compiling a list of queer and queer-affirming clergy willing to officiate wedding ceremonies and preach at MLP congregations on short notice. Please spread the word widely within your networks. If you are in need of an officiant, please contact us at hello@mlp.org indicating your location and the date of the ceremony.  *Is your congregation supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in your context? If you have pictures, be sure to share so we can highlight your awesome and holy work!  Please email them to hello@mlp.org

Mail a Check: More Light Presbyterians, Inc. P.O. Box 735764 Chicago, IL 60673-5764   Contact Us: More Light Presbyterians 14301 Laurel Bowie Road Laurel, MD 20708 hello@mlp.org Website: www.mlp.org

WCC News: High-level delegation from Palestine visits WCC

On 1 May, the World Council of Churches (WCC) received Dr Ramzy Khoury, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and chairman of the High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, representing the Palestinian president; and H.E. Amira Hanania, member of High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs and representative to Europe, and member of the Palestine National Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization.  WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and chairman of the Palestine's High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Dr Ramzy Khoury after signing a memorandum of understanding describing a general framework of an intention to work together. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC 01 May 2026 Khoury and Hanania met with WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the Ecumenical Centre, then moved to the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey for lunch and additional meetings.  Khoury and Hanania were accompanied by H.E. Ibrahim Mohammad Khraishi, former deputy foreign affairs minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Palestine's ambassador to Switzerland, and permanent observer representing Palestine for the United Nations at Geneva; and his staff.  The WCC receiving delegation included Pillay, accompanied by Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace; Doug Chial, WCC director of the Office of the General Secretariat; Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication; and Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for peacebuilding in the Middle East. Khoury and Hanania’s visit followed meetings with the WCC in February.  As a concrete sign of collaboration, the High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs and the WCC signed a memorandum of understanding describing a general framework of an intention to work together on WCC programme activities in Palestine.  The memorandum builds upon the longstanding working relationship between the High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in the State of Palestine and the World Council of Churches, grounded in shared Christian values of justice, peace, and human dignity, and the long history of the WCC in its solidarity and accompaniment of the Palestinian people. World Council of Churches leadership with members of the delegation from Palestine in the chapel of the Bossey Ecumenical Institute on 1 May 2026. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland