MLP Jaunary 2025 Newsletter!

In This Issue *Staff Update: Welcome our new intern! *Staff Update: A note from Claudia and Jesy *Upcoming Events *A word from our partners *MLP Merch! *Donate Today

Staff Update!

Teddy Brock was raised in Decatur, Georgia by their mom, an ordained minister, and in Guntersville/Fort Payne/Auburn, Alabama by their dad, an ordained minister. Though Teddy grew up in church, a member and elder of Oakhurst Presbyterian, their relationship with faith faded in their latter teen years. They are currently in their final year at Long Island University (LIU) - Post, where they have been studying theater. While at school they explored their queerness and found a direct correlation to a reconnection with their faith. Their foundation in the church inspired and equipped them to create accepting spaces for queer community, as well as educate people not in the community about queer culture and experiences. These discoveries led them to found Rainbow Coalition, the LGBTQIA+ club at LIU, and share their experience at Montreat Youth Conference as a keynoter. Teddy now is exploring how to artistically tell stories of queer experience through poetry, theater, and writing.   Teddy will join the MLP staff as an intern from January through April!

From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubaclava

2024 was an exciting year for MLP and I couldn’t be more grateful. To every person who emailed us asking: how do I come out? How can we support our children transitioning? How can I help today? To every church that reached out with questions: How do we embrace difference? How do we ask for forgiveness? Where do we start? Thank you. I have learned much during my time at More Light, but I can certainly say that learning how to fail has been the most important lesson I have learned so far. Justice work is rarely a one-and-done deal. I have been many times in situations where I have to say: “I don’t know,” “This is new to me, tell me more about it,” or “I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I want to learn more so I can support you.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. I have grown to appreciate churches and people who come with curiosity and willingness to learn even if they mess up. 2025 brings new challenges but I am hopeful because we have a network of individuals, churches, and campus ministries that are ready to jump in when we need to work together. I am hopeful because, when we asked for officiants for LGBQTIA+ weddings, more than 500 people showed up. I am hopeful because, when we asked you to advocate with your local representative, it took minutes to get pictures and notifications of people writing to their Congressperson.  Being part of More Light is more than a cute cup sticker on your bulletin. It is a call to practice compassion, justice, and love. Will we mess up occasionally? Certainly so. But that’s why it’s a practice. We’ll get better at it if we keep practicing.

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

It's hard to believe today marks 1 year of me being on staff with More Light Presbyterians! I am so thankful for the Board, Claudia (and Zoë!) for all the support they have offered as I learned how to navigate this role!  More Light Presbyterians, in many ways, is why I was able to trust having a relationship with God, and especially the church, again. I will spare you the details of my church trauma, but know that if it weren't for MLP I wouldn't have found my home church (shoutout to Oaklands Presbyterian Church in Laurel,MD), I wouldn't have been invited to speak, to participate, to learn, to grow, to become ordained as a ruling elder, to lead, to serve, or so many other things that I can trace back to my happening upon MLP's website. Being apart of this organization, as a staff member, was a dream come true and I take none of this experience for granted.  I don't know what 2025 has in store for MLP, but I know that God is guiding us towards justice, love, and liberation for all of God's people. I hope you will join us.

Today: let’s celebrate Jesy’s first anniversary as our director of operations!!!!!!! January 2-5: College Conference. Join our brand-new intern Teddy Brock (they/them) and board member Avery Arden (they/them) in fun conversations at the exhibit hall or at Avery’s workshop.  January 12: Join director of engagement, Rev. Claudia Aguilar, in worship at Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church in Mesa, AZ.  January 23-26: Q Christian Conference in Atlanta, GA. Come visit director of engagement Claudia Aguilar and board member Bethany Peerbolte (she/her) at the exhibit hall. Email claudia@mlp.org if you want to have coffee with us. .

kin·dom camp is an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth ages 12-17 to feel safe and free to show up as their full selves. Campers have the chance to experience all the fun that camp has to offer in a week filled with affirmation, community, and celebration. This camp is affirming – full stop. It affirms all genders, sexualities, identities, abilities, and varieties of belief. The only thing we expect is a commitment to welcoming and celebrating everyone where they are, as they are. Our 2025 camp dates are June 15-20 in Illinois and July 20-25 in Nevada and Texas. Keep up with us @kindomcommunity on Facebook and Instagram for camp registration information and other news!

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: *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.  *Do you have Pride pictures? Keep them coming! Please email them to hello@mlp.org  *We are trying to collect a list of all of our former board members to create an MLP alumni group. Have you served on our board or do you know someone who has served on our board? Send us an email or fill out this form and someone will be in touch soon. *Has your congregation paid dues this year? If not, you may submit them here.Your dues help us do this work.

GET YOUR MLP MERCH!

Celebrate the new year with new More Light merch!   Visit the MLP shop today!

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Our Contact Information More Light Presbyterians P.O. Box 735764 Chicago, IL 60673 (720) 288-0838 http://www.mlp.org