From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubaclava

Happy Pride Month, y’all! As we deck the halls with Pride flags and glitter and get ready to party and celebrate the diversity of God’s creation, we also remember the hurt that we, the Church, have inflicted and continue to inflict on our 2SLGBTQIA+ siblings. Week after week, I receive calls and emails and video calls of people who are hurting because of what we do or fail to do.

This month is an opportunity to reflect on and redirect our actions. We are slowly bending the arch of the moral universe toward justice: amendments 24A and 24C of the Book of Order have been approved. Our very own Jesy Littlejohn was elected unanimously as the first-ever queer moderator of National Capital Presbytery. Other presbyteries are electing queer people to all sorts of positions. But we still have work to do to ensure our 2SLGBTQIA+ siblings feel safe, celebrated, and affirmed.

How do we create these spaces? How do we respond to hatred and fear? I have a great example of something small with a big impact. Our siblings at First Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach, Florida are organizing writing letters of love to any queer person who needs a warm, handwritten note of encouragement. If you or a person you know wants a letter, please reach out to us at hello@mlp.org and we will send you one. We are also preparing packages with letters for distribution at Pride events, so if you want a package of letters for your local Pride event, connect with us and we will send you some.

If you or your church wants to join in the writing of these letters, email us and we will connect you to the effort.

— Claudia

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

I have had the opportunity to have some rich and meaningful conversations of late about churches who host Pride services.

Is it appropriate? Yes it is!

Is it performative or reductive? Only if it's the only time you lift up LGBTQIA+ gifts, lives, and leadership in the church.

If you, or someone in your congregation, is on the fence about having a Pride service that's completely understandable. Why and how you do a service needs to be a prayerful consideration, There should be thoughtful consideration about how plan worship in a way that is faithful and true to who you are as a congregation, that uplifts the body of Christ in holy ways, and that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. That is true of every service that we plan throughout the liturgical year.

One suggestion I made to a colleague that may assuage some discomfort or hesitancy is to shift the language of the service from being a “Pride Service” to being a “More Light” service. Are you a member of an MLP congregation? Well, during the month of June as MLP is fostering opportunities to be in community and live into our call of centering and celebrating LGBTQIA+ people in the life and ministry of the church and beyond, your congregation has the opportunity to lean into your call of mission and ministry. You are affirming who you are and what you voted to affirm as a congregation or session.

I would offer that maybe on that Sunday a portion of your offerings be sent to MLP — not because I’m being greedy, but in more of a ‘reparations’ kind of way. Your congregation seeks to repair the harm that has been and continues to be done in the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly the harm and trauma that has been inflicted in the church. You are supporting an organization that aligns with your values who is doing this work as well.

Regardless of if your church has a Pride worship service, this serves as an opportunity within in your congregation to talk about our identity in Christ. How we are ALL a reflection of God’s creation —the Image dei — and how do we see ourselves and our individual identities in that reflection? These conversations move us beyond surface level pleasantries and performative welcome, and instead to deep connection and stronger congregations seeking to love our neighbors as commanded by Christ. And that's really what it's all about anyway!

Happy Pride, Y'all!

-Jesy

Upcoming Events!

A Seperate Email will be sent with events that MLP Congregations and will be participating in across the country, as well as liturgy for you to use for your own Pride/More Light Worship Service!

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June 15-27: The Worship and Music Conference at Montreat. Join board member Matt Webb (he/him) for workshops and perhaps? a group watch of our Pride service. More details to follow on our social media. Watch out!
June 22: MLP Pride Worship Service. We will gather virtually from all corners of this round world for a time of relentless joy. Rev. Shanea Leonard (they/them) will lead us in reflection. Our music will be stellar. Joy is the fuel of the resistance. Get your fix. Click HERE to register today
June 24-27: The UKirk National Gathering. Join director of engagement, Rev. Claudia Aguilar at this event. She’ll have coffee hours so stay tuned on social media to see the times and spaces where you can meet with her.
July 28-31: Triennium. Join director of engagement, Rev. Claudia Aguilar at our workshop. Also, we have the best, cutest swag for all the kiddos, so visit our table.

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!

Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth shares the stories of transgender youth and their families, exploring the choices they are making to survive in today's environment. The book also gives voice to the medical providers who are providing care to transgender youth, as well as the activists, teachers and faith leaders who are leading the resistance efforts.

By contextualizing and sharing these stories, as well as offering resources and next steps, Trans Kids aims to both narrativize the pain and fear experienced by everyday Americans in this cultural moment, as well as highlighting the courage, hope, and resilience of transgender and LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and the people who support them.

“Gender variation is as old as stories about creation.” This is the very first sentence of the groundbreaking book Trans Biblical: New Approaches to Interpretation and Embodiment in Scripture. This brand new book interprets the Bible with a trans-positive approach.

You’ll explore Mordecai, Jael, and Jesus as potential trans and non-binary characters in the Bible. Plus, you’ll see that stories that may not seem like they are about gender identity can be interpreted from a trans lens, like The Good Samaritan, or John 1.

This book from Westminster John Knox Press can be on your bookshelf soon! Right now you can order directly from the publisher for a 40% discount at https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664268897/trans-biblical.aspx with the discount code TRANSBIBLICAL40 through May 10. Also available on Amazon and other retailers!

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:

*Read Tomorrow Will Be Different by Presbyterian Congresswoman Sarah McBride.

*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.

*Do you have pictures of various LGBTQIA+ related events that you or your congregation have participated in? Let us highlight them! 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.

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