MLP August 2025 Newsletter!

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

From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubaclava

Justice always comes… sometimes, later than we would want. But it comes. Even a decade ago, it would have been ludicrous to think that our denomination would host a gathering specifically designed for LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians. But today, this is a reality. In November this year, in collaboration with the Covenant Network and More Light Presbyterians, the PC(USA) is hosting the first national queer Presbyterian gathering. This conference is planned by and for queer Presbyterians. I pray this gathering will fuel our denomination’s commitment to God’s ever-growing embrace of all their children. Details to register below.  -Claudia

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

Happy August! How is it August already!? Last week I was in a meeting for my church, and we did a circle prayer (you know, where you pray to the person on your right). The person who was tasked with praying for me said some very lovely things, but at some point, I stopped hearing them. In the process of praying for me, they misgendered me about 6 times, using she/her pronouns. Again, I have been out as Non-Binary and using they/them pronouns since 2017. I couldn't hear the prayer or the care because my body and mind were buzzing. It took everything in me to pull my focus back to the moment and invite the Holy Spirit in so I could pray for the person on my right.  It is exhausting to constantly have to correct people, educate people, and remind people of who you are. I want to be, without having to be on guard. Does that make sense? This November, in collaboration with the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, MLP is working with the PC(USA) to host the first-ever denominational LGBTQIA+ national gathering. My prayer, like Claudia, is that this will be a place of ongoing healing and restoration for this denomination and this community. May it be a place where we can be seen, be known, and ...just be.  -Jesy

UPCOMING EVENTS

Make sure to stop by and see us!   August 28-31: Wild Goose Festival. Join board member Bethany Peerbolte and our director of engagement for conversation and swag.  Nov. 18-20: National Queer Gathering!

2025 NATIONAL QUEER PRESBYTERIAN GATHERING Join folks from across the PC(USA) Nov. 18-20, 2025, for three days of interactive workshops and community building as we gather queer Presbyterians in love, restoration and power. Together, we will: Explore the needs of our community Determine the actions we need from our churches, leaders, and General Assembly and; Strategize on a collective plan to move the Presbyterian denomination forward. Where: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Center 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY Registration: Visit pcusa.org/nqpg Fees (event only): $75 (Waived for BIPOC and trans/GNC folk) Contact: Mikyle Johnson, mikyle.johnson@pcusa.org

Welcome our Newest MLP Ministries

Rejoice with us as we welcome new ministries to the MLP network! At the end of each quarter, we will list our newest members so you can shower them with love.  Cary Presbyterian Church, Cary NC.  Kenmore Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY First Presbyterian Church, Jeffersonville, IN Marshall Presbyterian Church, Marshall, NC Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison, WI Balmoral Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN Dunn's Corners Community Church, Presbyterian, Westerly, RI

A Word from Our Partners!

Second Presbyterian Church of Nashville, TN has voted to call the Rev. Courtnay Veazey to serve as pastor and head of staff starting in early September. She will succeed the Rev. Evelyn Graham, interim pastor. Let’s rejoice with our siblings from Second Presbyterian!

The Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity is gathering stories and ideas from LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians so we can bring bold, people-powered recommendations to the 2026 General Assembly. This survey is designed to amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians, staff, and mid-council leaders.  You can access the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/7XzZQeUS5Z  Please share with other LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians so they can make their voices heard!    Complete by AUGUST 4TH

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.  *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.

GET YOUR MLP MERCH!

Visit the MLP shop today!

Your gift helps to advance More Light Presbyterians center and celebrate the lives, gifts and leadership of LGBTQIA+ people in the PC(USA) and beyond! Click the link to donate today! Donate Today!

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

Presbyterians for Earth Care - Name Your 2025 Eco-Justice Champion + Upcoming Events

It's time to nominate YOUR Eco-Justice Champion for 2025! We value your opinion and need your help! Do you know a young adult, 30 years old or younger, who connects their faith with creation and shows great potential to be a future leader for environmental justice? Or perhaps you know a more mature person who has spent their life acting and advocating for the beauty, integrity, and health of God’s creation. Maybe your congregation or faith organization operates in a sustainable manner and promotes being a good steward of God’s earth, both within and beyond its membership. If one of these prompts brought an individual or a congregation/organization to your mind, now is the time to nominate them for a Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) Annual Earth Care Award. PEC presents three awards annually, two to individuals and one to an organization. These awards are given to individuals and groups whose work for the environment is especially praiseworthy and creative. The William Gibson Eco-Justice Award honors an individual with a long history of being a good steward of the Earth, promotes sustainable practices for individuals or organizations, motivates and inspires others to care for God’s creation, and demonstrates care and concern for the sacred bond that exists between all things, living and nonliving. The Restoring Creation Award honors a congregation or faith-based organization that demonstrates sustainable practices and models them for other organizations, operates in a manner that is consistent with good stewardship of God’s creation, partners with organizations to leverage resources for greater impact, and encourages continuous environmental efforts within the organization. The Emerging Earth Care Leader Award honors an individual, age 18 to 30, who demonstrates sustainable practices and encourages others to care for God’s creation, expands Earth stewardship and sustainable practices through organizing, developing, and/or presenting one or more activities, projects, publications, or events, and incorporates care and concern for the sacred bond between all living things. Visit the Awards page on the PEC website for more information, then nominate your eco-justice hero by October 15, 2025. If you are a PEC member/donor, you are welcome to nominate an awardee. If you are not a member/donor and would like to make a nomination, you can join or renew your PEC membership now. Volunteers are needed to make the decision about which qualified individual/congregation or organizations will receive the 2025 awards. If you would like to serve on the PEC Awards Committee, contact PEC Coordinator Mindy Hidenfelter at pec@presbyearthcare.org. The deadline for submitting nominations for PEC Awards is October 15th. CLICK HERE to Nominate an Award Recipient We need your help! We are currently recruiting young adult participants for focus groups to help us build a Young Adult Network that meets the needs of young people and their communities. Please share this with members of your congregation/community who are ages 18-35 and passionate about environmental justice. In these focus groups, we will be asking: What do young people leading on issues of eco-justice need? What do we believe? What do we want to build? Visit bit.ly/PECYAFocusGroups to sign up. Help Presbyterians for Earth Care make create a space that speaks to YOUR needs and interests, and the needs of your communities! Questions Email pecyaorganizer@gmail.com. Living Waters for the World: Learning Together through Clean Water Partnerships Join us to learn about clean water partnerships from Kendall Cox, Director of Programs for Living Waters for the World, a non-profit organization that trains teams to work with partners on water purification projects. There are now over 1,150 water partnerships, from right here in the US and to 27 other countries, bringing clean water to God’s children. We will find out how we can support clean water access domestically and worldwide. WEBINAR DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 TIME: 7:30 pm EDT (6:30 CDT, 5:30 MDT, 4:30 PDT) PRESENTER: Kendall Cox REGISTER HERE Register now for a Christian Climate Training (Live, Online) September is the Season of Creation and Blessed Tomorrow is partnering with 9 denominations to offer a FREE live, virtual Christian Climate Training on September 27, 2025 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm ET / 8:30 - 11:30 am PT. It will include breakouts by denomination.  The majority of Americans are concerned about climate change. But, they think only half of those around them feel the same way. As a person of faith, you can help others see they’re not alone in their concern and invite them to take action. The Christian Climate Training equips you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and take action on climate change from a Christian faith perspective in your home, neighborhood, church, community, with policymakers, and beyond. After the training, you’re invited to become part of the Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador Community which provides ongoing support, resources, events, and a vast community of Climate Ambassadors from across the U.S.   Register Here!

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