MLP October 2025 Newsletter!

In This Issue *Staff Update: A note from Claudia and Jesy *Upcoming Events-Join us in PITTSBURGH! *A word from our partners: Q&A, A Queer Question for Korean Churches *MLP Merch! *Donate Today

From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubaclava

Fall is upon us. After a season of growth and bearing fruit, nature decides to take a time to rest, gather energy, and reset. It is impossible to continually do the grinding and the hustling of surviving our current situation without a time to breathe and be, whether you are a bear, a tree, or a human. So we carved this space for y’all and we are having a retreat in April of 2026. No agenda, no meetings, just time to be with your community in worship and renewal, inspired by the poet June Jordan’s famous quote: “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”    Now, you may have some questions, and I may have some answers: When is this retreat? April 17-19, 2026 (right after Easter!) Who is this retreat for? This is a space exclusively for our LGBTQIA+ siblings and the MLP board, which will be holding its semi-annual in-person meeting before the retreat.  Where is this retreat? Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, AR Why there? Because the LGBTQIA+ community in Arkansas has been suffering and Ferncliff has become a safe haven for our queer siblings and they need our support. Our presence in Arkansas is an act of resistance and defiance to an unjust system. What are you doing to ensure our safety? We are arranging direct transportation from the airport to Ferncliff (only 23 miles away).  What is the cost? We are finalizing details on this, but the MLP board just approved scholarships that will cover 50% of the registration fee for all participants, which includes lodging, meals, and transportation to and from the airport.  How big will this be? Since we want to ensure everyone gets privacy, we can accommodate 44 participants in single-occupancy rooms.  When will registration open? We are hoping to open registration in November, so that everyone can start planning their continuing education time and money. How can I help? Your donations and annual dues help us fund this work. Please consider giving to MLP. -Claudia

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

What does being a part of More Light Presbyterians mean to you? Whether you are part of an MLP congregation or just support us as an organization, what does it mean to you? What do you feel when you see the MLP logo on a website? What emotions go through you when you see that we are sponsoring an event, or when you encounter us at a conference? October is LGBTQIA+ History Month, and we will highlight the ways that MLP has shaped our denomination over the past 50+ years. But our history isn't just the past. Our ancestors are those who came before us, those with whom we engage today, and those for whom we work to create a flourishing future. How has MLP impacted your life? How can we continue to shape the future? Where are we needed today? I would love to hear from you! Feel free to email me at Jesy@mlp.org. -Jesy

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming up!!   October 13: More Light Monday — Why Pronouns Matter. Use the link below to register October 22: The PC(USA) advocacy hour will focus on LGBTQIA+ current issues. We will have a panel of wonderful speakers. Click here to learn more and register. October 17-20: the MLP board will be gathering in person in Pittsburgh. Join the board and staff of MLP on Sunday, October 19th at 5:30 pm at Walters BBQ Southern Kitchen. Email hello@mlp.org your questions and to let us know you are coming! Nov. 18-20: National Queer Gathering!

Sign up for our second conversation with MLP Board member, Shani McIlwain (she/her) and Director of Operations, Jesy Littlejohn (they/them) on the topic of Why Pronouns Matter! Sign Up Here

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) Click the link to register: https://pcusa.org/nqpg If you have any questions, 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!

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord, We are Q&A, a grassroots Christian non-profit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ justice within the church in Korea. Our mission is to create churches that are safe, inclusive, and affirming with LGBTQ+ people. Q&A was born out of urgency following the church trial of Rev. Donghwan Lee, who was brought before a church court and excommunicated by the Korean Methodist Church simply for offering a blessing prayerbat the Incheon Pride Festival. This heartbreaking event revealed a deep crisis: that just being kind to LGBTQ+ people can still cost someone their ministry in Korea. From that moment, we committed ourselves to building a movement to resist the anti-LGBTQ+ theology and policies in our churches. Today, we support LGBTQ+ Christians by worship gatherings, counseling, and community-building programs. We also host global conferences and develop affirming liturgical and theological resources to help churches grow into places of true welcome and justice, advocating for reform of discriminatory church policies.  We need your help to continue this struggle. We are facing a severe financial crisis. Most churches in Korea remain hostile to LGBTQ+ inclusion and often punish even the smallest gestures of support. As a result, we receive little to no institutional support, and must rely almost entirely on individual donations and unpredictable funding sources. In this climate of fear, our work continues only because of the courage and generosity of allies like you. We continue to trust that God can transform and redeem the churches that continue to harm the LGBTQ+ community, and we are committed to doing our part to make this change happen. We believe the church can change — must change — and that transformation begins with faithful, justice-centered action.  We humbly ask for your support and solidarity in making these changes possible. Your gift - of any amount - will help sustain this vital work of affirming faith, resisting injustice, and nurturing a church of solidarity with those on the margins, where everyone is welcomed, just as they are. Thank you for standing with us — for hope, for justice, and for a future where the body of Christ embraces all its members. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our organization or the situation facing LGBTQ+ Christians in Korea, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to share more with you. If you feel moved to support our work, you can do so through the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/qnaforchurch   Rev. Lee Dong Hwan Secretary-General Q&A, A Queer Question For Korean Churches qnaoffice2021@gmail.com

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.

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