MLP November 2025 Newsletter!

In This Issue Staff Update: A note from Claudia and Jesy Upcoming Events Special Announcement: More Light Presbyterians National Gathering! A word from our partners: Q&A, A Queer Question for Korean Churches MLP Merch! Donate Today

From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava

I am writing this from a gathering of ecumenical and interfaith leaders of organizations that advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. And I can observe two themes emerging over and over: 1) we are tired, and we are wounded. It seems like all of us are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders in every realm, and we are disillusioned by the systems, the institutions, and even the people.  2) WE are the antidote to exhaustion and our wounds. I see it everywhere: a few weeks ago, the MLP board gathered in Pittsburgh for our fall retreat and visited four congregations and every single one of us witnessed bursts of joy and grounded hope. Our More Light Mondays are becoming a hub for people to ask questions they once felt weird asking and it is inspiring straight allies to do the work and it is reminding our queer siblings they are not alone. The interviews Jesy conducted with some of the leaders of this movement are absolute inspiration and help us remember that while things might look gloomy and stagnant, we are turning the tide and things will look very different in thirty years.  So today, I invite you to keep dreaming, keep pushing, keep getting up. We are changing the soil in which new life will grow.    -Claudia

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

A week ago, our household hit a milestone: My kids decided to separate their rooms. My 6-year-old, with great conviction, announced that he needed some space from his sister — and all her 2-year-oldness. My wife and I embraced the chance to reorganize, though it was a little bittersweet. It was also incredibly inconvenient. The third bedroom in our rental had been our shared office/playroom, and suddenly, I was out of a workspace — plus, we had to seriously downsize our mountain of toys. I wasn’t too worried about the toys (there were so many, y’all), but finding a quiet place to work proved challenging. At one point, I proposed reorganizing the bedroom closet into a closet/workspace. It would be small and a little dark, sure, but it would keep me out of the way and meet the need. My wife shut that down immediately. “You don’t need to squeeze yourself into a closet,” she said. “There’s space in the room — you deserve to take up space.” Then we got to work rearranging things. Now, I have a lovely little setup by the window. It’s bright, comfortable, and it motivates us to keep our room tidy. Why am I telling you this? Here’s the thing: in a world where so much rhetoric is being hurled at LGBTQIA+ people — questioning our worth, our character, our very right to exist — this small household moment reminded me of something profound. Do not shrink yourself for someone else’s comfort. You deserve to take up space. You deserve to live in the light — freely, fully, and exactly as you were created to be.   -Jesy

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming up!! November 10: More Light Monday — We will answer the question: How to do we cultivate community? Our experts will be the Drs. Matthew Webb (he/him) and Sarah Leer (she/her). November 11-14: Next Church National Gathering. Join our director of operations Jesy Littlejohn; and one of our wonderful board members will be leading one of the learning pathways. The leadership is stellar, the social activities are phenomenal, and if you don’t know what to do with your last continuing ed dollars, use them to do this.  Nov. 18-20: We hope to see you at the National Queer Gathering in Louisville, KY November 30: Check your inbox! We will send our FREE 2025 Advent devotional; you don’t want to miss it!

Sign up for our next conversation with MLP Board member, Matt Webb (he/him) and Sarah Leer (she/her) on the topic of Cultivating Community Sign Up Here

Make sure to stop by our MLP table at the NEXT Church National Gathering! See you next week!

When is this retreat? April 17-19, 2026 (right after Easter!) When will registration open? Registration will open at the beginning of December. A special email will go out in addition to social media postings and our December Newsletter. Mark your calendars now! Who is this retreat for? This space is exclusively for our LGBTQIA+ siblings and the MLP board, which will hold 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.  How can I help? Your donations and annual dues help us fund this work. Please consider giving to MLP.

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.  Fourth United Presbyterian Church, Knoxville TN Royster Memorial Presbyterian Church, Norfolk VA Westhope Presbyterian Church, Saratoga, CA Grace Presbyterian Church, El Paso, TX House of Figs, St. Louis, MO

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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