MLP February Newsletter!

IN THIS ISSUE * Notes from the Staff * Welcome to our newest MLP Ministry! * Upcoming Events

From our Director of Engagement

The last few weeks have been hard on this country. We have witnessed state-sponsored violence on immigrants and citizens. We have been gaslighted by corporate media and the current administration, telling us that what we have seen is not real. We are experiencing the rise of a “Big Brother” kind of government that knows our every move.  Immigration should matter to More Light Presbyterians and to all our constituents. Not just because we are working “toward God’s promised liberation and flourishing for all creation,” but because we are witnessing the beginning. We never thought our neighbors would be next. Or cute five-year-olds with blue hats. Or White millennials with cameras. Or well-respected journalists. But here we are. And it keeps getting closer and closer to us. When we fight evil, when we fight to dismantle the government agencies that are killing and kidnapping our siblings, we are fighting for ourselves. And there are many ways we can fight. Educating ourselves is one way. Advocating in the public sphere is another way. Cooking meals for our neighbors is another. Walking around our neighborhoods with a whistle is yet another way. Caring for our souls is another way. Whether you are attending our retreat in April or a More Light Monday or the “Faith under Fire” webinar, know it is an act of love. For yourself and your community. Below is more information on these events.  Keep causing good trouble.  -Claudia

From our Director of Operations

I just finished rewatching Game of Thrones. I watch it, maybe, once or twice a year (odd choice, I know).  I am always fascinated by the way they evolve Daenerys' storyline. In the beginning of the series, you find yourself rooting for the  'rightful' heir to the Iron Throne, committed to crushing the proverbial wheel of oppression. She removes the evil Lords who sit in power, all in the name of liberation, and we cheer and root for her victory.  As the series evolves, though, it becomes easy to see that her commitment to ending oppression becomes oppressive in itself. She says in the final episode, after destroying the whole of the capital city in the name of freedom, that her soldiers will not lay down their spears until all are no longer oppressed. Having just watched her use her dragons and soldiers to completely destroy a population, it leaves the viewers, not to mention her on-screen advisors, taken aback. Is she coming to liberate the oppressed or destroy opposition? Ultimately (spoiler alert), those around her do not allow her to come into power, recognizing that she was quickly becoming more of the same.  I don't know what liberation truly looks like, or how we can truly dismantle the systems that have historically oppressed the most vulnerable in society without inadvertently recreating them in the process. What I do know, however, is that our silence is complicity.  Our inaction is an endorsement. And that is unacceptable. More Light Presbyterians will not be sitting idly in this fight for collective liberation. I hope you will join us in our mission to bring about the flourishing of God's creation, however complicated and long that journey may be.  -Jesy    WELCOME! Welcome to our newest MLP New Worshipping Community! House of Figs   ANNOUNCEMENTS   February 9 at 7:00 PM (EST) Last month we learned about the ways we can make worship more inclusive. We continue that discussion around the adaptability of music! Join Board members, Avery Arden (they/them) and Matt Webb (he/him) as they discuss ways to change the hymns to correct harmful or outdated theological language.  Questions: Contact hello@mlp.org Register Here Join us this Spring at Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center for a weekend of rest, respite, and reconnection! You’ll have two lodging options — both first-come, first-served: Brown Center Includes: 2 nights of lodging, five meals, activities, sustainability fee, and registration. Total Cost: $231.79 Williams Lodge Includes: 2 nights of lodging, five meals, activities, sustainability fee, and registration. Total Cost: $170.17 For our BIPOC and Trans siblings: Email hello@mlp.org about travel scholarships! Click HERE to register today!   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 Ferncliff? Because the LGBTQIA+ community in Arkansas is suffering and Ferncliff has become a safe haven for our queer siblings (especially the young ones) and they need our support. Our presence in Arkansas is an act of resistance and defiance to an unjust system. Learn more about Ferncliff and the work they do to support the LGBTQIA+ community here and check out some of the programming they offer to our queer kiddos here.   What are you doing to ensure our safety? We are arranging direct transportation from the airport to Ferncliff (only 23 miles away) so no one has to use any other form of transportation.  What is the cost? Thanks to the dues of our member churches and the generosity of our individual donors, we were able to subsidize 50% of the cost for all participants, so depending on where you choose to stay (available on a first come, first served basis), the cost is $231.79 for those staying at the Brown Center or $170.17 for those staying at Williams Lodge. This price includes 2 nights lodging, 5 meals, activities, sustainability and registration fees.  How big will this be? Since we want to ensure everyone gets privacy, we can accommodate 44 participants in single-occupancy rooms.  Where can I register? You may find all instructions to register here.  Do you have scholarships? Yes! We have ten $300 scholarships available for trans and BIPOC peeps. To apply, email hello@mlp.org a screenshot of your registration and we will give them to the first ten to apply.  How can I help? Your donations and annual dues help us fund this work. Please consider giving to MLP. UPCOMING EVENTS! February 9: More Light Monday! This More Light Monday will be all about music. Avery Arden and Matt Webb will share tips on changing lyrics of beloved tunes when the theology is harmful or outdated. Use this LINK to register February 12: Faith Under Fire: The Impact of Christian Nationalism on LGBTIQ+ Communities. A webinar hosted by the Lavender Interfaith Collective, this 90-minute panel discussion and training examines how the fusion of religion and nationalism shapes public policy, church culture, and social attitudes toward sexual and gender diversity. Visit here to register: https://lincollective.org/events  April 17-19: MLP National Gathering at Ferncliff Conference and Retreat Center. Use the link above to register.   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 Pride pictures? Keep them coming! Please email them to hello@mlp.org We are trying to collect a list of all former board members to create an MLP alumni group. Have you served on our board, or do you know someone who has? Fill out this form, and we will contact you in the next few months.

Mail a Check: More Light Presbyterians, Inc. P.O. Box 735764 Chicago, IL 60673-5764   Contact Us: More Light Presbyterians 14301 Laurel Bowie Road Laurel, MD 20708 hello@mlp.org Website: www.mlp.org