wfn.org | More Light Presbyterians Called to Embrace Adversaries

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99019 
19-June-1999 
 
                 More Light Presbyterians Called  
                      to Embrace Adversaries 
 
FORT WORTH-Against a backdrop of colorful stoles, representing the Stoles 
Project, Mel White, writer, film maker and author of Stranger at the Gate: 
To Be Gay and Christian in America, issued a bold call to embrace as 
children of the Creator all those who would oppose full participation of 
gay, lesbian and transgender people in the life of the church. 
     Reminding his audience that the struggle for full inclusion will not 
move forward when its advocates assume an aggressive, adversarial stance, 
and specifically addressing conversion or so-called "ex-gay" ministries, 
White stated, "If you don't see [the] Exodus [Movement] as people who 
really care, we will never solve this.  If they are our adversaries, we are 
going nowhere." The sold-out event, hosted by the More Light Presbyterians, 
the newly-named union of the former Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay 
Concerns with the former More Light Churches Network, drew over 200 to hear 
a call to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly and be friends. 
     Responding to the concept of "More Light," White challenged his 
listeners to understand the organization's name as meaning "we are open to; 
we are searching for," rather than "we have more light than you."  White's 
convictions emerge from the "Soulforce" principles of Gandhi and Martin 
Luther King, Jr., guidelines for doing justice non-violently.  Of 
"Soulforce" White has written elsewhere, "[Our adversaries] are victims of 
misinformation (as we have been).  Our goal is not to triumph over them but 
to be reconciled with them."  He identified healing the wounded who are 
suffering because of injustice as a primary goal, stating that this healing 
is not brought about with propaganda.  A second goal was to cut off the 
suffering at its source. 
     Minister commissioner Nancy Whiteley of Shenandoah Presbytery attended 
the event to be supportive of an inclusive church and to hear the speaker. 
"If we are all sisters and brothers in Christ," said Whiteley, "then why 
are we leaving some of our sisters and brothers outside?" 
     The Celebration Dinner was also the occasion for the bestowing of 
several awards.  The 1999 "Inclusive Church Award" was presented to the 
Rev. Mike Brown, co-pastor of Christ Church Presbyterian, Burlington, Vt. 
In accepting the honor, Brown stated that he was receiving the award for 
the simplest of reasons:  for trying to be faithful to the demands of the 
gospel. 
     Recognized also was Jane Loflin, founder of Presbyterian Parents of 
Gays and Lesbians, with the first annual "David Sindt Award" for 
outstanding individual leadership.  The award is named for the co-founder, 
in 1974, of the Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns.  "I am so 
deeply honored that you have bestowed this award upon me," said Loflin, 
noting that parents can make and are making a tremendous difference in the 
church. 
     More Light Presbyterians co-moderator Scott Anderson affirmed the 
event and the speaker's message as well-received, finding that the 
evening's theme and content continued in a helpful way the same spirit of 
dialogue and reconciliation begun at the recent "Unity and Diversity 
Conference." By Emily Enders Odom 

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