More Light Presbyterians joins in
National Ecumenical Welcoming Church Leaders' Summit this week in Houston,
January 4 - 7[1-4-05]
More Light Presbyterians,
and the welcoming and affirming movement in the Presbyterian Church (USA),
will be represented at the upcoming National Ecumenical Welcoming Church
Leaders' Summit this week in Houston, January 4 - 7, by Michael J. Adee,
National Field Organizer, MLP and Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Santa
Fe, NM.
Martha Juillerat, National Program Director,
The Shower of Stoles Project, of
Minneapolis, MN, a life-long Presbyterian and founder of the project, will
be attending as well.
Other national leaders will represent the national
welcoming church programs from their denominations and faith traditions
including the following: Reconciling in Christ Program, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America; Open and Affirming Program, United Church of Christ;
Reconciling Ministries Network, United Methodist Church; The Association of
Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, American Baptists USA; Gay and Lesbian
Acceptance, Community of Christ; Open and Affirming Ministries, Disciples of
Christ.
Leadership from this Welcoming Church Program Leader's
group was responsible for the genesis of the historic Witness Our Welcome
2000, the first national ecumenical LGBT-affirming conference; Shaping
Sanctuary, the LGBT-affirming worship resource book; Claiming the
Promise Bible Study; and support for the WOW 2003 Conference in
Philadelphia.
The Summit will include: training by Donna Red Wing of the
Gill Foundation; discussion of national trends among pro-LGBT work in
religious communities; sharing of resources and models of organizing and
working in churches; and a presentation by the Institute for Welcoming
Resources (IWR).
Michael Adee provided this report
