2003 Annual Report
2002 Annual Report
2001 Annual Report
2000 Annual Report
During the
2003 calendar year, the More Light Committee focused on the following:
- Celebrated passage of the Sexual Orientation
Non-Discrimination Act
(SONDA) by New York State legislature and delighted in seeing the Gay
Pride banner flying below the U.S. and New York State flags at
Rochester City Hall
- Sponsored and supported semi-monthly Gay and Lesbian
support group
- Provided leadership, encouragement and support to
churches seeking to become More Light
- Requested Session send letters of welcome to new More
Light Churches
- Advised Session regularly about More Light issues in
the national Church
- Purchased resource materials for the Church library
- Continued to update congregation and Session on
issues and progress with BSA
- Marched in Gay Pride parade and provided water to
marchers
- Provided updated information for Church website
- Advertised in Empty Closet newspaper, Gay Men’s
Chorus concert programs, Image Out film festival screenings
- Sent representative to More Light
Presbyterians, Covenant Network and WOW (Witness Our Welcome)
conferences
- Participated in Rally Day tent and activities
- Monitored overtures and amendments under
consideration for submission to the General Assembly
- Contributed financially to Covenant Network, More
Light Presbyterians, Interfaith Advocates, That All May Freely Serve
- Committee member Jim Stewart serves on board of
Interfaith Advocates
- Committee member Ralph Carter completed his term as
member of More Light Presbyterians board
- Sponsored several Sunday morning adult education
events
- With Peace and Justice Committee, hosted evening with
Mrs. Thandi Mbo
of Uniting Presbyterian Church of South Africa on AIDS in that country
Committee Members
Ralph Carter, Neil Floar, Ellen Foster, Rod Frohman (staff), David
Gregory (chair), Betty Iwan, Jan Johnson, Gale Myers, Caryl Qualich,
Jim Stewart
During the
2002 calendar year, the More Light Committee focused on the following:
-
Sponsored and supported semi-monthly support group
-
Provided leadership, encouragement, and support to churches seeking to
become ML
-
Purchased resource materials for the Church library
-
Continued to update congregation and Session on issues and progress
with
BSA
-
Supported Hot Buttons conference Participated in Gay Pride parade in
Rochester
-
Continued to generate More Light newsletter
-
Continued to provide updated information on Church website
-
Began column for Messenger to enhance communication.
-
Continued advertising: Image Out festival, Empty Closet and Gay Men’s
Chorus
program
-
Attended More Light Presbyterians conference
-
Attended and participated in Covenant Network conference
-
Participated in Rally Day tent and activities
-
Monitored schedules for overtures/amendments
-
Contributed financially to Covenant Network, More Light Presbyterians,
Interfaith Advocates, and That All May Freely Serve
-
Supported Interfaith Advocates (Jim Stewart is member)
-
Supported National More Light Presbyterians (Ralph Carter is on Board)
-
Updated Session on regular basis about new More Light churches to
letters
of welcome could be sent.
-
Led several Adult Education sessions (including “More Light on More
Light”,
and “Season of Litigation or Illumination”).
-
Presented “History of More Light” to Calvin Guild.
-
Conducted More Light training for church officers at Session retreat.
-
Participated in Lobby Day in Albany (Session voted to support and
endorse
SONDA).
-
Received More Light award at Reformation Sunday service held at Calvary
St. Andrews.
-
Planned and hosted 21st anniversary More Light celebration including
workshop
“Setting God’s Welcome Table” and worship service let by Pat Youngdahl.
Looking ahead to 2003, the More Light Committee plans to:
-
Lead several Adult Education Sessions and work with expanding education
programs.
-
Work with new Outreach teams to support More Light issues, taking
ownership
of appropriate activities identified by Church and Sexuality Task Force.
-
Continue to support Community Planning Forum.
-
Conduct More Light training for new church officers.
-
Make More Light column a regular feature in Messenger.
2002 Committee Members:
Ralph Carter, Neil Floar, Ellen Foster, Rod Frohman
(staff), Betty Iwan,
Jan Johnson, Carol Malach (chair), Gale Myers (co-chair), Caryl
Qualich,
Jim Stewart
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During the 2001 calendar year, the
More Light
Committee focused on the following:
-
Sponsored and supported semi-monthly support group
-
Provided leadership, encouragement, and support to churches seeking to
become ML
-
Purchased resource materials for the Church library
-
Continued to update congregation and Session on issues and progress
with
BSA
-
Supported Hot Buttons conference (Sponsored workshop “Cultural and
Institutional
Violence: Its Effect on LGBT Youth)
-
Participated in Gay Pride parade in Rochester
-
Continued to generate More Light newsletter
-
Continued to provide updated information on Church website
-
Continued advertising:Image Out festival, Empty Closet and Gay Men’s
Chorus
program
-
Attended More Light Presbyterians conference
-
Participated in Rally Day tent and activities
-
Participated in the Pathways to Peace festival at Public Market
-
Monitored schedules for overtures/amendments (Rod Frohman was overture
advocated to General Assemby)
-
Supported amendment 01-A in Presbytery (Rod Frohman made presentation
in
support of amendment “A More Excellent Way”—vote passed in Genesee
Valley
Presbytery)
-
Joined the Community Planning Forum (as member, TPC will host speaker
in
fall 2002)
-
Participated in Covenant Network Conference
-
Contributed financially to More Light Presbyterians, Interfaith
Advocates,
and That All May Freely Serve
-
Supported Interfaith Advocates (Jim Stewart is member)
-
Supported National More Light Presbyterians (Ralph Carter is on Board))
-
Updated Session on regular basis about new More Light churches so
letters
of welcome could be sent (as of Dec. 1, 2001, there are 109 More Light
churches)
-
Led several Adult Education sessions (including Homophobia Hurts All
Youth,
“It’s Elementary,” a Report from General Assembly, and Tricia
Dykers-Koenig
Covenant Network presentation/discussion)
-
Conducted More Light training for church officers at Session retreat
-
Supported visit by Mel White of Soul Force (part of series “Christian
Faith
and the LGBT Experience”)
-
Participated in fall Stewardship luncheon
-
Planned and co-sponsored two regional welcoming/unity
conferences.
First was held at TPC in spring “Becoming the Welcoming Church”; second
conference was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in fall “Living
With/Without Amendment B.”
-
Participated in Lobby Day in Albany (Session voted to support and
endorse
SONDA)
Looking ahead to 2002, the More Light Committee plans to:
-
Plan 20th Anniversary recognition and celebration of the More Light
task
force and committee’s work
-
Lead several Adult Education Sessions and work with expanding education
programs
-
Support visit by Anna Carter Florence in October as part of Community
Planning
Forum
During the 2000 calendar year, the
More Light
Committee focused on the following:
-
Sponsored and supported a semi-monthly support group
-
Provided leadership, encouragement, and support to churches seeking to
become ML churches
-
Purchased four books for the Church Library (January, 2000)
-
Researched Scouts for All and sent letters to Session regarding
BSA
(January, November, 2000)
-
Supported the Hot Buttons conference (February, 2000)
-
Hosted More Light Revival, led by Michael Adee, as part of the TAMFS
conference
-
Participated in the Gay Pride parade in Rochester (July, 2000)
-
Submitted request to Session to concur with New York City’s Overture to
delete Amendment B
-
Wrote More Light newsletter
-
Provided materials for newly created TPC website
-
Created advertising slide to be used for Image Out Film Festival
-
Continued advertising in Empty Closet and Gay Men’s Chorus program
-
Assisted in visit of Irene Monroe to preach at TPC and in planning of
the
service (June, 2000)
-
Attended More Light Presbyterians conference (March, 2000)
-
Held mini-retreat with Westminster Church, Buffalo (September, 2000)
-
Participated in Rally Day tent and activities (September, 2000)
-
Sponsored a Soup and Sandwich discussion on the GA Overtures with Peter
Oddleifson (October, 2000)
-
Monitored schedules for Overtures (Presbytery and General Assembly)
-
Investigated joining the Community Planning Forum
-
Participated in Covenant Network Conference (November, 2000)
-
Assisted with new elder training (November, 2000)
-
Spoke at new members breakfast about More Light (November, 2000)
-
Contributed financially to ML Presbyterians; to Interfaith Advocates;
and
to That All May Freely Serve
-
Supported the Interfaith Advocates
-
Supported the National More Light Presbyterians
-
Updated Session on regular basis about new More Light churches so
letters
of welcome can be sent
Looking ahead to 2001, the More Light Committee plans to:
-
Lead Adult Education sessions in February and June, 2001
-
Conduct More Light training for Session members at Session retreat
(January
2001)
-
Plan and co-sponsor welcoming conference. More Light and other
welcoming
congregations and pastors from Western NY, Geneva, and Genesee Valley
Presbyteries
will be invited. (April, 2001)
-
Support visit by Mel White of Soulforce (April, 2001)
-
Participate in both Buffalo gay pride parade (June, 2001) and Rochester
gay pride parade (July, 2001)
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