From the Third Church Congregation
What It Means To Belong to a More Light Church

It doesn’t bother me.  We are all God’s children.

As a gay Presbyterian being part of a More Light church has provided a sense of inclusion and has symbolized the support TPC has given me and the service it has equipped me with to dedicate to Christ and our faith.

I would feel uncomfortable not worshipping in a More Light church.  Thank you.

Belonging to a More Light church has underscored for me the importance of inclusion and acceptance of all people into our lives and community.

Being in a More Light church congregation offers a full panorama of the broadness of view of God’s creation and our challenge as Christians to embrace God’s fullness. 

I am a member of Third because of its mission to all no matter who they are-race, gender preference, age, location in our city, country, world-to help all others.

Being a member of a More Light congregation means opening our hearts and minds as well as the church doors to the spirit of God’s word.

The More Light experience at Third has enriched my life immeasurably.  Not only do I have some wonderful friends, but I have been introduced to a whole new world of working for equality & justice.  I have been encouraged to help start a GSA at my place of work and supported in that now successful venture.  I have had the fun of going to Albany and the rewards of lobbying.  Thank you More Light!  

More Light has meant greater and depth of friendships, greater appreciation of the challenges faced by LGBT community, provided impetus to serve their needs.

Our More Light ministry has affected me by;
•    enlarging my  group of acquaintances whom I warmly regard
•    challenged me to think about my prejudices and preconceived ideas
•    assisted me in being better able to voice my opinion on potentially divisive issues.

I am thankful to be a part of a church that expresses in worship its commitment to live in the spirit of Jesus’ radically inclusive love.

I am overjoyed to be a member of a More Light church where I am fully embraced as a gay man, as is my life partner.  I especially celebrate our congregation’s leadership in our community, working for a more just society.

I think being part of a More Light church has given my family the opportunity to know families  with gay and lesbian parents and their children and be more comfortable with differences in family structures, but also recognizing that which is similar.

As a result of my being made aware of More Light issues, I have come to understand and love my wonderful college students and friends in this group. 

I am happy that we have been leaders in attempting to create equality in the whole church.

I am proud of our leadership on gay rights and especially Ralph Carter’s contribution.

Third Church’s willingness to discuss LGBT issues up front has helped me, a straight woman, feel more welcome and confident that the church I support and belong to is willing to accept all people in God’s love.

Continuing need/opportunity for understanding and sensitivity.

More Light –an example of welcoming all, nurturing all.  An inspiration.

It has sensitized me to those who are excluded from our church and our society and to the need to change that and welcome everyone to full participation.

Worshipping in a More Light church has made me much more aware of how what makes us the special individuals we are, may also cause us to be excluded from participation in serving the church and from receiving some of the benefits and privileges as citizens of NYS and the USA.

Being part of a More Light church has done a lot to change the attitudes of the community in a very important way.

I enjoy being part of a church which welcomes and includes all men and women to ministry.

The More Light influence has taught me to be more open, more understanding, more accepting, less comfortable, less judgmental of others in all areas of my life.

Helps give me a sense of peacefulness and compassion.

I’m proud to be a part of a More Light church.  It warms my heart to welcome EVERYONE into full membership & participation in THIS CHURCH.

I enjoy knowing that all are treated with equal respect, and seeing my LGBT friends attracted here.

I feel a deep level of contentment in being a part of a More Light church.  Just as I believe in a loving and inclusive God, I also believe in a loving and inclusive church.  I am delighted that TPC has incorporated the More Light philosophy into its culture.

I now know several gay people and treasure those friendships.  Their sexual orientation is not an issue at all.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this could happen for everyone?  My eyes have been opened as is my heart

The More Light position of TPC has helped all our church members be aware of the gifts of our LGBT brothers and sisters and has made us painfully aware that there are still LGBT persons who are not free to be who they are because of the homophobia still expressed in our society.

1)    I’ve learned a lot.
2)    I’ve been proud of our church.
3)    A visiting family member was so educated/moved by personal stories that it has impacted his ministry in a much more conservative part of our church.

More Light says to me ”welcome” into full participation in the ministry of the church.
It’s important to continue to proclaim weekly that we are a “More Light church.”

It’s nice to know that everyone is welcome and I can feel free to talk to my friends about my faith and my worship here without feeling like I am excluding anyone.  Thank you!

How I have been affected by worshipping in a More Light church.  It allows my family and me to practice Christian love.  This is important for our 2 girls as well.  We teach them that EVERYONE  is loved and has something to offer the world, the church, the community, etc.  Having gay families worship here shows our children that families come in many different forms.  Our wish is that OTHER churches could be this accepting and loving!!!

Worshipping in a More Light church provides us the opportunity to participate in a community that provides an example of how our greater community should be.  This is especially important as we are shaping the young minds that will lead the community of the future.

I am so blessed to be a part of a truly inclusive congregation.  I have seen/heard the healing power our congregation has had on some of our previously excluded brothers and sisters.  The love of Jesus is here!

We commend Third Church for taking its position on” More Light” in defiance of the established position. 

Why would I want to worship any place that isn’t More Light?  It just seems to go against the very Christian ideals we all aspire to.

I have gotten to know gay and lesbian members who aren’t afraid to tell of their struggles for recognition.  It has helped me to understand their struggles and support them. 

Education-increasing sensitivity to accept our gay son (and understand) when he came out.

I think they should do baptisms not on More Light Sundays.  It confused my whole family on daughter’s baptism 1987 & they thought was inappropriate.  Because of that, my son got baptized Lutheran and it took 10 years to get them back.  Finally 1999 they came for the 3rd child baptism.  That has been my biggest outcome of More Light church for 21 years!

It is a privilege to be a part of a church that truly expresses the oneness of our humanity and our divinity without barriers.  This is expressed supremely through the “More Light” initiative. 

Third is a place to come to bring our families together to worship. We are thankful to havebeen given faith to our three generations to share together.  It is wonderful to find that the church shares with young and old.  Thank you!

My children no longer use homosexual terms and slurs.  They accept and respect our diversity.  What a wonderful gift.
I come because I want to give my respect to God and because my grandmother makes me.  I think I also come because there is a good minister and a great coffee hour. 

I appreciate the openness and acceptance of all people in this church.  Thank you.

I cannot fathom worshipping and serving in any other setting than a More Light or similar church.  it is in this setting that we live out God’s love for all no matter our differences.  Here I feel accepted as a straight person.  Here I feel accepted as a person with friends of every stripe and color and size and shape.  Here I feel accepted and supported as a parent of a child that is discovering her own sexual orientation.  Third is an immense blessing though our work is arduous and long ahead.

Being a More Light church has given me the opportunity to speak with my children and others about orientation in a positive way under a spiritual umbrella. 

I have always felt that everyone belongs at church.  Everyone should be welcomed.

I feel closer to God because I know more of His children are present here.

I am happy to have gotten to know and work with members of the LGBT community.  My family’s worship experience is richer with a diverse congregation.

The warm and caring people I have met that in some way are connected to More Light.

Growing up in an Evangelical “mega” church, I never felt I could bring any of my gay friends.  They were frankly unacceptable.  It was sad.  As a musician, I have many friends that lead “alternative” lifestyles of many sorts.  At Third, I know they are welcome!  It is still so bizarre for me to see rainbows here.  I saw Rod walking in the last parade.  It was incredible.  You practice what you preach.  Thanks!

It’s wonderful to worship in this church that welcomes all people and honors all the diverse gifts that we have to offer.

The Adult Faith Development sessions several years ago opened my eyes to realize that old stigma was wrong and happily I’ve gotten to know some wonderful gay people here in our midst.

I can’t imagine a church which isn’t “More Light.”

We are all God’s children.  Our membership, our congregation, should reflect that.

I have become increasingly more comfortable with and knowledgeable about people who are gay, lesbian or transgender having had contact with and engaged in dialogue with clergy who are lesbian or transgender.  I now feel that I better understand them and accept them.

Proud

The children are no longer using the hateful language. 

[My granddaughter] wore the colorful leis necklace to Sunday School.  No one asked her why she was wearing it.  She’ll continue to wear it.

There was a thoughtful note attached to one of the colorful knit stoles.  It explained that the stole's sides had irregular bulges just like the differences in people.