This month is WRPC’s fourth anniversary of becoming a More Light Congregation. For over half of my 8 years at WRPC, I have served on the More Light Task Force (MLTF) helping us ensure we are fulfilling our pledge as a More Light Congregation. My work on, and with MLTF has been some of the most rewarding work I have done during my time as a high school student and at WRPC. West Raleigh has never strayed away from difficult, sometimes controversial issues, and I have been so proud of the work we have done to make WRPC a more inclusive and conscious community. We have listened, learned, and broadened our horizons through a variety of in-house educational experiences and lessons by guest speakers and preachers from all over the country. These efforts by MLTF and members of the congregation/clergy have contributed to the admirable and important work preparing us to be members of the larger network of allies to the LGBTQ community in North Carolina.
However, the success of all of this internal work does not mean we are done. This year WRPC has gotten a booth at Out! Raleigh Pride. This is one of the first big steps we have taken to actively support and participate in the LGBTQ community in our state. When we became a More Light Congregation, we did not only pledge to make our own community welcoming and inclusive, but we also pledged to support the inclusion and rights of LGBTQ people in our broader community. The church is a social, moral, and politically active institution and too often it is used to bring LGBTQ people down. As a More Light Congregation it is important for us to show up to events like Out! Raleigh Pride to be a welcoming and protective presence for a community that is threatened by anti-LGBTQ politics. So mark your calendars for Out! Raleigh Pride on June 22nd. Let’s show up and be proud WRPC!
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