Friday, February 16, 2018
3:00 PM EST - 4:00 PM EST

When we baptize children into our community, we promise to nurture them in the faith and support them as they grow.
As a church, the promises we make when we baptize someone bring with them a commitment to take the journey with young people as they mature in their faith. What does that support look like for LGBTQ youth? How do we proactively create spaces in church so LGBTQ youth know they are welcome? This series will address practical ways in which congregations can proactively support LGBTQ youth.

Part 2 will address practical ways congregations can support LGBTQ youth.

Part 2 will cover:

• Writing and implementing policies for bathrooms, camp, and church trips
• Creating an inclusive worship space

Trainer: Ashley DeTar Birt

Ashley DeTar Birt is a recent graduate of Union Theological Seminary where she obtained her M.Div. She also holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Ashley currently works as the Director of Christian Education at Rutgers Presbyterian Church in New York, NY with some of the most fun kids she’s ever met. Her interests include the intersections of racial justice, children and youth, interfaith communication, LGBTQ+ issues (particularly the B), and Christianity.

When she isn’t at church or doing social justice work, she enjoys writing, sound editing and theatre tech.

Trainer: Harry Zweckbronner

Harry is the Program Director at Camp Hanover, the outdoor ministry of the Presbytery of the James. Camp Hanover, in conversation with the Presbytery, recently worked to develop a policy for trans campers. 

Harry believes strongly in all aspects of Christian camping, and he is most passionate about team building and giving kids the opportunity to grow in their faith. A lifelong Presbyterian, Harry's experiences attending summer camp as both camper and staff member played a large role in shaping the person he is today. Because of this, he is passionate about helping others have similarly significant experiences.

Prior to joining the Camp Hanover team, Harry served for ten years as the Program Director at the Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center, where he oversaw the summer camp program and year round youth retreats. Before following the call into camp ministry, Harry taught high school history for 7 years. Harry has also served on the board of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association and is a standards visitor for the American Camp Association.

In his down time, Harry loves spending time with his wife, and three children. He also likes to cook, coach youth sports, and is an avid sports fan.

Cost: $35

(Watching with a group? The cost of each teach-in part is weighed based on group size. If you are watching with a group of 2-5 people, the TOTAL cost of Part 1 is $35; with a group of 6-20 people, the total cost of Part 1 is $50; with a group of 21 or more, the total cost of Part 1 is $100).

• 1 - 5 participants: $35
• 6 - 20 participants: $50
• 21 participants or more: $100 
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Registration is required for each part of the series.

Part 3: Friday, March 2, 3:00 pm Eastern

More Light’s Teach-ins were designed to help our congregations live into their LGBTQ inclusion. Each Teach-in offers a series of webinars focused on topics impacting the LGBTQ community such as racism and racial justice, 
transgender inclusion, LGBTQ youth, homelessness, and immigration.
Teach-ins also offer the opportunity to learn more about how your church can get connected with a peer network to share best practices and explore challenges within your ministries.

A teach-in is similar to a general educational forum on any complicated issue, usually an issue involving current political affairs. The main difference between a teach-in and a seminar is the refusal to limit the discussion to a specific academic frame or scope.
Our goal is to offer MLP members and leaders the opportunity to learn together, share their ideas and experiences
working for social justice in their congregations and communities, and explore opportunities for peer coaching.