#pcusa

In 2017, Kate Davoli (they/them, MDiv) was dismissed from the ordination process for being polyamorous. In spite of this heartache, they have remained steadfastly part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In our conversation, Kate recalls the events leading up to & following their dismissal; ponders what we learn about God through polyamorous people's lives & callings; and balances the heartache of being denied ordination with the queer gift of how their liminal status facilitates ministry to church-hurt people.

Sup y’all! I’m a board member for More Light Presbyterians, and this Pride month, June 2023, we’ll be sharing short daily prayers with all who sign up to receive them via text.

The prayers will center around our theme for the month, “Here to Stay!” — a defiant celebration of how queer folk have always existed in our faith communities and always will.

If you’re interested in receiving these daily prayers, fill out this form — be sure to provide your phone number and check in the box that reads “I would like to receive daily text prayers in June.”

(You’ll notice that the form also has options to receive some liturgy + rsvp for a virtual service; feel free to say yes or no to those!)

In a blistering letter to Nelson himself, Litvin wrote, “In your haste to attack the Jewish people, you label them slavers, and in doing so you not only defame the People of Israel but besmirch the memory of each one of these heroes, unbound by your hatred, whose commitment to civil rights extended to the Jewish people as well.”

Litvin didn’t pull any punches in his letter to Nelson, declaring, “your false accusation of slavery against the Jewish people is antisemitic. Your use and distortion of Jewish history and oppression in which your church played no small role as a weapon against the Jewish people is antisemitic. Your demand of Jewish influence being used to move the American government is antisemitic.”

Sadly, aside from the reference to the church Nelson leads, the same things could be said to Quintez Brown about his Internet postings.

But will Nelson learn from Rabbi Litvin’s letter? Probably not. Nelson isn’t all that interested in listening to criticism.