More Light Presbyterian director to speak
Alex Patchin McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians (MLP) and the first openly transgender person to head a mainline Protestant organization, will preach at the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church (SPC), Sunday, June 7 at the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services and hold a question and answer forum at 9:30 a.m. MLP is a support and advocacy organization dedicated to making the church more open and welcoming of all people. SPC is a MLP affiliate member. The church is located at 100 W. Washington St., Shepherdstown, WV.
McNeil is a life-long Presbyterian, a Ruling Elder, and a nationally known educator and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians. He has trained hundreds of Christians to become community leaders through the Institute for Welcoming Resources and the Reconciling Ministries Network. He played key roles organizing faith communities for the passage of the “Marriage Equality” Amendment in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and for marriage equality legislation in Maryland.
McNeil’s journey to ordination is currently chronicled in the documentary, Out of Order. He holds a Master’s of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.