History

As Presbyterians, we believe that "The church reformed, always to be reformed according to the Word of God" in the power of the Spirit. We state our faith and bear witness to God's grace in Jesus Christ in the creeds and confessions of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We believe that "God alone is Lord of the conscience,,, therefore we consider the rights of private judgment, in all matters that respect religion, as universal and unalienable.

These foundational beliefs have been core beliefs of Celebration of Life PCUSA since the beginning, in 1974. The congregation adheres to its Presbyterian heritage in many ways, including living out life together as a collaborative, connectional community that participates in the the larger church via the Presbytery of Grand Canyon, The Synod of the Sun, and ,the General Assembly of the PCUSA.  

The congregation participates in mission, social justice, pastoral care, worship, and many other endeavors as a progressive Presbyterian Church. This progressive, inclusive nature is embodied in the fact that Celebration of Life is a More Light Congregation.

More Light Presbyterians are individual members and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who are faithful to God’s call and believe that God continues to open new understandings of scripture and the Word in the life of Christ. As a Christian community, we believe that the church must seek to live out those understandings in our life together. 

Building a church that reflects God’s heart. Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians (MLP) is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.  

MLP’s logo reflects our mission and incorporates the communion elements of bread and wine, as well as rainbow colors evocative of stained glass church windows. These elements express the hospitality of Christ, and of the welcoming church movement, and the theology and practice of the open table. We are called together as many grains that form one bread, and we share one cup. 

To learn more, please check out https://mlp.org/