More Light Presbyterians

What More Light Presbyterians does

More Light Presbyterians (MLP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to centering and celebrating LGBTQIA+ people within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and beyond. Founded in 1974 with the formal entity created by the 1999 merger of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC) and More Light Church, the organization is headquartered in Laurel, Maryland with a mailing address in Chicago and operates with a staff of seven. MLP's primary constituents are LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking affirming faith communities and Presbyterian congregations pursuing formal endorsement as More Light churches, supplemented by campus ministries and new worshipping communities.

MLP's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based: a network of 100-plus member churches searchable through a public directory, monthly virtual community gatherings under the More Light Mondays series, curated LGBTQIA+ resources (worship materials, biblical commentaries, crisis intervention contacts), a job listings board for inclusive ministry positions, monthly newsletters, advocacy statements on social justice issues, structured retreats (Spring Retreat at Ferncliff, Youth Week at Ghost Ranch), and biennial presence at the PC(USA) General Assembly. The technology footprint is intentionally minimal: a WordPress website maintained by Worship Times and the Kindful platform for donation processing, with no public API or proprietary platform.

The organization is funded through three streams: tax-deductible individual donations, tiered annual congregation dues with suggested minimums of $250 to $2,000 scaled to congregational budget size, and named giving and sponsorship opportunities. Distribution occurs through the member church network as trusted local access points, online self-serve giving through Kindful, and direct staff and board visits (in-person or virtual) to congregations for preaching, workshops, and onboarding. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors under a co-director leadership model implemented in 2023.

Name

More Light Presbyterians

Legal name

More Light Presbyterians, Inc.

Website

https://mlp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

More Light Presbyterians is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the Presbyterian Church (USA) through a network of more than 100 affirming member churches, resource libraries, virtual community programs, retreats, and denominational advocacy, funded by individual donations and tiered congregation dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Religious advocacy services
• LGBTQIA+ inclusion
• Faith community resources
• Presbyterian ministry support
• Congregation network

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) organization, More Light Presbyterians relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Donations support the More Light Presbyterians movement, staff efforts to sustain ministry, creation of education and worship resources, travel to support MLP congregations and partners, and technology enhancement for remote ministry presence.
2. Annual Congregation Dues: Member churches and ministries pay annual dues based on congregation budget size. Suggested minimum annual contribution is $250, with tiered suggested donations ranging from $250 to $2,000 based on annual budget.
3. Named Giving and Sponsorships: The organization offers named giving and sponsorship opportunities that allow donors to participate in the work at deeper levels regardless of congregation size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

More Light Presbyterians is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Presbyterian Church (USA). It supports a network of affirming congregations, campus ministries, and new worshipping communities through programs, educational resources, advocacy, and direct community engagement, coordinated by a small staff of about 7.

Product overview

More Light Presbyterians operates as a non-profit advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of programs and services centered on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the Presbyterian Church (USA): More Light Mondays provides monthly virtual community dialogue; a curated LGBTQIA+ Resources library offers worship materials, biblical commentaries, and crisis support; Job Listings serves as a ministry employment board; a Church Directory helps locate affirming congregations; monthly Newsletters keep supporters informed; Advocacy Statements address social justice issues; and an Annual Contribution Program facilitates structured donations. The organization also runs periodic events including spring retreats, youth programs at Ghost Ranch, and presence at General Assembly biennial meetings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affirming Congregation Network / Directory A national directory and membership network of Presbyterian (USA) congregations, campus ministries, and new worshipping communities that have committed to LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Members pay annual dues (typically $1,200/year) and gain visibility to LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking an affirming church home.
• More Light Mondays A recurring virtual program (typically weekly on Mondays) designed to build community, provide spiritual content, and connect LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians and allies across geographies.
• LGBTQIA+ Resources Library A curated collection of educational, theological, and pastoral resources supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the Presbyterian (USA) tradition, made available to individuals and member congregations.
• Monthly Newsletter A periodic email newsletter delivered to donors, members, and supporters, sharing updates, advocacy news, upcoming events, and member congregation stories.
• Annual Contribution Program An annual fundraising program combining individual donations and congregation membership dues to support the organization's operations and programs.
• Merchandise Shop Online store offering branded merchandise such as stickers and shirts, providing both revenue and visible advocacy tools for supporters.
• Events Calendar A calendar of upcoming events, advocacy moments, and community gatherings hosted or promoted by the organization.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Believe Out Loud: Believe Out Loud is a multi-denominational LGBTQIA+ affirming Christian movement that mobilizes individuals and congregations around inclusion. It shares MLP's focus on cultivating affirming faith communities and offering inclusion resources.
• Q Christian Fellowship: Q Christian Fellowship is an interdenominational LGBTQIA+ affirming Christian community with conferences, resources, and a network of affirming churches. It overlaps with MLP in mission and audience (LGBTQIA+ Christians and allies) but extends across multiple denominations.
• Integrity USA: Integrity USA is the LGBTQIA+ advocacy and inclusion organization within The Episcopal Church. It mirrors MLP's model — a denominational network of affirming congregations, advocacy at General Convention, and resources for LGBTQIA+ Episcopalians seeking call and marriage equality.
• Reconciling Ministries Network: Reconciling Ministries Network drives LGBTQIA+ inclusion within The United Methodist Church. It uses a parallel model of member congregations formally declaring themselves "Reconciling," analogous to MLP's More Light congregation process.
• The Covenant Network of Presbyterians: The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is a directly comparable progressive advocacy organization within PC(USA) supporting full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. It operates with overlapping membership, similar mission, and a shared constituency of affirming congregations.
• Keshet: Keshet is a Jewish organization advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion across Jewish communities, with a national network and educational resources. It is a structural and methodological analog to MLP operating in a different faith tradition.

Emerging players

• The Reformation Project: The Reformation Project pursues LGBTQIA+ inclusion within evangelical and Reformed Christianity. It overlaps with MLP on LGBTQIA+ inclusion strategy and resources but targets a more conservative theological segment than MLP's PC(USA) base.
• Many Voices: Many Voices is a Black church movement for LGBTQIA+ affirmation, working within predominantly Black Protestant denominations. It parallels MLP's denomination-network model and resource-providing role but focuses on a distinct congregational segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/morelightpresby
• Instagraminstagram.com/morelightpresby
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/more-light-presbyterians

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about More Light Presbyterians