The First LGBTQ Marriage - Parts 1 & 2
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| Derrick Kikuchi & Craig Wiesner |
The First LGBTQ Marriage at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
These two episodes are dedicated to the prophetic and
often heroic efforts by people in the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, a
member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), to make this denomination a more
welcoming and inclusive place for LGBTQ people. LGBTQ folk have been
discriminated against in the church for decades and ostracized from membership,
serving as deacons and elders as well as from ordained ministry and being prevented
from getting married in the church, preventing them from having their relationships
honored and recognized. Now many churches claim to be welcoming to LGBTQ people
but are unwilling to proclaim that welcome quite the way that they have at the
First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto.
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| Derrick & Craig at their reception in the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall |
The nonprofit organization of More Light Presbyterians has
been advocating for LGBTQ rights and inclusion for decades within the Presbyterian
Church USA. And one of the first churches to become a More Light Church was the
First Pres Church of Palo Alto. Their session approved that move in February of
1986.
Because of the work of More Light Presbyterians and churches like First Presbyterian
Church of Palo Alto and many individuals in the church, the denomination has
moved from exclusion of LGBTQ people to full inclusion in ministry and
marriage.
But in these two episodes we want to look back at the early
days of this work. My guests are Derrick Kikuchi and Craig Weisner, two beloved
gay members of the First Pres community and the Rev. Dr. Diana Gibson who is a
close friend and was also their pastor for many years.
Below are a few pictures of the Session minutes from those days. Presbyterians are famous (or infamous) for taking copious notes and minutes and doing everything "decently and in order."
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| Session Notes showing who was present when the church became a More Light Church in Feb 1986 |
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| Session Minutes showing discussion of implementation plans |
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| Session Minutes showing acceptance of the More Light statement |
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