On December 8, 2011, Christians for Equality held a press conference at Anchorage’s First Congregational Church in support of the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative. Among the prepared statements read at the press conference was that of Rev. Susan Knight of Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Immanuel is a More Light church with a long history of welcoming LGBT visitors and congregants, with many of its members taking leadership roles in Anchorage PFLAG and participating annually in Anchorage’s annual LGBT PrideFest Parade and Picnic. The Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative is an April 2012 ballot measure by the One Anchorage campaign to offer the same legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people already offered to all other Anchorage residents.

Statement of Rev. Susan Knight at Christians for Equality press conference, 8 Dec 2011
by Rev. Susan Knight, Immanuel Presbyterian Church

I am Rev. Susan Knight of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. On behalf of my congregation and these folks gathered here, we speak to the understanding of Christianity as an ethic of love. All of us gathered here know and have heard the stories of those who have experienced discrimination due to their sexual orientation/identity. An ethic of love leads to justice, and we believe discrimination is neither loving nor just!

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Editor’s note: On May 10, 2011, Presyberian Church (USA), the denomination to which Immanuel Presyberian Church belongs, ratified Amendment 10-A, under which lesbian, gay, and bisexual church members in covenanted relationships can now be considered for ordination to deacon, elder or minister. See Bent Alaska’s stories “Will Alaska get gay Presbyterian ministers?” (11 May 2011) and “Alaska Presbyterians react to LGBT ordination vote” (18 May 2011) to learn more.