more light

First Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, a community of faith since 1817, is a More Light congregation. We are dedicated to the full inclusion of all God’s children in our community of faith, welcoming people of every race; ethnicity; age; sex; physical, mental, or emotional condition; sexual or gender orientation; and economic, cultural, or religious background.

At First Presbyterian Church, we are not only inclusive, we are committed.

First Presbyterian Church has a long history of working toward social justice, including the present cause of inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families, friends, and allies, in the life of the church and through ordination as elders, deacons, and ministers of Word and Sacrament. As a community of faith, First Pres members underwent an intentional process of study and discernment before deciding to join the “More Light Presbyterian” movement in 2004.

As a More Light Presbyterian congregation, we believe that God continues to open new understandings of scripture and Word in the life of Christ. We welcome and witness to all God’s children in the St. Louis area while working for change in our community, presbytery, and denomination as a whole. The More Light Presbyterian mission statement:

Following the risen Christ and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).