More Light Presbyterians - Meet Claudia Aguilar, our new Director of Engagement

Meet Claudia Aguilar, MLP's Director of Engagement The members of the Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians are thrilled to introduce Rev. Claudia Aguilar who officially joined More Light as Director of Engagement on June 15th. We invite you to meet Claudia at the live, virtual More Light Pride worship service on Sunday, June 25, 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT. RSVP here to receive the link for the service! As Director of Engagement, Claudia will partner with board members and supporters to equip, empower, and engage with congregations, campus ministries, ministry groups, and individuals to fulfill the mission and vision of More Light Presbyterians to realize the full participation of LGBTQIA+ people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society. Claudia, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has served in various forms of ministry for 21 years, most recently as the Interim Pastor at Park Hill Congregational Church in Denver, Colorado. She also served as Pastor at First Mennonite Church of Denver, Associate Pastor for Justice and Witness at Virginia-Highland UCC and as Associate Dean of Students at Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia. Claudia also worked as a campus minister in Mexico and Chile. She has led involvement in congregational ministry to the unhoused, undocumented immigrants, and in affirmation of the LGBTQIA+ community. Claudia grew up in Mexico City, with her parents (a jazz musician and a dentist/psychologist) and her two siblings. Mexico City is still her favorite place in the world, and she hopes to retire there one day. Being bilingual, bicultural, and binational is part of Claudia’s call to build bridges among different groups of people. She is interested in ecumenical and interfaith efforts to bring justice and peace to every sentient being. Claudia is a certified yoga instructor and loves music, dogs, cooking, and baking. When not working, she is spending time in her garden with her husband Doug and her dogs, hiking with friends, or trying to replicate authentic Mexican dishes with limited access to ingredients. Ann Deibert, chair of More Light’s Personnel Committee, said, “The four of us on the interview team, Shani McIlwain, Andrea Sawyer-Kirksey, Adrian White, and I, were deeply impressed with Claudia’s commitment to creating a church and world where all people can thrive. An integral part of her faith, as her life and ministry demonstrate, is radical welcome.” The board voted unanimously to ask Claudia to join the More Light team. Welcome Claudia and experience her preaching at More Light worship on June 25th (Don't forget to RSVP here!) As we welcome Claudia as Director of Engagement, we also say a big Thank You to Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia who served as More Light’s Interim Head of Operations from January 2022 to March 2023. Larissa jumped in at a critical time, attended to a multitude of details that kept the organization running, resourced board members, and responded to queries from individuals and groups looking for support from More Light Presbyterians. We are grateful for Larissa’s leadership and ministry with More Light. We’re so excited about this next chapter of More Light Presbyterians. We hope you are too! We are here to stay! Want to hear more about Claudia in her own voice? Check out this interview with her on the podcast “Sound of the Genuine: Pastor for Justice.” Give to ensure MLP is here to stay!

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