Have you ever been confident in your views but then found the need to reconsider them as you gained more information and experience? Rev. Dwight Liles once penned a letter to the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine expressing his belief, based on his interpretation of certain biblical passages, that homosexuality is a sin. However, something occurred that led to a complete transformation in his perspective. He now declares, "I affirm that my LGBT brothers and sisters in Christ should be treated fully as brothers and sisters in Christ, and should be treated as absolutely nothing less than brothers and sisters in Christ." Curious about this shift? Learn more by watching the video! https://youtu.be/5zlbfh2NSZk Rev. Dwight Liles is an ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as well as a Dove Award-winning professional songwriter who has had many of his Christian songs recorded, published, and sung in churches around the world. You might be familiar with his widely acclaimed song "We are an Offering." We invite you to dive deeper into this important conversation. At www.welcomingcps.org, you'll find more stories and resources on reconciling faith and the Bible with LGBTQ+ inclusion. Thanks to Rev. Chris Warren and Seed Creative Care for helping to make this video possible!| Related Links Discernment Resources for Amendments https://www.welcomingcps.org/presbyteries/ Recommendation to Reject the Proposed Amendments (Ed Adair) https://www.welcomingcps.org/adair-recommendation-2023 Japan Presbytery’s Response to the Proposed Amendments to the Constitution https://www.welcomingcps.org/japan-presbyterys-response-to-the-proposed-amendments-spring-2023/ Reasons to Deny Proposed Amendments from Welcoming Cumberland Presbyterians https://www.welcomingcps.org/reasons-to-deny-proposed-amendments/ Proposed Constitutional Amendments (2023) https://www.welcomingcps.org/proposed-amendments-2023/

As described in the Confession of Faith for Cumberland Presbyterians, the church, both as a collective and through its individual members, has a calling to promote reconciliation, love, and justice among all individuals, classes, races, and nations (6.32). These values are at the core of our beliefs as a church, and so we should strive to live them out in our daily lives. That's why we're excited to share "Song of Change" by Dove Award-winning Gospel/CCM songwriter and Cumberland Presbyterian Minister Rev. Dwight Liles. This powerful new protest anthem echoes the values of promoting justice that we hold dear and inspires us to come together to create a more peaceful and just world. Please listen and share this song widely! Rev. Liles emphasizes: "I have sole ownership of this song and wish for it to be used freely for the cause of justice, peace, and equity for all people." As we raise our voices and join hands, we can help spread this message and work towards a better future for all. Dwight Liles · Song Of Change (Remixed) SONG OF CHANGE  It is time to lift our voices It is time to make it clear That we won't stop demanding justice And we refuse to live in fear CHORUS With songs of change, songs of freedom Songs of hope and songs of love Keep on singing, keep on marching Join your hands and rise above They will try to keep us quiet They will try to block our way But we will speak the truth to power And we will walk into the day CHORUS We will not resort to violence In our quest for what we seek But we will not remain in silence We will stand and we will speak CHORUS Words and music copyright 2023 by Dwight Liles.

Rev. Dwight Liles Rev. Dwight Liles writes regarding the exclusionary statement approved by the 191st General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church: I cannot be silent about this, at whatever risk. I cannot be silent. The Confession of Faith of my denomination, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, states in article 6.31 the following: "The covenant community affirms the lordship of Christ who sought out the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and the helpless. In her corporate life and through her individual members, the church is an advocate for all victims of violence and all those whom the law or society treats as less than persons for whom Christ died. Such advocacy involves not only opposition to all unjust laws and forms of injustice but even more support for those attitudes and actions which embody the way of Christ, which is to overcome evil with good." This week, the General Assembly of my denomination, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, adopted a statement towards the LGBTQ+ community within our denomination that stands in direct contradiction to the above paragraph of our Confession of Faith. I must stand in dissent and protest. I've seen too many of my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters disowned by their families, turned out of their churches, insulted, oppressed, and driven to depression, despair, and suicide, to remain silent. I am an ally of the LBGTQ+ community, and I will be so even if it costs me my ordination, and if because of that stand I am never invited to stand behind a pulpit again. I cannot be silent. The action taken this week by the 2022 General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church against the LGBTQ+ community within our denomination does not represent me, and I do not approve.