MOUNT AUBURN — Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church's support of gays and lesbians got a boost Sunday from a nationally known, openly gay minister who urged the congregation to stay the course.

        “Mount Auburn, you are one of the only churches in the nation that has reached out to my brothers and sisters beyond all those taboos and said, "You are God's beloved children,'” said the Rev. Dr. Mel White, a former ghostwriter for Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

        The Rev. Dr. White and his partner, Gary Nixon, co-founded Soulforce, an interfaith movement. He says it is committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

        The Laguna Beach, Calif., Episcopal priest's visit to Mount Auburn is timely because the congregation will vote March 12 on Amendment A, which would remove a ban and allow practicing gays and lesbians to be ministers, elders and deacons in Presbyterian congregations.

        The Presbyterian Church's General Assembly last June approved the proposed constitutional amendment, which has to be ratified by presbyteries nationwide. The Presbytery of Cincinnati has yet to vote, but the amendment already has failed to receive a majority needed to pass.

        Still, it's important to vote and bear witness to what we believe, said the Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken, pastor of Mount Auburn Presbyterian. About one-third of the 275-member congregation is made up of gays and lesbians.

        “When you've taken a stand to accept us without question, you've said the church is wrong,” said the Rev. Dr. White, who preached at the Sunday service.

        The Bible, the Rev. Dr. White said, has been misused to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

        But they can't wait any longer for justice, he said: “We are the church. We are serving the church as its best and brightest, in many cases.”

        It's going to get worse before it gets better, the Rev. Dr. White warned. “Fundamentalism is at work in the Presbyterian Church and other mainline congregations. Fundamentalism is orthodoxy gone cultic.”

        Earl Apel, a 44-year-old church member from College Hill, related to the sermon because he's gay.

        “This is something I struggled with, personally, reconciling my sexual orientation with my religion,” Mr. Apel said.

        He's attended Mount Auburn for four years, he said, because of its acceptance and love for all people. “The theology is more liberal. Over time, I saw myself changing how I saw the Bible. Some people take it more literally than others.”

        Jack Brennan, 49, of Clifton and Bucky Ignatius, 57, of the East End are members of Mount Auburn and More Light Task Force, a national movement favoring inclusion in the Presbyterian Church. The sermon, Mr. Ignatius said, was inspirational and reinforcing of their mission.

        Mr. Brennan added: “One of the gut feelings I think people have in our congregation is prejudice against GLBT persons is so hurtful to good people who are part of God's creation.”

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