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Be a Gem!
To meet and share in God's love with our communities
from Africa, Australia,
Europe, New Zealand, Latin
America, the United States and
Asia adds a depth and beauty
to the full vision and mission of MCC.
Due to the costs of global travel, many people
around the world cannot find the resources to join
their siblings at General Conference without assistance.
Full participation of our church to bring our siblings
together is a responsibility we all share.
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| It takes an additional gift of our hearts to
welcome others to share in our global gathering. This
year, we all have the opportunity to
We can give from our treasures so more of our family have
the opportunity to come to conference.
Who Needs Help?
Read the following excerpts to find out what areas the Be a Gem
program is supporting. Also, view an
online map and track our progress by area!
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Bucharest, Romania
In 2007, Romania was welcomed into the European Union which
will bring new challenges and concerns. At last year’s
march, the parade route was lined with protestors
throwing smoke bombs, yelling threats
and trying to reach the marchers. As the parade passed predominant
Orthodox Church, the reigning Patriarch ordered that
the death bells be sounded. At the end of the
march, the police departed and several marchers were
attacked. MCC is needed
here.
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Sofia, Bulgaria
The city of Sofia is more liberal than the rest of Bulgaria,
but has not had a Pride march. HIV and AIDS are
on the increase and money which has been sent by the
West to help people infected with the virus has been siphoned
into corrupt politicians’ hands. Doctors still
refuse to treat people who are infected with HIV and
AIDS. MCC is needed here.
Australia
Due to decades of hard work, people
are generally more accepting of homosexuality
in Australia. Legislation exists against some
types of discrimination of gays and
lesbians. However, same-sex relationships do not receive
the same government recognition as heterosexual ones. In 2005, the
country's government quoted the
Judeo-Christian cultural influences that are rooted in
Australia to deny same-sex marriage
rights. MCC is needed
here.
Chisinau, Moldova
The Russian Orthodox Church has been vehemently opposed to
granting the LGBT community rights or protections and the community in
Moldova has been denied the right for a public march
for years. The LGBT community has struggled valiantly to both
strengthen their community while lobbying for
their rights. MCC is needed
here. |
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Riga, Latvia
There have been changes in leadership and theology in the Latvian
Lutheran Church; women are no longer ordained and
gays and lesbians are no longer allowed to participate
in the churches. Gay Pride in Riga was filled with
violence, the request for a permit to march was denied
and the community made the decision to come together for a worship
service. As the community entered the sanctuary they were
pelted with stones and human feces. It took
forty minutes for the police to arrive.
MCC is needed here.
Latin America
Every day MCC leaders of the 25 congregations in Latin
America face the dual challenge of being positive
witnesses to the unconditional love of God for all people
in the midst of homophobic societies
while simultaneously struggling with the impact that
poverty has on their personal lives and on their
congregations. Many literally pray for their daily
bread, yet they still find the strength to
confront oppression at the hands of their
governments, rejection from their
families, and homophobic theologies as
preached by the Roman Catholic and most Evangelical Churches.
MCC is needed here.
New Zealand
New Zealand boasts that gays, lesbians, and transgender people have most
of the same rights as heterosexuals; except for
adoption and the right to marry. A
charismatic Christian movement in New Zealand, active
and vocal in its position against homosexuality, not
only speak out politically, but has begun their own
political party. MCC is represented
faithfully by two churches in the entirety of New
Zealand. MCC is needed here.
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Bosnia
An interfaith group of Christian and Muslim
LGBT people works together in Bosnia. One leader
has been taking part in a program which trains young
people from Eastern Europe to respond to the Religious
Right. Bosnia has a recent history of
violence and there are still tensions between the Muslim and
Christian communities, but in the LGBT |
community they are finding a way to partner.
MCC is needed here.
Krakow and Warsaw, Poland
The Gay Pride events that have taken place in both cities have been
marred by violence and protests. The Roman
Catholic Church is particularly conservative within
Poland and has worked actively to keep the LGBT
community from having any human rights
protection. MCC is needed
here.
Philippines
The strong influence of the Catholic Church and culture almost
drown out the tolerance of homosexuality in the
Philippines. In 2006, Chairperson of the Committee on
Human Rights (and pastor) blocked a
humans rights measure penalizing discrimination against
LGBT persons by saying that the bill would invite the wrath of
God and would mean “death to the most
cherished Filipino values of godliness and
moral rectitude.” MCC is needed
here.
Watch this page for updates!
Questions/Comments? Email
us!
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