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Rev. Elder Diane Fisher
(Email)
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MCC'S EASTERN EUROPE INITIATIVE
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, and
Latvia
"Tearing down walls. Building up
hope."
2006 Eastern European Trip Blog
On May 1, 2006, the international
movement of Metropolitan Community Churches launched MCC'S Eastern
Europe Initiative.
It all began one year ago. In May of
2005, worldwide attention was focused on Bucharest, Romania. The
President of Romania and the Mayor of Bucharest refused parade permits
to hold the first-ever Gay
Pride March in Romania. Local activists invited MCC's Rev. Elder
Diane Fisher to provide on-site support. On behalf of MCC, she met
with activists. She held training workshops and conducted scores of
press conferences and media interviews. She appeared on Romanian
national TV and radio, and in newspapers and magazines. Through MCC, she
launched an international campaign to bring public pressure on Romania's
political leaders. And -- within a week! -- the President of Romania and
the Mayor of Bucharest reversed course and granted parade permits. And
hundreds of proud, out LGBT Romanian's held that country's historic,
first-ever Pride March.
News of MCC's work spread quickly.
Activists from nearby countries appealed to MCC and Rev. Fisher to
provide support for their fledgling LGBT communities and for help
in starting new MCC congregations. Over and over, their letters and
e-mails saluted MCC as "the church that supports human
rights."
This month -- May 2006 -- at
the request of LGBT groups and people of faith across Eastern
Europe, Rev. Elder Diane Fisher is traveling to Moldova, Serbia,
Romania, Bulgaria, and Latvia. In each of these countries, MCC is
helping to organize LGBT communities; providing support for Pride
Marches and human rights work; hosting workshops on the Bible and
homosexuality, LGBT youth, and social justice; holding public MCC
worship services; and planting new MCC congregations across Eastern
Europe. At every stop, Rev. Fisher's is carrying Jesus' message of hope
and faith -- at public events, in press conferences, and in one-one-one
meetings with civic, religious, and political leaders.
You
can follow Rev. Fisher's accomplishments and ministry across Eastern
Europe by returning often to this site to read her daily
reports.
We are thankful to local MCC
churches and individuals around the world who have generously
supported this outreach through MCC's Easter Offerings for Eastern
Europe.
And remember: It's not too late to
make your donation! Your generous financial gifts continue to make
this global outreach possible. To support the life-changing
ministry of MCC's Eastern Europe Initiative, you can make
your donation on-line by CLICKING HERE.
Together, we're making a profound
difference in our world -- and we're touching the lives of people
who hunger for spiritual faith and liberation.
Together, we're tearing down walls.
And building up hope.
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