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Around the denomination and from our congregations

PUBLIC STATEMENT: Presbyterians to Overturn Ban on Gay, Lesbian Ordination
02 July 2008
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, issues a public statement regarding the upcoming Vote by the General Conference of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Overturn the Ban on the Ordination of Lesbians and Gay Men...

STATEMENT:
 
On behalf of the friends and members of Metropolitan Community Churches, we welcome the decision of the national governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to overturn the long-standing ban on the ordination of lesbians and gay men.
 
The decision by the General Assembly is a positive step forward for the many lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) persons who are called by God to serve as ordained clergy within the Presbyterian Church (USA) -- and will also bless the larger Church by opening new places of service to the ministry and giftedness of LGBT people.
 
To become church policy, this decision must be approved over the next year by a majority of the 173 regional presbyteries in the U.S. The friends and members of Metropolitan Community Churches pledge our faithful prayers for the final adoption of this policy throughout the upcoming ratification process.
 
We encourage our brothers and sisters in each presbytery, like the midwives of Egypt, to feel the call of life more strongly than anything else, and to unite both in ratifying this historic vote and standing for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality before God.  (read full story)

Op ed: God Bless the UMC, Published April 22, 2008
Thanks to MCC Staffer and seminarian Melanie Martinez for her insights and wisdom expressed in this op ed...

As a Christian and Lesbian, privileged to study in an exemplary academic institution of the Methodist Church, Perkins School of Theology, I am one of few students affiliated with Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and, thus, find myself at a unique intersection this week as the United Methodist Church (UMC) convenes its General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas (USA), 23 April to 2 May 2008.

The United Methodist Church is deeply involved in the discussion of full inclusion regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and this dialogue is creating anxiety and concern for the harmony of its congregations. I join those in Metropolitan Community Church who stood at the forefront of these discussions since 1968, and who are praying for the members of UMC and for the movement of the Spirit in the midst of their opportunity to speak as Jesus would on these questions.

Metropolitan Community Church is a 40-year-old, Christian denomination dedicated to social justice that first found its calling in the Church Universal as the central voice for full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children of God. We have ordained LGBT people since our inception. The lens through which we can view the upcoming decisions of the UMC is uniquely positioned and I want to share some that perspective with readers.

One particular decision recently made in the church’s judicial council system has many concerned, specifically for the implications it makes. Decision 1032 shocked many in the UMC when, in October 2005, the judicial council overturned both of the recommendations of a Bishop, stating “…the 2004 [Book of] Discipline invests discretion in the pastor-in-charge to make the determination of a person’s readiness to affirm the vows of membership…[and that the Book of Discipline does] not mandate...Read more.

From Nancy Wilson, April 3, 2008:  Historic Gathering in New Orleans in September

A Message from Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches

Dear MCC Friend:
MCC is on the ground floor of a new U.S. movement that is now called the North American Convocation -- a wonderful coalition of more than 25 LGBT welcoming congregations and organizations, including MCC, The Welcoming Church movement, the Fellowship, Unity Fellowship, Dignity and many others.

The North American Convocation will hold our first conference in New Orleans during September 4-7, 2008.  This will be a first-of-its-kind North American Convocation of pro-LGBT Christians that will cross racial, theological and cultural lines. The conference's purpose will be:

1) To train a next generation of spiritual activists to take on the challenges of building the Beloved Community;

2) To make our voice heard, together, two months before one of the most important U.S. national elections in history;

3) To come together with an action plan, in a city that has suffered so much from racism and neglect, a city that is a sacred place for MCC and the LGBT community.

Everyone is welcome and invited to participate in this convocation. I will be there, along with many other MCC leaders from all over the U.S. If you care about the social justice agenda, and love working in an ecumenical and multi-cultural context, this will be an event you will not want to miss!

I hope you'll plan to join me in New Orleans during September 4-7, 2008 for the historic North American Convocation. To learn more, visit http://www.manystoriesonevoice.org/.

Grace and peace,
Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
www.MCCchurch.org

P.S.  MCC staff member Angel Collie and I are recruiting 20 MCC youth and young adults (17 to 28 years) to attend this conference at a reduced registration and with some limited scholarships. If you are interested in this unique, powerful opportunity to learn, worship, and strategize with others from 25 LGBT-positive Christian organizations, contact me at RevNancyWilson@MCCchurch.net.

From April 3, 2008 “MCCs Around the Fellowship Newsletter”

MCC East London (England) meets in an Anglican church. Even though they are not allowed by the Bishop to meet in the Sanctuary, they have a good relationship with the Pentecostal group that does. The two congregations join with seven other denominations in the area for United Services on special occasions.

Rev. Margaret Walker preached a three-day Spiritual Renewal at God's Rainbow Promise Church in Midland, Texas, which included a workshop on The Change Cycle.

Rev. Dee Dale was named the Ecumenical Director for Church Women United in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 15 denominations participate in the organization.

MCC of Our Redeemer (Augusta, Georgia) organized a Faure Requiem concert with the combined 70 voice choir of their church, Grace United Methodist, Saint John's United Methodist, and Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Over 375 people attended and $1,628 (USD) was raised for the Mother of Peace Orphanage in Zimbabwe.

Water of Life MCC (Tucson, Arizona) provides worship space for Temple Ner Tamid and for the Druids of Tucson.

Promise MCC (Oak Cliff, Texas) opened the doors of the Promise Worship and Community Center to Living Faith Covenant Church, which is part of Bishop Yvette Flunder's Fellowship.  Both churches will hold their worship services and cooperative efforts in ministry there. Rev. Elder Lillie Brock participated in the inaugural event, which was covered in the Dallas Voice.

MCC Baltimore (Maryland) hosted a three-day revival featuring preachers, dancers, and musicians from Power of Christ Full Gospel Ministry and Power House Church of Praise, as well as from their own congregation. The weekend concluded with the preaching of Rev. Jeffery Jordan of MCC Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).

From November 19, 2007 “MCCs Around the Fellowship Newsletter”

On October 14 the congregation of Brightwaves MCC (Brighton, England) witnessed an unusual baptism.  Rev. Debbie Gaston and the Vicar from a local Anglican church jointly baptized Spike, the 12-year old son of an MCC member. The straight minister is on a unique journey of his own and wanted to learn more about sexuality and relationships with God, as well as how to baptize by full immersion, since he had never done such a baptism.

Emmanuel MCC (Spokane, Washington) initiated a Spokane Churches United for Pride this year with an interfaith worship service. The service concluded with a commitment ceremony with over 30 couples, both gay and straight, participating.

Folks from MCC Good Shepherd (Granville, Australia), MCC Sydney, and Leighhardt Baptist Church gather monthly for lunch as the Young Again Christians (YACs).

Valley Ministries MCC (Stockton, California) joined IMPACT, a group of faith communities, as they marched together in the Sacramento Gay Pride Parade. Rev. Teri Miller led the opening prayer at the major event.

MCC Newcastle (England) joined with their host church, St. James URC, for a special Harvest Service.

MCC Hartford (Connecticut) was joined by folks from Church of the Good Shepherd for their Homecoming, Building Dedication, and a picnic.

The Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Team received 200 responses to their survey. Chair Stan Kimer is assembling the data and will soon provide a report. A new webpage is being developed for this ministry.

Members of the Outreach Team at MCC of Our Redeemer (Augusta, Georgia) volunteer at the Food Bank, a partnership of the Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries, which the church supports with food and other household donations.

On October 6, Rev. Neil Thomas, pastor of MCC Los Angeles (California), was the keynote speaker at the 39th anniversary banquet for Dignity LA, a group that works for change within the Roman Catholic Church.

MCC Baton Rouge (Louisiana) has become a member of the Baton Rouge Association of Churches and Synagogues.

Cheri 'KC' Redmon preached at the Women's Day celebration at the Shiloh Church of God in Christ in Springfield, where Tony Daniels' father is the pastor. The MCC Hartford (Connecticut) choir sang during the service and the MCC pastors were received as visiting clergy. This was a significant breakthrough in this ultraconservative denomination.

At the first worship service in their new facility, the congregation of MCC Montana (Great Falls, Montana) was joined by friends from Unity; the Society of Friends (Quaker); the pastor and members of the Community of Christ Church, a former Reformed Latter Day Saints church (Mormon); and the Catholic church, as well as friends from PFLAG. They even had someone picketing out front with a "Sodomy is a SIN" sign -- but he left when the group serenaded him with "I'll Fly Away!"

Representing the Santa Clara County Council of Churches, Rev. Mike Ellard gave the opening prayer at the raising of the Rainbow flag by the City Council of San Jose, California.

Rev. Carolyn Mobley was one of the speakers at the Tulsa Pride and Diversity Interfaith Service, hosted by Bishop Carlton Pearson and the New Dimensions Worship Center. A dozen members of MCC United participated in this event with congregants from 21 other open and affirming congregations in the Tulsa area.

Rev. Wendy Woodruff and leaders of 15 other faith communities led a religious service to open the three-day Pride weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some of them later assisted her in officiating at the Mass Wedding.

Rev. Emma Chattin is one of three ministers who will preach once each quarter at the lay-led Harrisonburg (Pennsylvania) Unitarian Universalist Church, which continues the sharing between these two wonderfully diverse communities.

African-American Cross-Denominational Group and
World's Largest Predominantly Gay Christian Denomination
Announce Joint Efforts to Promote "Radical Inclusivity"

The Fellowship, Metropolitan Community Churches Unveil Goals;
Plan Calls for 10 Major U.S. City Gatherings in 2008

On September 11, 2007, with the backdrop of 9-11 as catalyst, the leadership of The Fellowship Churches (www.radicallyinclusive.com), a national U.S. trans-denominational fellowship of primarily African-American Christian leaders working for radical inclusivity, and Metropolitan Community Churches (www.MCCchurch.org ), the world's largest and oldest Christian denomination with a primary, affirming ministry to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals, gathered at DaySpring Conference Center in Florida to declare solidarity and commit to work in unity on three objectives.

FIRST JOINT OBJECTIVE:
Resistance to and healing of religious and spiritual violence perpetrated against people who have traditionally lived at the margins of society, including people suffering from substance abuse; people living with HIV/AIDS and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and inter-sex people;

SECOND JOINT OBJECTIVE:
Radical and full inclusion of all people living at the margins of  communities of faith and spiritual practice;

THIRD JOINT OBJECTIVE:
Commitment to the deep and challenging work toward reconciling the historical divisions in faith and religious communities created by racism, sexism, classism, serophobia and homophobia.

Presiding Bishop Yvette A. Flunder of The Fellowship and Moderator Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson of Metropolitan Community Churches facilitated discussion among their respective organizational leaders, resulting in the following public declaration:

 

JOINT DECLARATION BY
Bishop Yvette Flunder, Presiding Bishop,The Fellowship and
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches

The Fellowship and Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) lift up to the world our commitment and intention to challenge major fundamental, deep-seated religious beliefs, doctrines and theologies of the oppressive dominant culture.

This culture treats people on society's margins as enemies of God and routinely mistreats, oppresses and excludes people from the community of faith and its institutions. We further confirm that these acts defeat the Christian commonwealth and we claim a season of refreshment, repentance and reconciliation.

Our organizations recognize the powerful opportunity to leverage our mutual ministries and movements toward full inclusion of all people and to provide networking and deepening of our common commitments.

Both organizations have agreed to facilitate 10 major city gatherings of open and affirming congregations in 2008 to listen and learn, share approaches and challenges in overcoming spiritual violence, discrimination, and racism and to unite people in prayer for true peace in the community and in the world.

As leaders, we have agreed to model solidarity among churches and people who live in the context of, and respond to, particularly painful experiences of violence.

As leaders, we have agreed to share insights and effective approaches for overcoming violence.

As leaders, we have agreed to deepen ecumenical contacts among the churches, national councils of churches, and related organizations and networks.

As leaders, we have agreed to work with intention to connect congregations, student and youth groups, theological and other church-related institutions in the search for a global declaration of the radically inclusive love of God for all people.

As leaders, we have agreed to promote interdependence while maintaining independence. Neither organization seeks to be an instrument of ecclesiastical restraint in the sense of diminishing the member church or ministry’s individual calling.

As leaders, we have agreed to establish and maintain strong relationships vital to our ministries and movement.  As we make every effort to strengthen one another we recognize the importance of knowing one another, respecting one another and esteeming each member highly. As people of God working to uphold and advance the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ, we will face the onslaught of opposition and we will do so together. We will encourage and strengthen our respective member churches and ministries through the sharing of our experiences. Our aim is to give insight as well as inspiration.

We believe associating and assembling together are vital in building relationship. The Bible tells us that the assembling of the saints should not be forsaken. Therefore, we make every effort to come together as we have the opportunity for healing, corporate prayer, worship, fellowship and edifying one another in the Lord.

/signed/

Bishop Yvette A. Flunder             The Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson
Presiding Bishop                         Moderator
The Fellowship                           Metropolitan Community Churches

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