From The Office Of The Moderator
Headquarters of Metropolitan Community Churches
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A Pastoral Letter from the Rev. Elder Troy Perry |
On Sunday, October 3, 2004, congregations around the world will celebrate the 36th anniversary of the founding of Metropolitan Community Churches. The very first MCC worship service was held on October 6, 1968, but most of our churches will hold observances on the first Sunday in October.
This year's anniversary holds special meaning for me: it marks the last Fellowship Sunday during which I will serve as MCC moderator. So already I am spending personal time thinking about the amazing events of these past 36 years.
But I am not content solely to reflect on our accomplishments of the past. That's not what God is calling us to do. I am convinced that God is calling us to prepare for a hope-filled future.
These days, the words of the Prophet Jeremiah are echoing in my heart: " I know my purposes for you, says God...to give you a future with hope!"
-- Jeremiah 29:11
This is God's promise to us: A future
with hope!
That's one reason I am so excited about our new
priority of planting new MCC congregations. I am praying that MCCers around the
world will catch the vision to plant new MCC churches where none currently
exists.
You see, no other goal so deeply honors our earliest MCC
tradition!
In October 1968, with God's grace, I dared to plant a church.
A church that started with only 12 members. A church that would grow and evolve
to change our world. A church that would launch an international LGBT
spirituality movement.
And I know in my heart that God today is calling a
new generation of women and men to plant new churches -- vibrant, healthy,
growing churches -- that will touch and change lives for generations to come.
This is our "future with hope!"
And we're off to a great
start with the new denominational priority of planting new churches!
Since our denominational restructuring was approved at 2001's General
Conference in Toronto, look at the number of new MCC churches -- which we are
calling "New Churches of the New Millennium"
that have already been
started:
New Churches of the New Millennium: East Coast MCC Finally, in keeping with our MCC
traditions...
There is one other
way you can personally help. If you share my vision to create a bold future for
MCC by planting new churches,
you can give your personal financial gift
today. Simply go to www.MCCchurch.org. On the left
side of the opening page, click on "Give A Gift." And under "Campaign," select
"Church Planting." 100% of your gift will help us plant new MCC churches -- and
to create a "future with hope!"
For more information about MCC:
West Melbourne,
Florida
Region 7
Imago Dei MCC
Glen Mills,
Pennsylvania
Region 3
Journey MCC
Birmingham,
England
Region 4
MCC Bucharest
Bucharest,
Romania
Region 5
MCC of Greater Dallas
Dallas,
Texas
Region 8
MCC of Northeast Ohio
Lakewood,
Ohio
Region 5
MCC Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg,
Virginia
Region 3
MCC Cape Cod
Orleans,
Massachusetts
Region 5
MCC Illiana
Highland,
Indiana
Region 5
MCC Ocala
Ocala,
Florida
Region 7
MCC of the Two Rivers
Eugene,
Oregon
Region 1
Merciful Grace MCC
Fallston,
Maryland
Region 3
Truth Center MCC
Atlanta,
Georgia
Region 2
I am so
thankful for the visionary women and men who are sacrificing to establish these
vibrant new congregations. I encourage you to remember these churches and their
leaders in your prayers. May God grant to each of them "a future with
hope!"
May I share a personal word with you? In preparation for the
changes in my own future, I've been rereading past MCC documents and historical
statements. I came across these words that were on my heart during a previous
Fellowship Sunday. They are just as true and real to me today as when they were
written.
Here's what I wrote then:
"I'm thinking that in spite of
all we have accomplished, the truth is we have just begun. We've only started.
As far as churches and movements go, we are still very young. MCC has a strong
and vibrant future ahead of us.
So when you are tempted to become
discouraged -- take heart! Because my spiritual faith tells me our best
days are yet ahead of us!
-- The greatest MCC ministries have
yet
to be launched!
-- The greatest sermons have
yet
to be preached!
-- The greatest MCC churches have
yet
to be built!
-- And the greatest wave of MCC growth is
yet
to come!
Saints, we serve the God of the miraculous and
the impossible. My life is a witness to that -- and so is yours. Together we are
doing great, life-changing ministry."
Won't you join me in prayer as we
launch our new commitment to church planting? Pray for the visionary men
and women who will rise to the challenge and create new MCC churches for a new
generation.
On that
day, I encourage you to bless those original 12 worshippers... to pause and
remember all that God has brought us through together... to pray for God's
blessing upon our future and our future leaders... and to thank God for MCC's
continued international growth.
In Christ,
The Rev. Elder Troy D.
Perry
Office of the Moderator
P.S. May I ask one more thing of
your congregation? After this special Fellowship Sunday Love Offering is
collected in your church, I ask that your congregation offer a prayer dedicating
these funds to the future mission of our Fellowship and that they might be used
to plant a new generation of MCC churches and leaders.
P.P.S.
I hope
you will make plans to join me in Calgary, Canada for the MCC General Conference
during July 21-26, 2005. This will be my final General Conference as MCC
Moderator, and I look forward to seeing so many wonderful friends. I hope you'll
be there, too. Details and on-line registration will be available in the next
few weeks.
Jim Birkitt, MCC
Communications Director
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West
Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel. (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226
E-Mail:
info@MCCchurch.org
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