Sermon Contest 2004

The results of the sermon contest are in!

The results of the sermon contest are in, and we are pleased to announce the winners during 2004's "International Coming Out Week."

This summer, we conducted a sermon contest, looking for sermons addressing the theme of sexuality and spirituality. We received 32 entries from all over MCC, in 3 languages, and from 5 countries.

A team of staff members read the sermons anonymously, and with all identifying information removed, and rated them based on their overall impression, content, and style.

We wanted sermons that could genuinely be preached in churches and that spoke to the people of our communities. We were not looking for any particular theological understanding; rather, we gave points to sermons that articulated well what the preacher believed about the intersections of sex and spirit.

We received some amazing sermons, filled with original thinking and faithful understandings of our traditions. These sermons show MCC engaged with our communities and our times, pushing the cutting edge of spirituality while remaining in honest connection with our Christian heritage.

All ten winning sermons are presented here on our site. Click on blue links below to read each Sermon.

Again, our thanks to all clergy and lay persons who submitted sermons for the 2004 MCC Sermon Contest!

The Reverend Dr. Justin Tanis
MCC Direcor of Leadership Development

Rev. Penny Nixon, MCC San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA,
“How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place.”

Rev. Nathan Meckley, New Spirit Community Church, Berkeley, California, USA
(sermon preached at St. Jude’s MCC, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA)
“Bodies of Knowledge”

TIE for 3rd Place:

Marco Rubio, Case de Luz ICM, Monterrey, Mexico
"Jesus, the Closet Messiah" “Jesus el Mesias del Closet” (en espaňol)

Rev. Glenna Shepherd, MCC Portland, Oregon, USA,
“Divided No More”

Honorable mention also goes to:

Rev. Nori Rost, Pike’s Peak MCC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA,
Untitled, on Ezekiel 37

Rev. Axel Schwaigert, Salz der Erde MCC, Stuttgart, Germany,
“Tanz, David, Tanz” in original German Tanz, David, Tanz" Summary in English

Rev. Penny Nixon, MCC San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
“On Gay Marriage”

Rev. Karla Fleshman, Imago Dei MCC, Media, Pennsylvania, USA,
“The Moabite and the Israelite”

Kelly McFarland, MCC Porland, Portland, Oregon, USA,
“Created in God’s Image”

Jake Tatton, Holy Trinity MCC, Edinburgh, Scotland,
“Reflection”