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LeaderLink
The Internet Newsletter of Metropolitan Community Churches
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January 16, 2003Free MCC Action Kit For
Same-Sex Marriage Available
See Story #1 Below for DetailsINDEX:
1. MCC Founder Perry To Lead Same-Sex Marriage Action
2. Coretta Scott King, Patti Labelle Featured At MCC San Francisco
3. MCC Leader Speaks At Yale, Duke Universities
4. Rev. Jim Mitulski Joins MCC Headquarters Staff
5. Check Out These Interactive Groups On The MCC Website
6. MCC Letter Of The Week
7. News Around The Fellowship
8. Unsubscribe Information/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
1. MCC Founder Perry To Leader Same-Sex Marriage Action
When the Los Angeles courthouse opens at 9 AM on Friday morning, February 14 -- Valentine's Day -- veteran civil rights activist Rev. Troy D. Perry and his partner of 18 years, Philip Ray DeBlieck, will be standing in line.
They plan to apply for a license to marry.
"And I'm encouraging thousands of gay and lesbian couples to do the same," said Perry, whose churches perform more than 6,000 same sex weddings each year. "It's time to move the debate on gay marriage forward. It's time for equality. It's time for the US to catch up with Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, France and other countries that are providing marriage rights for gay couples."
Rev. Troy Perry, a US citizen and founder of the predominantly-gay Metropolitan Community Churches with more than 46,000 members and adherents in 22 countries, is encouraging GLBT couples to go to courthouses and municipal offices on February 14, Valentine's Day, and apply for marriage licenses.
"For me it's not a religious issue, it's a legal issue. It's a matter of equality and simple justice. If my country is to live out its promise of equality, all laws must be applied equally, and that includes our marriage laws."
"Imagine the power that will be unleashed if thousands or tens of thousands of gay and lesbian couples apply for marriage licenses on the same day," said Perry.
Perry, never shy when it comes to GLBT rights, plans to invite the media to cover the event. "I want to be sure our state legislators hear our voices, too."
Why now? "I've seen so many important advances for gay and lesbian people in my 34 years of activism. But before my life is over, I want to share in the same right afforded to most Americans; a basic right that is still denied to gays and lesbians. Before my life is over, I want to legally marry my wonderful partner Phillip."
Perry believes the action can increase attention to the gay civil rights movement and he is not hesitant to help lead the way.
In recent years, GLBT groups have used Valentine's Day to call attention to the lack of equality in marriage laws. By encouraging thousands of gay and lesbian couples to actually apply for marriage licenses, Perry hopes to increase the focus on marriage rights.
Metropolitan Community Churches have prepared a free resource kit that describes steps GLBT couples can take to advance the marriage issue and to call media attention to Valentine's Day events in cities and towns across the United States. The free kit is available in email format by writing to info@mccchurch.org
2. Coretta Scott King, Patti Labelle Feature At MCC San Francisco
Coretta Scott King (wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) was the recent recipient of MCC San Francisco's annual Circles of Hope Award. The presentation took place at the Fairmont Hotel where more than 700 people honored Mrs. King for her tireless work for social justice issues.
The evening included a performance of the "Lord's Prayer" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Patti Labelle and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown attended the event and brought greetings on behalf of the City of San Francisco.
The Circles of Hope event is an annual fundraiser for MCCSF's program ministries that provide over 20,000 meals to the homeless, along with other programs that address HIV needs and tutoring for a local elementary school.
Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon, senior pastor of MCCSF, on the success of this event.
3. MCC Founder Speaks At Yale, Duke Universities
The Rev. Troy Perry, human rights activist and Founder of the predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches, recently spoke at Yale Divinity School of Yale University.
Rev. Perry preached at the Chapel Service of Yale Divinity School and participated in a question and answer session with Yale students during an informal luncheon. During the afternoon session he made a formal presentation to Yale students addressing "The Role of the Church in the Gay Civil Rights Movement."
Later Perry addressed students and faculty at Duke Divinity School.
Duke Divinity School is part of Duke University (which is consistently rated one of the Top 10 universities in the US) and is one of 13 theological schools of the United Methodist Church.
Perry note, "Not only do we have an MCC clergy-in-training at Duke Divinity School, but I was also excited to carry MCC's message of an open and inclusive Gospel to young men and women who will be pastoring Methodist churches for the next several decades. Part of MCC's ministry has been to break down walls of separation among the various Christian denominations."
During a morning session, Perry spoke to large group of students and faculty on "Pastoral Care for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Christians." During the afternoon he lectured on "The Gay Civil Rights Movement."
Perry, who founded Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968 with a positive, affirming ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons and their enlightened friends and allies, is a past delegate to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes during the Clinton Administration and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of Chicago Theological Seminary.
Today Metropolitan Community Churches is made up of almost 300 local congregations in 22 countries, and has 46,000 members and adherents. The MCC movement has an annual operating budget of $20 million (US), more than 90% of which is reinvested in the communities in which local churches operate. Information on MCC is available at www.MCCchurch.org.
4. Rev. Jim Mitulski Joins MCC Headquarters Staff
Rev. Jim Mitulski has joined the headquarters staff of Metropolitan Community Churches as the new Associate Director of Leadership Development for Metropolitan Community Churches.
Rev. Mitulski will work with international clergy candidates, network with seminaries and educational institutions, and develop local church resources for MCC's global churches.
For more than 20 years, Rev. Mitulski pastored predominantly GLBT churches in New York's Greenwich Village and San Francisco's Castro District. He has previously served as program director of the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center of the San Francisco Public Library, and is the former executive director of the Rainbow Adult Community. He was also co-chair and the longest serving member of San Francisco's Ryan White Planning Council, an organization that distributed $36 million (US) annually to persons with HIV and AIDS.
Rev. Jim Mitulski is an alumni of Columbia University and Pacific School of Religion, and holds a doctorate from Starr King School for the Ministry. He may be reached by e-mail at RevJimMitulski@MCCchurch.org
5. Check Out These Interactive Groups On The MCC Website
Discover lots of interactive opportunities on the MCC website at www.MCCChurch.org. On the opening page, click on "By Special Interest" to find a list of email groups and pages that are geared to special interests and needs. You can click on any hyperlink in the list to find out how to be added or to go directly to that site.
-- Prayer Opportunities: Prayer Lists, OnLine Prayer Groups, etc. A vitally important part of MCC online ministries is the opportunity to pray with and for your own needs and the needs of others.
-- LayLink: An e-mail discussion list offered by MCC's Commission on the Laity.
-- MCC Clergy ListServ: An e-mail discussion list for MCC clergy
-- MCC Clergy Spouse ListServ: An e-mail discussion list for spouses and partners of MCC clergy.
-- MCC Kids Pages: These pages, designed with MCC kids in mind, are maintained by Beverly Mitzel of MCC Charlotte, North Carolina (US).
-- MCC Disability Forum: A group for fellowship, support, and networking on issues of special interest to persons with disabilities.
-- MCC WebRing: Visit local MCC congregations on a "virtual world tour" of more than 100 Metropolitan Community Churches.
-- MCC Restructuring & Transition Site: Visit and participate. (includes online Discussion Forum)
-- UFMCCHIV@yahoogroups.com: Specifically for people who wish to share information about HIV and AIDS.
-- UFMCCMusic@yahoogroups.com: Devoted to the posting and sharing of information by musicians involved with MCC Churches.
6. MCC Women's Professional Ministry Conference A Success!
“Powerful.” “Enlightening.” “Invigorating.” These were just some of the words that describe the 2003 MCC Women in Professional Ministry Conference in Sarasota, Florida, last week.
Eighty-five women -- twice as many as anticipated -- attended the two-day conference which was hosted by the Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson and Church of the Trinity MCC. Besides restorative Florida sunshine, the conference included workshops conducted by Wendy Foxworth, and worship organized by the Revs. Pat Bumgardner and Kristen Cecchettini of MCC New York. Seven elders -- including four of MCC’s new Regional Elders -- were among those who attended.
A highlight of the conference was the chance for continued study with Wendy Foxworth on creating church cultures based on love, appreciation, trust, and relationship. Teams explored ways to best foster a culture of love, appreciation, and trust in ministry.
"This was a powerful experience," said Regional Elder the Rev. Arlene Ackerman. "I think we're all learning how to better be in ministry." And for others, the simple act of gathering for study, prayer, and social time was energizing. "I liked the connecting," said Sandy Stewart of King of Peace MCC (St. Petersburg, FL).
Friday's events began with a worship service on the theme “Love Can Build a Bridge,” with preacher the Rev. Carol Trissell of Joy MCC (Orlando, FL), and vocalist the Rev. Delores Berry. The workshop were punctuated with prayer at their beginning or end, culminating in a closing Service of Communion. The Scriptures were proclaimed in sign language and in four spoken languages -- challenging participants to remember all of MCC’s global voices.
Thanks to the Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, the Rev. Dana Cagle, Rory Webb of Lagniappe Experience, along with the members Church of the Trinity MCC, for making this conference unforgettable! Plans are already being made for next year's conference.
[Report prepared by Rev. Joan Saniuk, pastor of MCC Boston.]
7. MCC Letter of the Week
The following e-mail was recently received at MCC Headquarters from an MCC member in South Africa:
"MCC was the best thing that could ever have happened to me. At the time of my life when I said to myself, "It is over. You have nothing and no one who cares for you and no one who loves you" -- at that point God sent friends my way who belong to a community called Good Hope MCC. I will always be grateful and will stay committed to the calling of our church. I love being apart of this church. There are many people out there like myself who need this church. Thank you for being there when I needed you."
8. News Around The Fellowship
-- MCC Headquarters offices will be closed for three days -- January 27-29 -- for staff to participate in training sessions with the MCC Board of Elders and MCC Board of Administration.
-- Romanian MCC leader Florin Buhuceanu is organizing a Romanian conference on homophobia and religion. The conference will take place in March 2003 and will be held in conjunction with the Romanian civl rights group ACCEPT. The conference will take place in the city of Timisoara, where the Romanian Revolution began in December 1989. For more information, visit www.accept-romania.ro.
-- MCC churches in the UK are celebrating a recent government announcement that improves the legal recognition of transgender people and which opens legal message opportunities for trans persons.
-- Try out the new on-line MCC Chat Room and chat with MCC members, friends and visitors by logging onto to www.MCCchurch.org.
-- MCC Elder Hong Tan of London, England writes, "I want to ask your prayers for my dad whom recently lost his partner, Susan."
-- Exodus MCC (Abilene, TX) was pleased that the local newspaper, the Abilene Reporter News, carried a major story of their local PFLAG chapter. This is the third time the newspaper has featured local GLBT community members and supporters in a positive manner. Abilene is the home of three very conservative Protestant colleges, Abilene Christian University, McMurry College, Hardin-Simmons University.
-- Does your church participate in the annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service? If you would like to be listed on this year's poster, you must register your community at http://www.globalhealth.org/forms/candlelight/index.php Even if you were registered last year, you must register again for 2003 no later than January 31
Registration is easy! To register, you must:
1) Visit www.candlelightmemorial.org
2) Fill out the on-line registration form
3) After 3-5 days, confirm that your name was added to the on-line Coordinator's list at www.candlelightmemorial.org
-- Markens Liljer MCC (Copenhagen, Denmark) is involved in ongoing discussions about spirituality in the European Union. Leaders of the EU met in Copenhagen for a Summit recently and a gathering of "grass roots" and non-governmental organizations were invited to hold their own summit. The theme of the alternative summit was increasing spirituality themes into the work of the European Union.
-- MCC Illiana (Northwest Indiana) is one of MCC's newest churches and recently had 53 people at their first publicized worship service. Rev. Angie Thinnes is the pastor.
-- Great news! Rev. Elder Armando Sanchez has been granted his visa application -- and is currently in the US for meetings at MCC Headquarters.
-- MCC of the Blue Ridge (Roanoke, VA), where Rev. Catherine Houchins is senior pastor, recently celebrated their 16th anniversary. Rev. Elder Troy Perry spoke at a dinner program and preached the Sunday service.
-- Salz der Erde MCC (Stuttgart, Germany) has been invited to make a presentation to the local Working Group of Christian Churches (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christliche Kirche). Members of Salz der Erde MCC will talk about the work of the church and future ministry plans at the May meeting of the ACK.
-- Rev. Jorge Sosa, pastor of ICM Reconciliacion (Mexico City, Mexico) was featured in a recent interview on TeleVisa Five, a Spanish-language network of TV and radio stations.
-- This year's MCC Intensive program, open to MCC clergy candidates, will be held from July 7-15, in Dallas, Texas, USA, immediately following the MCC World Jubilee and General Conference. We have a great faculty who are looking forward to spending this time with our future leaders. The Intensive in the Practice of MCC Ministry is held every year and is an important part of the experience of clergy candidates. It is an experience of community, collegiality, and learning where the social and theological issues of race, sexuality and gender are contextualized within MCC ministry and where students dream together about their own future and the future and purpose of the church. For registration information, contact Carlos Chavez at 310.360.8640 x210 and at carloschavez@mccchurch.org Include a résumé with your application.
-- Welcome to Victoria Rico who has joined the Fellowship staff as administrative assistant for Rev. Elder Debbie Martin in Region 1 and to Mary Homsher, who is the administrative assistant to Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman in Region 3.
-- Congratulations to Rev. Glenna Shepherd, who has been called as senior pastor of MCC Portland (Portland, OR).
-- Rev. Dwayne Johnson, senior pastor of Resurrection MCC (Houston, TX) will be a featured speaker at Houston's Freedom to Marry Celebration, jointly sponsored by Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force and the Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston.
-- Welcome to another new MCC staff member, Lucie Forget, who is serving as the office manager of Region 5 and administrative assistant to Rev. Elder Diane Fisher. As part of MCC's commitment to global diversity, you'll be pleased to know that Lucie can communicate with you in French, Spanish and English. Welcome Lucie!
-- Congratulations to Rev. Jan Skaggs, who is the new pastor of New Heart MCC (Tacoma, WA).
-- Did you know that local licensed Soulforce groups are being established around the world? To learn more about these programs and how you can participate, visit www.soulforce.org/main/localgroups.shtml.
-- Windsor MCC (Windsor, Canada) will hold their 15th Anniversary Gala on January 18. Rev. Elder Troy Perry will be the featured speaker.
-- Rev. Sharna Sutherin received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. Her dissertation title was: "Internalized Homophobia in Lesbians as Cultural Disconnection and Metropolitan Community Churches as Communities of Connection."
-- MCC San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) has installed Rev. Alice Urbanowicz as Associate Pastor. Rev. Alice is the former pastor of New Hope MCC in Northern California
-- God's Promise MCC (Granville, OH) has a new ministry at the county jail. They are providing the worship services for the inmates each Sunday via closed circuit TV.
-- Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Carl Matthews-Naylor, pastor of Emmaus MCC (Fayetteville, NC), who has been accepted into the Clinical Pastoral Education Program of Duke University's Department of Pastoral Studies. This program is limited to only six clergy persons,
-- East Coast MCC, one church which meets in two locations (Melbourne and Vero Beach, FL) has opened their new website at http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-eastcoastmcc
-- Rev. Bill Gordon, pastor of Northern Lights MCC (ME) and his husband, Rev. Dr. Rich Rossiter, clergy in residence at the church, helped organize a counter protest to a White Supremacist movement in their area. They developed a counter rally in which more than 3000 people participated and more than $20,000 (US) was raised to counter the hate-mongering of White Supremacist groups.
-- Jesus MCC (Indianapolis, IN) has instituted yet another group ... Rev'd Up ... composed of nine members who are exploring their possible calls to become clergy in MCC. With 32 different Ministry Teams, Fellowship Gatherings, Support Groups, Bible Studies, etc., over 75% of their congregants are involved in at least one group, most meeting weekly or biweekly. Jesus MCC now has 198 members and averages over 400 in worship on Sundays.
-- Former MCC headquarters staff member J. D. Sebastian is currently devoting his energy and ministry into to resurrecting Joyful Pride Music Group while also working with the Technology Department of MCC Los Angeles.
-- To keep up with their growth, Divine Peace MCC (Clarkston, MI) -- where Rev. Deb Dysert is pastor -- has added two new paid staff positions: a Director of Pastoral Care and a Director of Worship.
-- Rev. John Mark Hild, Minister of Congregational Care at Pikes Peak MCC (Colorado Springs, CO) recently took part in a radio debate with Glen Statton, Director of Social Resources and Cultural Affairs at Focus on the Family.
-- A warm welcome to Richard Jones, who is the new Minister of Celebration at MCC Los Angeles, where Rev. Neil Thomas is the senior pastor.
-- Rev. Lin Stoner, pastor of Reconciliation MCC (Grand Rapids, MI), reports that the church has started new sign language classes and plans to offer Spanish classes, as well.
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