Doing church in
the big city!

"of whom much is given;
much is expected" (Luke 12:48)

More things seem possible
in the larger city...but
it's a lot harder to get noticed!

Large-scale events and demonstrations,
(if they are well-planned and executed), seem to be easier to pull-off in larger urban settings.

The confrontational, in-your face type of approach often does work well for MCCs in  larger urban centers.They are often in the midst of large GLBT populations served by 'affirming' churches" and surrounded by strong, well-organized GLBT organizations.

Gay Pride Parade






Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon

 

 
Grand Marshall 2005




Gay Pride marching unit

 Real estate prices are in the stratosphere.  The MCC church, located in the city’s historic gay Castro District, has performed miracles relative to the size of its physical facilities. MCCSF is well known and regarded for its inclusivity, its diversity, and its vibrant celebratory worship! 

The church has long been known as a major center for GLBT activities, and a major player in the fields of GLBT rights, Women’s Rights, GLBT health and lifestyle issues, and much, much more. The justice-driven ministry and leadership provided by former pastor Rev. Jim Mitulski  during the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis served as a model for many of our local MCC churches, as well as for clergy and churches of other denominations.

MCCSF has sponsored and co-sponsored numerous successful community events.  The church has always had an entry in San Francisco’s huge Gay Pride Parade.  The choice of Rev. Penny Nixon as Grand Marshall for the Pride Parade in 2005 is indicative of her standing in this unique community.

In 2005, the church was exposed to many new visitors through a series of guest preachers and speakers including eight lay preachers, each bringing a constituency different from the others.    

A highlight in a long series of major successful projects was The Circles of Hope Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, attended by 750 people, at which $67,000.00 was raised for Metropolitan Community Foundation, the church's separate 501c3 organization for social services. At the Dinner, the late Coretta Scott King was honored with the Circles of Hope award. On their recent 35^th Anniversary, rather than a banquet or dance or other type of activity, MCCSF decided to “do what they do best”, They poured all their energies into a 35^th Anniversary Gala Worship Service.  Rev. Nixon officiated at the service which included an excellent sermon, glorious music and participation by the MCC Moderator, City Officials, and former MCCSF Pastors. By all reports, it was just an extraordinary event!

In 2004, the City of San Francisco began issuing Marriage Licenses for same-sex couples, and perfoming wedding ceremonies for them at City Hall. MCCSF ran a full-page ad in the newspaper thanking city officials, congratulating all the couples, inviting them to MCCSF, and offering to include them in a Ceremony of Blessing. It was a masterstroke of public relations...brilliant, and media-savvy to the max!  Click here to see the full-page ad

MCCSF is a justice-based ministry. The church has prepared a historical/social justice video which will soon be made available on DVD. Watch the MCCSF website for details on its release. 

Justice in Action in the "Big Apple" New York City, New York (USA)

New York City, famous for Central Park, Statue of Liberty, United Nations, and 9/11, might also some day be justly famous for MCC New York, pastored by Rev. Pat Bumgardner.  A quick glance at the Justice in Action section on the MCCNY webpage will give you some insight into the extraordinary commitment of this group to justice-based ministries. 

MCC New York not only feeds its community spiritually, but they feed them physically as well.  For nearly 20 years this congregation has sponsored a food ministry in their community.   This now vital outreach started very small.  It began at an all-church retreat with prayer around two questions:  Is the church called? and am I called?  The food ministry started with $400.00.  They sent 40 letters to local churches.  Three women came for food on the first day (two of those women are still there)!  Today, MCC New York feeds 5000 men, women, and children per month.  They operated the Ryan White HIV Food Pantry; provide a bag lunch everyday; sponsor a monthly neighborhood dinner; a “trannie girls” dinner; and operated with a full-time staff and many volunteers.

MCC New York is one of a network of churches which sponsors the “Shelter for Homeless Queer Youth”, with an on-site medical clinic and St. Vincent’s Hospital.  MCCNY does intake for the shelter and rallies for funding for the existing shelter.  The church also sponsors Sylvia’s Place and has taken the program into the Church which houses 5-10 people in the sanctuary.  They have acquired some grant funding for these projects.   They also sponsor GENDER People.  The group offers safe space, discussion of issues of self-identity, needle exchange and cancer screening.  The group facilitator is a transsexual and the group stages an annual fashion show to benefit the food pantry. 

Like San Francisco, real estate in New York is skyrocketing.  Rev. Bumgardner and this congregation are also working miracles from limited physical facilities,but this has never stopped them from dreaming big and doing good.
This is a justice-based ministry.    

What can large MCCs do?

There are so many things that a large, well-staffed MCC can do! Only your imagination and the scope of your commitment to justice-based ministry will limit you in this area.

-- Many MCCs in large cities own property.  This is an ideal tool for implementing social justice ministry. The large church is a natural for hosting community Town Hall meetings, concerts, rallies, plays, meetings, movies, dinners and dances...you name it, the large church could host it. Some of these events might be intended just for the congregation, while others woukd reach out to targeted audiences, or to the community-at-large.

-- Classes, lectures and Seminars on topics of interest to GLBT community can be a popular and important  outreach. Training in leadership skills might be offered to members of the church and other organizations also.

 -- The large MCC is in a perfect position to start Community Conversations on pressing issues or urgent needs within the community. For instance, consider starting a conversation about the use of crystal meth and the damage it is causing to people in our community. They need us on this one! MCC is responding to the growing crystal meth crisis by launching Deconstructing Meth/Deconstructing Me -- an interactive workshop that can be scheduled for presentation by local churches and community organizations. Sponsoring or co-sponsoring this with other community organizations could be a real blessing fron your church. click here for more info & details