MCC DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ADVISORY COUNCILS – Metropolitan Community Churches

The MCC Office of Emerging Ministries is charged with (1) concerns related to diversity and inclusion within MCC and (2) increasing MCC’s cross-cultural competencies so that our churches and global movement can be better equipped to minister in a culturally-diverse world. International Advisory Councils have been formed to give voice and visibility to the particular concerns, perspectives, and needs that are shared by certain non-dominant groups within MCC.

Purpose and Function

Advisory Councils do not have legal or fiduciary obligations, yet their advisory role is an integral and highly-valued function and will add great value to our movement as a whole. The Advisory Councils will function as “internal think-tanks.” They are not activist, support, or advocacy groups. The primary focus of their attention is on “getting our own MCC house in order.”

The Councils will:

Serve as consultants to the Senior Leadership Team, MCC staff, and the Governing Board on the potential impact of MCC programs, polices, and practices on non-dominant groups within MCC;
Recommend resources and programming that will build the capacity of our churches to become not only more diverse but also more inclusive faith communities; and
Propose strategies that might lead to greater diversity and inclusivity in our churches and among MCC leadership.

Composition of the Advisory Councils

Members of each Advisory Council have been appointed by Rev. Elder Darlene Garner (Director of the Office of Emerging Ministries) to serve for a two-year period. To learn more about each of the Advisors, please click on the name of each Advisory Council below.

Advisory Councils

Young Adults (under 35 years of age) Kedric Brown Mike Farris Aaron Smith Vita Cardonna Rev. Brian Hutchison, (Program Officer)https://www.facebook.com/groups/104281196341409/	read bios	Older Adults (over 50 years of age) Dr. Imani Woody-Macko, (Program Officer) Annette Beall Robert Collins Alan Dismore Rev. Elder Freda Smith Rev. Dr. Danny Spears https://www.facebook.com/groups/424311240994443/	read bios

People of African Descent Rev. Candy Holmes, (Program Officer) Rev. Brendan Boone Lessie Henderson Denise Junious Rev. Roland Stringfellow Roland Smith Patrice Ford https://www.facebook.com/groups/287161817875/	read bios	Accessibility Rev. Mel Martinez, (Program Officer) Rev. Houston Burnside Brett Doig Rev. Darren McDonald https://www.facebook.com/groups/536086343122866/	read bios

Trans*/Gender Non-conforming People Angel Collie, (Program Officer) Rev. Norma Gann Rev. Miller Hoffman Jake Kopmeier Zach McCallum Rev. Aaron Miller Stacy Sandberg Steve Sills Rev. Mykal Slack https://www.facebook.com/MCC4All	read bios	Women Rev. Jackie Carter, (Program Officer) Rev. Marian Cavagnaro Lisa Kelson Carmen Llanos Rev. Dr. Joan Saniuk https://www.facebook.com/groups/635285473150734/	read bios

Heterosexual Inclusion Rev. Mary Cantrell, (Program Officer) Andrew Smithers https://www.facebook.com/TheBridgeMCC	read bios	HIV/AIDS Preben Bakbo Sloth Georgia Lacy Rev. Jeffery Jordan Pickett Carl Krysa Dr. David Williams, (Program Officer)https://www.facebook.com/groups/496433260439615/	read bios

I ask that you hold each of the Advisory Councils and Advisors in your prayers as they hold up who we have been, bear witness to who we are today, and envision who we can be in the future.

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner

Director

Office of Emerging Ministries