From the Council of Elders:
The primary responsibility of Elders is to give pastoral leadership and care to enable the Fellowship on our spiritual journey, serve in a pastoral role and direct the spiritual life of MCC. (UFMCC Bylaws). Many of our clergy, lay pastors and lay leaders have expressed a sense of isolation and desire a stronger connection with UFMCC. The Council of Elders (COE) is hoping that the Point Elder initiative will be one way to meet these expressed needs. For those who ask the question, “Who is our Elder?”, there is now an answer to that question.
Point Elder are available to serve in three capacities:
- Provide spiritual support and pastoral care for churches, clergy and lay pastoral leaders, when requested. Whenever there is a need for spiritual support and care, please contact the appropriate Point Elder. A Point Elder can bring prayer concerns or praises to the monthly meetings of the COE so that the other Elders can pray for these concerns or praises; this would always be with permission given to share prayer requests.
- Participate in congregational celebrations. Many churches do not know who to invite when they would like UFMCC participation in celebrating special congregational events, such as installing a new pastor or celebrating a church anniversary. A church’s Point Elder can assist with recognizing these milestones, although churches are free to invite someone other than their Point Elder if they wish. (As in the past, congregations would usually cover the expenses to have an Elder as a guest at congregational celebrations.)
- Recommend or make a referral to MCC denominational staff, the Governing Board, or other appropriate resource when churches, clergy or lay pastoral leaders need or want to make such contact.
The role of a Point Elder is exclusively one of support, which does not include exercising any administrative authority or responsibility. All Elders serve in this capacity as unpaid volunteers. Some Elders are also paid staff, paid for their staff work but not for their work as an Elder. Those Elders, who are also staff members, have administrative responsibilities for our congregations, pastors or clergy; they exercise their administrative duties as staff members, not as Elders. For example, the Elders’ duties do not include being involved in the oversight of churches or individual pastors; neither would an Elder intervene when there is conflict within a congregation. Consequently, when a Point Elder, who is also a staff member, needs to interact with a congregation or clergy in his or her administrative role as a staff member, a different Point Elder would be offered to the congregation or clergy to provide spiritual support or pastoral care.
When the COE was seeking feedback on the Point Elder initiative, several people asked how a Point Elder was selected. Here is the process we followed: As a first step, the COE recognized that some Elders already had supportive relationships with some congregations, pastors, lay leaders and clergy. We attempted to honor those relationships by first asking each Elder to select the congregations, pastors, lay leaders and clergy with whom they already had a relationship. As a second step, we then adjusted the pairings to make more equitable the number of congregations and individuals each Elder would serve.
In addition, the feedback we received requested that the Point Elder relationship be completely voluntary. Consequently, this means congregations, pastors or clergy would initiate any requests of support from their Point Elder. If a church, clergy person or pastor already has sufficient support systems in place and has a good familiarity with the UFMCC resources, they may not need to ask for Point Elder assistance.
Of course, we want to make sure there is good pastoral support, prayer and ongoing sense of community and connection with our congregations and leaders, so there needs to be a good fit between the Point Elder and those they serve. We anticipate some adjustments might still be needed. If another Elder would be a better fit, then the pastor, clergy person or lay leader is encouraged to contact the Convener of the Council of Elders at [email protected] so that an adjustment can be made. The list of Point Elders and their congregations can be found below.
Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez – [email protected]
Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León – [email protected]
Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson – [email protected]
Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann – [email protected]
Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner – [email protected]
Rev. Elder Tony Freeman – [email protected]
Elder Nancy Maxwell – [email protected]
Country | State | City | Congregation | Point Elder |
Argentina | Argentina | Santa Fe | ICM Sante Fe | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Argentina | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires | ICM Buenos Aires Argentina | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Argentina | Buenos Aires | Troncos del Talar | ICM Tigre | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Australia | New South Wales | Granville | MCC Good Shepherd Western Sydney | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Australia | New South Wales | Paddington | CRAVE MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Australia | New South Wales | Petersham | MCC Sydney | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Australia | Queensland | Fortitude Valley | MCC Brisbane | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Australia | Victoria | Bayswater | MCC Melbourne | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Brazil | Ceará | Fortaleza | ICM Fortaleza | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Ceará | Juazeiro do Norte | ICM Cariri | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Espírito Santo | Vitoria | ICM Vitoria | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Minas Gerais | Belo Horizonte | ICM Belo Horizonte | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Paraíba | Cabedelo | ICM Cabedelo | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Paraná | Maringa | ICM Maringà | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro | ICM Rio de Janeiro | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Rio De Janiero | ICM Baixada Fluminense | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | São Paulo | Peruibe | ICM Baixada Santista | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | São Paulo | Sao Paulo | ICM Sao Paulo | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
Brazil | Teresina | ICM Teresina | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León | |
Canada | Ontario | Toronto | MCC Toronto | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
Canada | Ontario | Windsor | MCC Windsor | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Chile | Santiago | Santiago | ICM Casa de Emmaus | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Colombia | Bogota | Ministerio Cristianismo Consciente | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez | |
Cuba | La Habana | ICM La Habana | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez | |
Cuba | Matanzas | SOMOS ICM EN CUBA | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez | |
Cuba | Santa Clara | ICM Santa Clara | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez | |
Dominican Republic | Santo Domingo | Iglesia De La Trinidad ICM | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez | |
Finland | Helsinki | Elävä vesi MCC (Living Water MCC) | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
Germany | Hamburg | MCC Hamburg | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Germany | Köln | MCC Köln (Cologne) | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Germany | Stuttgart | Salz der Erde MCC Stuttgart | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Italy | Milan | Il Cherchio / The Circle | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
Kenya | Mtito Andei | Neema MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner | |
Korea, Republic of | Seoul City | Open Doors MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Mexico | Chihuahua | Ciudad Juarez | ICM Juárez | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Jalisco | Zapopan | ICM Guadalajara | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Mexico State | Mexico City | Valle de Anahuac | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Nuevo León | Centro Monterrey | COMAC Comunidad Metropolitana AC | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Nuevo León | Monterrey | ICM Casa de Luz | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Nuevo León | Monterrey | ICM Cristo en Tí | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Puebla | Puebla | Libres por Amor ICM | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Querétaro | Querétaro | ICM Puentes de Luz | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Tamaulipas | Rio Bravo | Misión Dios de Amor ICM | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Veracruz | Orizaba | Libres en Jesucristo ICM | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Mexico | Veracruz | Veracruz | ICM Veracruz | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
New Zealand | Auckland | Mangere East | Church In Progress MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
New Zealand | Barrington | Oasis Lite Christchurch | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Philippines | Baguio City | MCC Metro Baguio | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Philippines | Mandaluyong City | Open Table MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Philippines | Marikina City | MCC Marikina | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
Romania | Romania | Bucharest | Euro-Regional Center for Public Initiatives | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
Scotland | Edinburgh | Augustine United Church | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
Scotland | Glasgow | MCC in Glasgow | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
South Africa | Waterfront | Good Hope MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman | |
Spain | Madrid | Madrid | Iglesia de El Salvador-Iglesia Evangélica Española | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
Uganda | Kampala | MCC Kampala | Elder Nancy Maxwell | |
United Kingdom | Brighton | The Village MCC | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
United Kingdom | Devon | Exeter | Safe Harbour MCC | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | Dorset | Bournemouth | Inclusive Community Church | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | Dorset | Poole | River of Life MCC UK | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | London | 145 Stepney way | MCC East London | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | Wales | Cardiff | City United Reformed Church | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | West Midlands | Birmingham | Journey MCC | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann |
United Kingdom | Brighton | MCC Brighton | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
United Kingdom | Edinburgh | Our Tribe | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
United Kingdom | London | MCC North London | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
United Kingdom | Newcastle upon Tyne | Northern Lights MCC | Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann | |
United States | Alabama | Mobile | Cornerstone MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Arizona | Phoenix | MCC Phoenix | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Arizona | Tucson | Water of Life MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | California | Cathedral City | MCC of the Coachella Valley | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | California | Costa Mesa | Resurrection Beach MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | Folsom | Reflection MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | Guerneville | MCC of the Redwood Empire | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | California | Los Angeles | Founders MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | California | North Hollywood | MCC UCC in the Valley | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | Oakland | Flowering Justice Ministry | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | California | Sacramento | A Church for All MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | San Diego | MCC San Diego | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | California | San Francisco | MCC San Francisco | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | San Mateo | Many Journeys MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | California | Stockton | Valley Ministries MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | California | Tustin | Christ Chapel MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | California | Whittier | Good Samaritan MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Colorado | Colorado Springs | Pikes Peak MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Colorado | Denver | MCC of the Rockies | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Colorado | Fort Collins | MCC Family in Christ | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Connecticut | Hartford | MCC Hartford | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Connecticut | New Haven | Elm City Oasis | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Delaware | Rehoboth Beach | MCC Rehoboth Beach | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | District of Columbia | Washington | MCC Washington DC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | District of Columbia | Washington DC | Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Florida | Bellview | Open Circle MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Boynton Beach | Church of Our Savior MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Florida | Fort Lauderdale | Sunshine Cathedral MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Florida | Fort Myers | St. John the Apostle MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Gainesville | Trinity MCC, Gainesville | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Jacksonville | North Florida MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Key West | MCC Key West | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Florida | Ocala | God’s Acre MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Orlando | Joy MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Florida | Palm Beach Gardens | MCC of the Palm Beaches | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Pensacola | Holy Cross MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Punta Gorda | Beyond These Walls MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Sarasota | Church of the Trinity MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Florida | St. Augustine | FirstCoast MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Florida | St. Petersburg | King of Peace MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Tallahassee | Thrive MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Florida | Tampa | MCC Tampa | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Florida | Venice | SunCoast MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Georgia | Athens | Our Hope MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Georgia | Atlanta | Progressive Christian Reflections | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Georgia | Augusta | MCC of Our Redeemer | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Hawaii | Pahoa | Open Arms MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Idaho | Boise | Liberating Spirit MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Illinois | Brookfield | Holy Covenant MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Illinois | Chicago | aChurch4Me MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Illinois | Springfield | Heartland MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Indiana | Indianpolis | LifeJourney MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Indiana | Portage | MCC Illiana | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Iowa | Davenport | MCC of the Quad Cities | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Kansas | Topeka | MCC Topeka | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Kansas | Wichita | First MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Kentucky | Louisvile | MCC of Louisville | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Kentucky | Paducah | River of Hope MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Louisiana | Baton Rouge | MCC of Baton Rouge | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Louisiana | New Orleans | MCC of New Orleans | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Maryland | Baltimore | MCC Baltimore | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Maryland | Boyds | Open Door MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Maryland | College Park | Holy Redeemer MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Maryland | Hagerstown | New Light MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Maryland | Silver Spring | Empowerment Liberation Cathedral | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Massachusetts | Boston | MCC Boston | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Michigan | Flint | Redeemer MCC of Flint | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Michigan | Royal Oak | MCC Detroit | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Michigan | Saginaw | Breath of Life Spiritual Center MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Michigan | Waterford | Divine Peace MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Minnesota | Minneapolis | All God’s Children MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Missouri | Kansas City | Spirit of Hope MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Missouri | St. Louis | MCC of Greater Saint Louis | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Nebraska | Omaha | MCC Omaha | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Nevada | Las Vegas | Love MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | New Jersey | Edison | Christ the Liberator MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | New Mexico | Albuquerque | MCC Albuquerque | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | New York | New York | MCC New York | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | New York | Rochester | Open Arms MCC of Western New York | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | North Carolina | Charlotte | MCC Charlotte | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Charlotte | New Life MCC (Gastonia) | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Durham | Imani MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Hendersonville | MCC Sacred Journey | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Raleigh | St. John’s MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Wilmington | St. Jude’s MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | North Carolina | Winston-Salem | New Faith MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Ohio | Cincinnati | New Spirit MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Ohio | Cleveland | Sola Caritas MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Ohio | Columbus | New Creation MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Ohio | Dayton | Eternal Joy MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Oregon | Portland | MCC Portland | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Pennsylvania | Aston | Imago Dei MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Pennsylvania | Bethlehem | MCC of the Lehigh Valley | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg | MCC of the Spirit | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Pennsylvania | Monroeville | MCC Pittsburgh | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Pennsylvania | Mountville | Vision of Hope MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Come As You Are MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Whosoever MCC | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Puerto Rico | Mayaguez | ICM Cristocéntrica de Restauración Integral | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
United States | Puerto Rico | Rio Piedras | ICM Cristo Sanador | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
United States | South Carolina | Charleston | MCC Charleston | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Tennessee | Chattanooga | The Rock MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Tennessee | Knoxville | MCC Knoxville | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Abilene | Exodus MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Amarillo | MCC Amarillo | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Texas | Austin | Sanctuary in the Woods | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Texas | Austin | upRising | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Denton | Harvest MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | El Paso | MCC El Paso | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Fort Worth | Agape MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Grand Prairie | Trinity MCC Arlington/Grand Prairie | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Texas | Houston | Resurrection MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Texas | Lubbock | MCC Lubbock | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Texas | San Antonio | MCC San Antonio | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Texas | Waco | Central Texas MCC from the Heart | Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner |
United States | Texas | Wichita Falls | Wichita Falls MCC | Rev. Elder Margarita Sánchez De León |
United States | Utah | Salt Lake City | Wasatch MCC | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | Virginia | Fairfax | MCC of Northern Virginia (NOVA) | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Virginia | Norfolk | New Life MCC of Hampton Roads | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Virginia | Richmond | MCC Richmond | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Virginia | Roanoke | MCC of the Blue Ridge | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Virginia | Winchester | Shenandoah Valley MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Washington | Kennewick | River of Life MCC USA | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Washington | Seattle | Emerald City MCC Seattle | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Washington | Vancouver | MCC of the Gentle Shepherd | Rev. Elder Tony Freeman |
United States | West Virginia | Martinsburg | The Beauty Way MCC | Rev. Elder Dwayne Johnson |
United States | Wisconsin | Green Bay | Angels of Hope MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
United States | Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Milwaukee MCC | Elder Nancy Maxwell |
Uruguay | Montevideo | Montevideo | Diaconia Cristiana en la Diversidad ICM | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | Valencia | ICM Valencia | Rev. Elder Héctor Gutiérrez |
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