HEADLINE NEWS
15 March 2019
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It's MCC's 50th Anniversary and we kick off the celebration with the 50th Anniversary Gayla! Join us for a reception, amazing performances, and finish it off with a dance. What a way to start General Conference 2019!
The event will be Sunday, 30th June at the conference hotel beginning with a reception at 7:15 pm and the show at 8:00 pm. A dance will follow.
Tickets range from $50 USD (regular) to $150 USD (VIP) per person or get your crew together and enjoy group pricing of $350 USD or $1,050 USD for a group of eight persons and have your seating reserved.
Hosted by renowned Vegas performer, Tony Arias, the Gayla will be an event you don't want to miss!
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Rev. Alex Pittaway, pastor of MCC Brisbane, Australia, is featured in an interview following multiple graffiti attacks on the church.
A swastika was spray-painted on the rainbow flag on the church sign and "clobber passages," alleged anti-gay scripture, were left as well.
Read the full article at the link below and click the calendar icon and select the 7 March 2019 edition.
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MCC Brisbane Responds to Hate Messages
"As a church we will continue to respond in love, unity and strength to anything the enemy throws at us." Rev. Alex Pittaway
In the 1 March 2019 MCC Brisbane newsletter, Rev. Alex Pittaway addresses the hate crime against the church left in the form of anti-hate graffiti.
The following is a portion of that message:
"...
Scripture verses taken out of context were used as clobber passages to try and clobber this congregation and Merthyr Road Uniting Church into silence.
Little did the perpertrator of this hate crime know however that the Church of Jesus Christ will not be silenced.
In the midst of the hate crime a miracle happened. In what I can only describe as a movement of the Holy Spirit, members of the local New Farm neighborhood rallyed to us and on the same chalk board that that was subject to a hate crime, inscriptions of love were written to counter the spray paint of hate...."
Read the full article at
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Emerging Church Granted Full MCC Affiliation
by Rev. Wanda Floyd, Emerging Church Specialist
It is exciting to announce the full affiliation of The Village MCC in Brighton, London.
This church, pastored by Rev. Michael Hydes, has been an Emerging Church since November 2014. They have worked hard to achieve this new status within MCC. There are other emerging churches working toward full affiliation as well. They will be announced in the next few months.
Join MCC in thanking Rev. Michael Hydes for all the work he and Associate Pastor, Rev. Peta Evans, have done in making sure the people in Brighton are aware of God’s unconditional love:
https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageMCC/
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Governing Board Selects Be a Gem
and MCC Global Work for Easter Offering
by Linda Brenner, Director, Be a Gem Scholarship Program
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The
Be a Gem Scholarship Program
urgently needs your help today.
Through the years, the Be A Gem Scholarship Program has brought clergy and laity from vast geographic locations around the world to General Conference.
This Program is robust. We work with people every step of the way to attend Conference. In a world dominated by Western culture that elevates the passports of a few, international travel can seem almost impossible, especially in the current political climate.
Funding our siblings from around the world helps us
better live into our call for justice and being the Body of Christ.
There are many who simply do not have the financial capacity to attend General Conference. They may have inadequate living conditions, lack employment opportunities, and endure challenges to human rights and spiritual freedom. Some may not be able to participate in the live-streamed worship services because of the limitations in digital communication in their nation.
I can imagine some of you saying that General Conference is expensive for you, too. I’ve been there. Before joining MCC’s staff, I started saving a little bit of money each month to pay my way to conference. The difference between myself and those who are receiving the scholarship is more than economic justice; it’s also about opportunity. For example, the average cost of a flight is well over $1000 USD for a Be a Gem Scholarship recipient. Some will travel 15-25 hours to get to General Conference. Some have to travel to another city and pay for hotel and transportation just to complete their interview for a visa.
Will your church sign up to take a special Easter offering to support
the "Be A Gem Scholarship Program" and MCC’s global work?
Your generosity will make the difference for so many. Donations for the Easter Offering will literally make it possible for international leaders to attend General Conference -- and help Metropolitan Community Churches—your denomination—invest in leaders and embody a diverse, global identity.
SIGN UP to take an Easter Offering.
You can also easily DONATE ONLINE.
and select “Be a Gem” from the drop-down menu.
Do you PREFER TO TEXT?
Text your donation to +1 850-204-4911.
Or SEND YOUR CHECK to MCC:
PO Box 50488, Sarasota, Florida, 34232
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MCC Moderator Nominating Committee Announces Slate
The Moderator Nominating Committee announced a slate of three (3) candidates (in alphabetical order, from left in photo above):
Ms. Elizabeth Bisordi
Vice-Moderator, Board of Directors, Suncoast MCC, Venice, Florida, USA
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Radstock, Somerset, England
Rev. Elder Tony Freeman
Interim Senior Pastor, MCC of the Palm Beaches, Florida, USA
A "Meet the Candidates" webinar will be held in early April. In addition, each candidate will have the opportunity to host an individual moderated one-hour "town hall" webinar to introduce themselves to MCC and to answer questions.
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Governing Board Updates
Governing Board Resignation
The Governing Board has accepted, with gratitude for his years of service, the resignation of Rev. Joe Cobb effective 28 February 2019 due to other personal responsibilities. The Governing Board authorizes the Governing Board Nominating Committee to add an eighth seat (4 clergy persons, 4 lay persons) to the slate of candidates to be filled during the business meeting at General Conference 2019.
Rite of Installation Service
MCC's next Moderator will be installed during the final worship service at General Conference 5 July 2019.
Read more at
https://conta.cc/2E76Z49
Leadership Transition Timeline
Read more about Policy 11 which outlines the transitions for the Governing Board and Moderator following their election at General Conference.
Go to page 34 at
http://bit.ly/2XNEvpr
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Upcoming Events, Vital Dates, Webinars,
Registrations
Meet the Moderator Slate
Moderator candidates will introduce themselves and then participate in a Question/Answer session.
English:
2 April 2019
11 am EST / 16:00 UTC (GMT)
Spanish:
2 April 2019, 7 pm EST
3 April 2019, 00:00 UTC (GMT)
English:
4 April 2019, 7 pm EST
5 April 2019, 00:00 UTC (GMT)
Lay Delegate Count Date
1 May 2019 is the freeze date for churches to determine their Lay Delegate count for General Conference. Send Lay Delegate updates--names and email addresses--to MCC staff member Janine McCarthy at
[email protected]
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MCC Leadership Bodies Introduce Intentional Transition Team
by members of the Intentional Transition Team
T
he
Intentional Transition Team (ITT)
serves a
longside the Interim
Moderator and the newly elected Moderator
to
plan for and facilitate transition of the leadership of MCC from the outgoing Interim Moderator to the incoming Moderator.
The purpose of the ITT is to
facilitate healing, renewal, and preparation for the future and for the election of the next UFMCC Moderator and Governing Board on 02 July 2019....
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Clergy and Leadership Announcements
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Rev. Stedney Phillips
has been appointed as the Provisional Pastor of MCC Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
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Rev. Paul Whiting
has been appointed as the
Provisional Pastor of
MCC Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
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Equality Virginia Honors MCC Minister
by Linda Brenner, MCC Communications
Rev. Joe Cobb will be among the honorees selected as
2019 OUTstanding Virginians
in an event hosted by Equality Virginia in April.
LGBT and allied individuals and organizations are selected for their leadership in advancing equality in the Commonwealth.
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Employment Opportunities
The links below list churches seeking a transitional pastor or settled pastor, in addition to national secular jobs.
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Metropolitan Community Churches is celebrating 50 Years!
Founded in 1968,
Metropolitan Community Churches
(MCC) has been at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements by addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, economics, climate change, aging, and global human rights. MCC was the first to perform same gender marriages and has been on the forefront of the struggle towards marriage equality in the USA and other countries worldwide. MCC recognizes a state of need around the world in the areas of human rights and justice, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities. As people of faith, MCC endeavors to build bridges that liberate and unite voices of sacred defiance. MCC leads from the margins and transforms.
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PO Box 50488 | Sarasota | Florida | 34232 | USA
Phone: +1-310-360-8640 | Fax: +1 310-388-1252
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