The MCC newsletter reporting from congregations all over the world...

In this Issue

• MCC Visibility During Pride 
• IDAHO: More Than Just a U.S. State!
• Justice and Social Action Updates
• HIV and AIDS Ministries
• Ecumenical and Interfaith News
• Learn More About... ICM Niterói in Brazil 
• MCC Sermon and Study Series
• Resource Request

MCC Visibility During Pride

Gary Singer, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Australia), was the guest speaker at MCC Melbourne’s Stonewall Service. The previous night the church hosted the Stonewall Winter Christmas Dinner.

Rev. Elder Troy Perry, MCC Founder, was the guest preacher at the Interfaith Pride Service in Boston, Massachusetts. He was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

They did it all! The choir from MCC San Jose (California) sang at the Celebration in Spirit worship service at the First Congregational Church, during which Rev. Sky Anderson received a special award from the city’s Council of Churches. The MCCSJ contingent marched with the Council of Churches in the Pride Parade and Rev. Mike Ellard offered a special Communion Service at the MCC booth during the two day Pride Festival.

Barb Devlin organized the float and marching contingent in the Atlanta parade for Christ Covenant MCC (Decatur, Georgia), while Jenny Webb and Helen Malone prepared the church's booth. The sermon series, Voices of Pride, looked at the impact of LBGT leaders on the larger gay liberation movement.

During Pride Week, All Saints’ MCC (Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand) hosted a community worship service with guest speaker Tony Milne, a candidate for City Council, followed by supper. The next Sunday they participated in a city-wide Candlelight Memorial Service at the Music Centre of Christchurch.

A Pride Picnic on Saturday was followed by the installation of Rev. Keith Mozingo as Pastor of MCC Baton Rouge (Louisiana) on Sunday, June 24. Folks from the community and nearby MCCs joined in the celebration.

Gentle Shepherd MCC (Tallahassee, Florida) was one of the official sponsors of their city’s Pride Celebration and staffed a booth at Pridefest.

There were four Pride Worship Services in Chicago during June on Sunday mornings in Chicago, Illinois. Each unique service featured music, prayers and words of inspiration from a variety of faith communities and organizations including achurch4me Metropolitan Community Church, AIDS Pastoral Care Network, Brotherhood of the Phoenix, the Chicago Center for Spiritual Living, Congregation Of Chadash, Dignity Chicago, Pillar of Love Fellowship, Queer Dharma/Shambala Buddhist Center, Rainbow Lotus Sanga, SANGAT, and Second Unitarian Church of Chicago (UUA).

Rev. Mark Pridmore was one of the clergy officiating at a mass Commitment Ceremony in Dayton, Ohio, for 50 couples. Ken and Teddy McLaughin-Tredick of Eternal Joy MCC were selected to cut the wedding cake. The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus performed for the event. About eight members of the Aryan Nation were there to protest, but police did not allow them to enter the Court House Square Plaza.

ICM Los Angeles and MCC Los Angeles (West Hollywood, California) had a booth outside their church building for two days and conducted extensive community outreach, especially as the parade passed by (including the church's float, complete with angels, and marching contingent). They also participated in the Interfaith Worship Service during the weekend festivities.

And, MCCLA also celebrates Pet Pride! The theme for this year’s event was The Wizard of Paws in the Land of Ahhhs. They had a Blessing of the Animals, community awards, vendors, food, and fun, including several contests: Over the Rainbow (It's all about attitude!), If I Only Had a Brain (I can be dignified...now can I lick your face? Please, please, please!), Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! (those big scary sweethearts), Dorothy and Toto (Pleeeeze! It's West Hollywood!), Ah, Dat Li'l Baby Face!, and There's No Place Like Home (Best In Contest).

'Ohana MCC (Honolulu, Hawai’i) sponsored a booth at their city’s pride festival.

FirstCoast MCC (St. Augustine, Florida) and MCC Louisville (Kentucky) were among the churches to collect rainbow items, masks, books, t-shirts, buttons, magazines, and other resources which are hard to find for those in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Turkey to use during Pride and to share among themselves.

In their city's parade, Healing Spirit MCC (Rochester, Minnesota) had a seven person bike as their entry! All seven were wearing the new HS MCC T-shirts.

Church of the Trinity MCC (Sarasota, Florida) was one of the sponsors for the Interfaith Service of Celebration A Healing Light for the LBGT and supportive people in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, and the surrounding area.

Would Jesus Discriminate? T-shirts were the uniform for the contingent from Jesus MCC marching in the Indianapolis, Indiana, Pride Parade.

MCC Key West (Florida) hosted a special Pride Service as well as staffed an information booth and marched in their parade.

Folks from Divine Peace MCC (Pontiac, Michigan) staffed the gate for the Motor City (Detroit) Pride event in exchange for free advertising in Michigan's LGBT newspaper and website, Between the Lines/Pride Source.

Living Springs MCC (Bath, England) offered a sermon series on Homosexuality and the Bible culminating with their Pride Service and Community Award Presentations on July 15. (NOTE: Not all cities or countries celebrate Pride in June!)

Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) raised enough money to purchase a new multimedia system, which they will have installed in time for their Film Festival during Pride in August.

MCC Newcastle (England) created masks and a video diary of goodwill messages for those participating in Pride events in Moldova.

MCC Knoxville (Tennessee) hosted the Pride Picnic, inviting other organizations to set up information tables.

The congregation of MCC of Greater St. Louis (Missouri) was treated to a team sermon series on The Bible: Good News for Gays? with Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell, Rev. Jeff Bert, Rev. Bev Stephenson, and Rev. Sue Yarber preaching.

MCC Omaha had a float in the Nebraska Pride Parade. They were hoping to win an award again this year.

Rev. Mark Bidwell from MCC Detroit (Michigan) participated in the Pride events in Romania and Rev. Chris Dowd from Journey MCC (Birmingham, England) joined Rev. Elder Diane Fisher at the human rights conference in Latvia. Later she visited Turkey for their first Conference to Combat Homophobia.

In order to raise money for their Pride Parade Ministry, congregants at Resurrection MCC (Houston, Texas) enjoyed a Tailgate Party and BBQ after church one Sunday. There was music, food, Texas Hold 'Em and other delights. The kids enjoyed the Moonwalk and a Kiddie Corral.

Bethel MCC (Birmingham, Alabama) sponsored a float in their city’s Pride Parade.

The Elevation Band was featured on MCC Portland's (Oregon) float in their Pride Parade. The marchers all wore matching T-shirts and comprised the largest contingent in the parade.

Taking Pride in Who We Are and Who We are Becoming was the sermon theme for Pride at MCC of Greater Dallas (Texas).

Rev. Judy Maynard conducted individual Commitment Ceremonies for couples at MCC Albuquerque's (New Mexico) booth during Pride.

Stephen Krebs, son of Cathryn and Fred Krebs at MCC NOVA (Fairfax, Virginia), was the guest speaker at the church’s Pride Service. He was one of the 2007 Soulforce Equality Riders.

Peninsula MCC (San Mateo, California) marched with MCC San Francisco in the Bay Area Pride Parade.
Sisters In Song, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, women’s chorus, partnered with MCC United for their Pride Concert. The church provided the venue and Sisters In Song donated a portion of the concert proceeds to the church .

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Idaho: More than just a U.S. State!

IDAHO: It’s also the International Day Against Homophobia which many churches observed on the 15th anniversary of the World Health Organization’s removal of homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. Yet in 77 countries being gay or lesbian is still illegal and punishable by imprisonment or death.

At MCC Newcastle (England) Katie Harris was interviewed about the church’s work with ARCH (Agencies against Racial Crime and Homophobia) as a reporting and referral center for hate crimes. Jackie and the MCCN counseling team will be working directly with victims.

Rev. Kieren Bourne participated in an event in Bath, England, to draw media attention to the issue and to announce a new publication, It’s Bathtime!, which addresses issues of importance for the LGBT community, including coming out, civil partnerships, sexual health, personal safety, and drugs and alcohol. It also provides national and local listings, including Living Springs MCC . 

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Justice and Social Action Updates

Rev. Donna Stroud of MCC of the Upstate (Duncan, South Carolina), along with other religious and community leaders, organized a Vigil in honor of Sean Kennedy, the gay teenager who was beaten to death. During the event a statement by Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson and Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman was read on behalf of Metropolitan Community Churches worldwide and was quoted in the Greenville News. Quotes from Rev. Stroud appeared in a later article in that newspaper as well as in the Charleston City Paper . A plea had gone out to MCC globally to send emails to support the family and encourage hate crime legislation in South Carolina. Hundreds upon hundreds of emails were received from MCCers in 27 states and 8 countries! Together, we make a difference!

Rev. Steve Urie spoke at the final reading of Ordinance 2052 which established a Domestic Partner Registry for all lifestyles in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The local congregation of MCC of the Living Spring was joined by folks from Spirit of Christ MCC (Joplin, Missouri) in a candlelight vigil outside the Council Chambers that night. The ordinance was passed by City Council!

The Social Justice committee at Water of Life MCC (Tucson, Arizona) had two of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" come and speak about the plight of people in their country. Afterwards during fellowship, everyone enjoyed two traditional Sudanese dishes while the congregants were further educated about the Civil War.

Rev. Jane Newall wrote a testimony in support of the Washington state Domestic Partnership Bill for the Governor's office to present during the signing of the bill.

Spirit of the Rock MCC (Little Rock, Arkansas) hosts the only Transgender Peer Support Group in their state!

MCC of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) received a $1000 (USD) grant for their food pantry ministry, which provides food and grocery gift cards for thirty households each month. David Parziale is the pantry coordinator. 

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HIV and AIDS Ministries

Dr. Auturo Gonzalez Salinas, state HIV Program Coordinator, presented the comprehensive work plan for the Mexican State of Morelos’ HIV/AIDS Program at Renovacion ICM (Cuernavaca, Mexico). The group is meeting every two weeks for planning and reviewing goals, both those in process and achieved. ICM members specifically will be working with other groups to produce and disseminate fliers to at-risk groups, such as urban teens, male prostitutes, and drug users. They have already toured the area’s nightclubs, offering free HIV testing to 20 people at each location, as well as to homeless youth. The church is also the site for the doctors and nurses to draw blood for testing.

Following his recent trip to the Mother of Peace Orphanage in Zimbabwe, Steve Coughlin presented First MCC of Atlanta (Georgia) a gift of indigenous stone art to the church from Mother Jean in appreciation of the congregation’s ongoing support of the orphanage. Not only did they just send another $5000 (USD) donation to MCC for our work with the children there, they also hosted a Silent Art Auction featuring local artisans to raise additional funds.

Valley Ministries MCC (Stockton, California) is a Partner of Unity with the San Joaquin AIDS Center and had a team participating in their annual 5 K AIDS walk.

Rev. Karla Fleshman, Pastor of Imago Dei MCC (Glen Mills, Pennsylvania) and Church Planting Program Specialist for MCC, will be a part of a round table discussion Youth, Sexuality, HIV, and Religion during the Prevention and Outreach Summit, one of the biggest events during AIDS Education Month sponsored by Philadelphia FIGHT.

MCC Greater St. Louis (Missouri) hosted an HIV/AIDS Retreat where the almost 30 participants learned more about living with the virus. The day concluded with a Silent March through the West End, devoted to the lives and memories of loved ones lost.

Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) received a special offering of $255 (USD) for the Mother of Peace Orphanage in Zimbabwe in honor of Rev. Elder Jim Mitulski.

Rev. Kathy Baker celebrated six years as Executive Director of the AIDS/HIV Services Group, which serves central and northwest Virginia. The organization is a leader in battling the meth problem in their state.

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Ecumenical and Interfaith News 

Perhaps you remember the photo display by Jochen Gewecke, a member of Salz der Erde MCC (Stuttgart, Germany), at Calgary in 2005 or in Hannover in 2006. For the first time in the world, his interfaith exhibition finds photographs of churches being displayed in the prayer room of a mosque, mosque photographs being seen in a synagogue, and synagogue photographs being viewed in a protestant church. These are all found in Mannheim, Germany.

Fifty folks from MCC of Our Redeemer (Augusta, Georgia) will be participating with the Habitat for Humanity’s Interfaith Project. Each organization had to raise $1000 (USD) to help purchase the building supplies. All the congregations gathered together for an evening festival to raise additional funds.

Rev. Franc Perry, Church Evangelist for First MCC of Atlanta (Georgia), conducted workshops on Homosexuality and Spirituality for the Men’s Conference hosted by Tabernacle Baptist Church, which built bridges and strengthened the relationships between First MCC and this African American Baptist congregation.

Rev. Dexter Brecht and Sheri Heimall represented the congregation of MCC of Greater New Orleans (Louisiana) at the Work Day for St. Matthew UCC, their host church.

The Celebration in Spirit Award was presented to Rev. Sky Anderson by the San Jose (California) Council of Churches to honor his ceaseless efforts on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, his pioneering work fighting for LGBT rights in Santa Clara County in the late 1970's and early 1980's, and his extraordinary courage as the first out transgender minister in the United States.

New Heart MCC (Tacoma, Washington) was granted dual affiliation with the United Churches of Christ at the Pacific Northwest Conference’s annual meeting. At the same time, Rev. Jan Skaggs was granted dual clergy standing with UCC.
Rev. Sandy Bochonok organized and led a Kitsap County Prayer and Healing Service hosted by the Bremerton (Washington) Ministerial Association for the public to honor and remember the young lives lost in the Virginia shooting massacre.

Eternal Joy MCC (Dayton, Ohio) had a joint worship service with St. Paul United Methodist Church in celebration of their first anniversary as an Affirming church. Methodist Bishop C. Joseph Sprague was the speaker.

Agape MCC (Ft. Worth, Texas) and MCC of Greater Dallas, along with other faith groups and LBGT organizations, sponsored Faith and Fairness: Finding Strength and Tools for Advocacy in Your Faith Tradition. One of the featured speakers was Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, President of Chicago Theological Seminary.

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Learn more about ... ICM Niterói (Brazil) 

Editor's Note: Rather than rewrite the information about our newest church, I wanted to share it with you as it was written by their Pastor. ~ Judy Dale

My desire is to tell that the Mission of MCC in Niterói, RJ, in Brazil is, since the first day of May of this year an Affiliated Church the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community's Churches. Rev Gelson Piber was chosen shepherd of the new Church.

We are a congregation with 32 members, many young and we accomplished a Biblical Study for the Community, every Wednesday at night, where we discussed and we studied together the pages difficult of the Bible, above all where there are subjects that say respéitos to the Gay people.

We everybody has Saturdays rehearsals of the chorale and on Sundays the whole community's encounter in the adoration service with Saint has dinner.

As our church has people unemployed and poor, we make collections of victuals so that the people don't pass so much need.

On second Saturday of every month we met in the building of the temple, that is a rented room, for we attend a film with the thematic gay or of the Human Rights and later we make a debate.

ICM Niterói still has a spiritual support and accompaniment for people with HIV-AIDS .

On last Sunday of every month we make a festival meeting to commemorate the birthdays of the month.

Rev Gelson Piber
http://www.icmbrasil.org/

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Sermon and Study Series 

Taking the Bash out of the Bible is the current study for The Bible and Me group at Trinity MCC (Gainesville, Florida).

Rev. Lea Brown is preaching a Summer Cinema Sermon Series at Wichita Falls MCC (Texas) highlighting some of the romance, superhero, and blockbuster stories found in the Bible.

Bad Girls of the Bible is the theme of the sermon series at MCC Albuquerque (New Mexico).

MCC Fredericksburg (Virginia) recently celebrated the graduation of their first Disciple Bible Study Class. Ten people completed the 34 week Bible Study, which represents approximately one-third of the adult membership of the church!

Have you ever wondered why God allows suffering, or why bad things happen to good people? If so, you might want to participate in Good God Questions, a study at MCC Corpus Christi (Texas).

The Summer Sermon Series at MCC San Francisco (California) is Diverse Beliefs, Common Values.

MCC United (Tulsa, Oklahoma) is engaged in a film series on Thursday evenings. Included are the DVD's of Rev. Elder Troy Perry's retirement event, the Installation of Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson as Moderator, and the Mother of Peace Orphanage documentary.

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Resource Request

Have you written a study for your church that teaches about MCC culture, theology, and/or organizational/community practices? If so, are you willing to share it with new church planters and church planting (launch) teams? Or would you be willing to write one now?

We would like to begin collecting resources that can be translated and adapted for cultural relevance. Topical areas might include: our MCC theological diversity, the role of laity in leadership, MCC sacraments, the role of social justice on a local and global level, how we communicate through conflict, the role of all gender identities in leadership, and addressing both negative and positive scripture for all sexual orientations.

Please send all resources to Rev. Karla Fleshman, Church Planting Program Specialist: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Rev. Hector Gutierrez, Member, Church Planting Education Team This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Editor:

Judy Dale, Editor
MCC Communications Department
Metropolitan Community Churches
P.O. Box 1374
Abilene, Texas 79604
E-Mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.mccchurch.org