| MCC Announces Appointments to the International Task Force Today, in the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, our communities are emerging, thriving and being tested all over the world. Even with our American roots, MCC's passion as the "The Human Rights Church" does translate into many cultures and contexts. MCC has had a vision of being global since our early days. In faith, we discerned that the message God gave Rev. Troy Perry was not meant only for a few churches in urban areas in North America. Over the years, our ministry has expanded to include more than 30 countries, with contacts in many dozen more. When the Strategic Review Team reviewed MCC's structure in 2009 and 2010, it was aware that the question of our international structure was beyond their capacity and scope. One of their most important recommendations, which the General Conference in Acapulco passed, was to take the time and spend the resources to gather a truly global task force to engage the issues of MCC's global ministry and future. The seed for the International Task Force was planted. Understanding the importance and urgency of our global ministry, the new governing board took action and developed the necessary elements to put in place the process for the creation of this task force trough an open application process. 49 applications were received from individuals interested in serving on the International Task Force. From this group, the resumes were reviewed and 21 individuals were selected to be interviewed. The coordinators and interview teams were tremendously impressed with the amazing gifts and skills of all of the applicants. The International Task Force was conceived to consist of twelve members and the selection from those interviewed was extremely difficult. The selection was made not only on the gifts and skills of the individual applicants, but consideration included attention to global representation and diversity. Over the next three years, the International Task Force will meet with the Moderator, a consultant and a member of the governing board to identify and propose changes that are needed to strengthen our global ministry; and to constructively deal with key ecclesiasticalorganizational and cultural barriers to growth, with authenticity and sustainability. The International Task Force shall be encouraged to do its work freely and responsibly; to research, ask questions and discuss ideas and bring them forward as seems appropriate to them, with the support of MCC leadership and staff. This task force will pay special attention to the needs of local churches in a global context, and the special connection between doing justice and growing our churches and denomination. Recommendations from the Task Force will be presented to the Governing Board, who will review them and bring a final proposal to the General Conference in Chicago 2013. We very much appreciate the desire and willingness to serve of all the applicants and ask that you keep in your prayers the members of this International Task Force as they develop their work. Congratulations to Rev. Paul Mogkheti-Heath, Rev. Joseph Nyaisa, Rev. CeeJay Agbayani, Henry Onzem, Dr. Mark Dalgleish, Thomas Decker, Dr. Carol Scherfenberg, Rev.Dr. Neil Thomas, Rev. Araceli Ezzatti, Dr. Roger Williams Nasciemento, Jochen Gewecke, Sarah-Jane Ramage. Click here to learn more about the members of MCC's International Task Force. God bless our journey UFMCC Governing Board. |
|  MCC Announces New Governing Board Website
The Governing Board is proud to announce the launch of our new website! We are dedicated to remaining accessible to MCC members and friends in every possible way. Our new design gives us more opportunity to feature our most exciting work front and center, including current questions we are considering, reports of our work together, and progress updates on our goals. We encourage you to visit the site, take a look around, and familiarize yourself with the information provided there. We also ask that you take a few moments and let us hear from you on one of our three guiding questions regarding MCC's impact in the world.
We are excited about the coming months and years of our service for MCC. We look forward to seeing you online at http://governingboard.ufmcc.com! The MCC Governing Board will be holding their next meeting 3-7 March. Please hold them in your hearts and prayers as the prepare to come together next month. |
| 
MCC Announces Upcoming Young Adult Retreat! Led by young adults, this Young Adult Retreat will be an experience of meeting and connecting with your peers, having spirited discussions, and working on strategies for empowering our young adults in their home churches and in MCC's around the world. The retreat will take place July 27-July 30th in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The event will being at 7:00pm on the 27th and will end at noon on the 30th. This retreat is intended for only those 18-35 years in age.
We will spend time identifying who we are as a young adult group, working to serve others through a service project, discussing the future of MCC with MCC leadership and taking time for Spiritual Connection. We will also focus on coming out of the retreat with a clear vision of what we, the young adults of MCC, see as our future.
The host church for the retreat is Sunshine Cathedral MCC in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Sunshine Cathedral has graciously agreed to host our retreat in July and will provide lunch and dinner for retreat attendees on the Friday and Saturday of the retreat.
The host hotel is the Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale Airport North, 1851 SE 10th Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The group rate is $69 (+tax) per night for double occupancy. The hotel does feature complimentary internet and complimentary continental breakfast. In addition, the hotel has a complimentary airport shuttle that runs from 5:00am-12:00am (midnight.) To make a reservation call 954-763-7670 and mention our group name, MCC Young Adult Summit or click here to select dates of stay and enter group code G-MCCY to receive our discounted rate.
To keep costs low and make this retreat as accessible as possible we have set the registration rate at $50 per person. To register please CLICK HERE (use this link http://ufmcc.com/connectnow/events/young-adult-retreat/.)
If you have any questions or need for information email Jennifer Justice or call at 213-447-2953. |
| MCC YOUNG ADULT MISSION TRIP DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JUNE 23 - 30, 2011 
Applications are now being accepted for MCC's Young Adult Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic (D.R.)! The Mission Trip is scheduled for June 23 though 30, 2011. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 25. During the trip, MCC mission team members will spend several days working and worshiping with one of MCC's newest churches in Latin America, MCC Santo Domingo. In addition, the mission team will present a three day Bible School to 100 elementary school students attending the El Tamarindo School, located in an impoverished area outside of Santo Domingo. All successful applicants will be required to sign a Code of Conduct and to raise at least $1,800 (we have a great fund-raising program to assist you). Transportation to and from the D.R., lodging, some meals, and traveler's insurance are provided. The cost of some meals and money for snacks and souvenirs are the responsibility of the mission team member. To receive an application or for further information, please contact Mission Coordinator Tim Helm at tjhelm@aol.com. Applications must be received by March 7, 2011! |
| | | | | | | The MCC People of African Descent Conference 
The MCC Conference for People of African Descent - Our Friends, and Allies at the Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC -may 19-21, 2011 click here to register today! Join the MCC PAD Conference at the 2011 HRC Clergy Call for Justice and Equality May 22-24, 2011 | Washington, DC RSVP now: www.hrc.org/ClergyCall |
| Rev. Elder Diane Fisher Calls MCC to Prayer for Christchurch, New Zealand on 22 February 2011 
Earlier this week an earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, toppling buildings and killing many people. The city has been devastated. The Cathedral in the center square has been destroyed. Power is gone in most places and there is no safe water. I spoke with Marion Wilson, one of the Crave MCC, NZ leaders. She says that people from the church are physically safe and many deeply unsettled by the events. Neil Hellewell, another leader, has spent most of the day and much of the night working at the hospital. Many are being cared for in parks around the city. Please keep the congregation of Crave MCC and the people of the city of Christchurch and surrounding area in your prayers. This excerpt taken from A Call to Prayer issued on Tuesday, 22 February 2011. Click here to read the entire article. |
| Reflect, Renew, Refresh! 
OFLD Clergy Retreat with Diana Butler Bass September 12-14, 2011 Duncan Retreat Center, Delray Beach, FL 
Cost of the retreat is $275 US which includes 2 nights lodging (double occupancy with a private bath and wireless internet) and six meals. The $275 rate is good until May 5, 2011. After May 5 through July 5, 2011 cost for the retreat will be $325. Absolute deadline for all registrations is July 5, 2011. Click here to register. Thanks to a generous donation from MCC Austin, the OFLD will be able to offer a limited number of scholarships to help with the cost of registration for the retreat. Please contact Rev. Dr. Mona West (revmonawest@mccchurch.net) to inquire about scholarship applications. For more information on Diana Butler Bass and to view a video of one of her presentations go to http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/. To find out more about the Duncan Retreat Center go to www.duncancenter.org. |
| Congratulations to the Members of the MCC Bylaw Team! MCC Governing Board has approved the following persons to serve on the MCC Bylaw Team from January 2011 through General Conference 2013 in Chicago, IL. The members are: 
Rev. Onetta Brooks 
Judy Dale 
Rev. Terri Echelbarger 
Rev. Kevin Dudman 
Yuriy Kushnir 
Leah Sloan Click here to read more about the members of this team. |
| |
