| Comments from the Moderator regarding the HRC Clergy Call
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson speaking at HRC Clergy Call 2011 This was a very successful and powerful HRC-sponsored event! It is my third Clergy Call, and I was proud to represent MCC at the Press Conference on Tuesday, along with Bishop Flunder. The highlights for me were: - At least 40 MCCers, both clergy and laity, participated in and volunteered for and staffed this event! Thanks to Rev. Colleen Darraugh for gathering us all together for lunch that first day. In some cases, like Kansas and Montana, MCC provided the only voices from those states.
- The collaboration with our MCC PAD Conference was outstanding and made the intersections even more clear between different kinds of activism. Thanks to Rev. Elder Darlene Garner and Rev. Candy Holmes for pioneering this "bridging" event. This was a much more diverse Clergy Call in terms of the participation of African Americans from many faith traditions, and Trans clergy and lay leaders as well.
- Standing next to United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcano, from Arizona, a tireless advocate for the human rights of immigrants, who took the time to offer visible solidarity from a denomination that still does not fully accept LGBT people.
- The participation of so many from Brite Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas, including MCC folks, was the beginning of a "trend" to recruit seminarians into this work.
- HRC is simply the best at helping U.S. pastors and people of faith who are LGBT or allies to witness on Capitol Hill - the speakers, the coaching and preparation were all outstanding!
- Sharon Groves is a wonderful successor to Rev. Harry Knox at HRC, and we applaud her leadership in building our movement and building up the voice of people of faith in Washington, D.C.
- I loved surprising my Republican congressman's staff with the news that MCC's Moderator's Office is in Sarasota, a mile from his office. . . and educating one of our Florida senator's staff that trans-inclusion in the ENDA (ending employment discrimination) bill is simply non-negotiable!
+ Nancy Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson To see comments and pictures by other MCC clergy, click here. We welcome other submissions. |
| Disaster Relief: Joplin, Missouri
Worship Site of Spirit of Christ MCC
Note: If you are purchasing gift cards to donate, please consider prepaid credit cards instead to allow congregants to purchase food and other necessities. We are beginning to hear back from people who were in Joplin last week and over the weekend. Powerful and moving testimonies! We will be sending out another update soon. |
Summer Reading Sale! Need a little stimulus for your summer (or winter, for those of you nearer the South Pole) reading list? Announcing special new pricing (up to 40% off) for books in the Rev. Troy Perry cycle: - The Lord is My Shepherd & He Knows I'm Gay - $15.00
- Don't Be Afraid Anymore - $8.00
- 10 Spiritual Truths for Successful Living for Gays and Lesbians (and Everyone Else!) - $7.00
- Troy Perry: Pastor and Prophet - $8.00 (includes book & CD!)
*** Or buy the whole set for $35.00! *** All prices in US dollars. Free shipping/handling (within the continental US) for orders of $15 USD or more. While supplies last. Special Bonus: Be one of the first 29 individuals to order 10 Spiritual Truths, and receive an autographed copy! Additional Value: A free Would Jesus Discriminate? t-shirt will be shipped with the first 50 orders! (Include your size preference with your order, and indicate what you would like us to do if your size is no longer available.) (This offer is good for orders received no later than 31 July 2011.) You can order online here, or contact Franklin Calvin at FranklinCalvin@MCCchurch.net or 1-202-657-6304. |
Registration is now open for MCC's new Lay Leadership Certificate Program! L.E.A.D. (Laity Empowered for Active Discipleship) is a program developed specifically for laity in MCC to provide an opportunity for spiritual growth and the development of leadership skills so that they may be effective leaders in the church and the world. Persons who complete the L.E.A.D. Certificate will be placed on a Leader List available to Elders, Senior Staff and MCC Clergy for the purpose of creating a leadership pool from which to choose trained laity to serve in leadership positions in MCC at the denominational, local and international levels. For a list of the core competencies for the L.E.A.D. program, click here. For a listing of courses for the L.E.A.D. program, click here. There is an application process for the program, and attendance at a L.E.A.D. retreat is required. The first L.E.A.D. retreat, which is a pilot for the U.S. and Canada, will be offered 18-21 August 2011 at Dayspring Retreat Center in Ellenton, Florida. The cost of the retreat is $400 USD, which includes tuition, three nights' lodging and all meals. The deadline for applications to the program is July 5. To download an application packet, click here. Space for this first L.E.A.D. retreat is limited to 30 persons. In 2012, L.E.A.D. retreats will be planned for venues outside the U. S. and will be designed to be culturally relevant wherever they are offered. The OFLD plans to offer retreats on a regular basis to accommodate all those who wish to participate in the program. |
