| | | MCC Receives Grant to Fund New Position: Associate Director of the OFLD
EXCITING NEWS! MCC has just received a grant to fund a new position for the first year within the Office of Formation and Leadership Development! Thank you to Irma Bauer-Levesque and Rev. Dr. Mona West for collaborating on the grant proposal to make this possible. The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation was first established in 1975 to support the charitable interests of its founders. Today, the foundation provides grants in several areas, including for theological education and the programs, conferences and resources provided by public charities that offer support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons of faith, or those endeavoring to insure faith communities' understanding, affirmation, and inclusion of such persons. Rev. Dr. Mona West states, "I am so grateful to the Carpenter Foundation for this opportunity to continue to expand our vision for leadership development in MCC, especially in the area of Clergy Development." This capacity-building grant will fund MCC's new position in the Office of Formation and Leadership Development for the first year. Click here for a complete job description and application information. The deadline for applications is 9 August 2011. |
| Deadline for Clergy Retreat Extended
The deadline for the Clergy Retreat with Diana Butler Bass has been extended until 30 August 2011. This will be a wonderful time of relaxation and inspiration. In addition to a day of conversation with Diana Butler Bass (author of Christianity for the Rest of Us and primary voice in the emerging church movement), we will also have time with our Moderator, Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson. There is also a trip to the beach planned. The retreat will be held at the Duncan Episcopal retreat center in Delray Beach, Florida, 12-14 September 2011. For more information and to register, click here. |
| Rev. Elder Diane Fisher Introduces the New MCC Office of Outreach 
Dear Friends, What a joy it is to introduce you to the Office of Outreach! The Office of Outreach is a newly-created program for Metropolitan Community Churches. As we strive to become a Program-Sized denomination, we are aware of the need for expanding the base of MCC's program offerings. The Office of Outreach has been developed in response to that reality. The Office of Outreach, as a new concept, may go through some changes as it evolves and as we respond to the priorities of our churches and the denomination. Our initial understanding of the role of the Office of Outreach includes the following programs: Ecumenism and Interreligious Team: The purpose of this team is to build relationships with local, national and international faith bodies. - Chair: Stan Kimer, St. John's MCC, Raleigh, NC;
- Rev. Candy Holmes, Liaison to the Fellowship, MCCDC, Bowie, MD;
- Rev. John McLaughlin, newsletter, St. Jude's MCC, Wilmington, NC;
- Rev. Steve Parelli, Other Sheep Ex. Dir., MCCNY, New York, NY;
- Rev. Elder Diane Fisher, Ecumenical Officer for MCC, Director of Outreach, Boston, MA;
- Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson, Moderator of MCC, Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, FL;
- Connie Meadows, MATS, support to the team, Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, FL.
Health and Wholeness Team: The purpose of this team is to reach out to our churches and the larger community around issues of spiritual, mental, physical and sexual health. We believe that all these areas are interrelated. Some specific examples are HIV/AIDS, addictions, and trans health. - Chair: Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Angel Collie, staff, Trans health specialist, New Haven, CT;
- Jason O'Neill, staff, REACH newsletter, Dallas, TX;
- John Adams, HIV/AIDS specialist MCC New Life of the Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, VA;
- Rev. Marcio Tavarez Retameroda Silva, HIV/AIDS specialist, ICM Comunidad Betel, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil;
- Carol Stevens, Parish Nurse, MCC of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA;
- Danny Gladden, Healthy Sexuality, MCC of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.
Disaster Relief Team: As our communities around the world experience disasters or trauma in the life of their church, MCC will strive to respond with emotional, physical, spiritual and financial help. - Chair: Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Linda Brenner-Beckstead, MCC of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis MO;
- Rev. Joy Etwell, MCC in Australia, Melbourne, Australia;
- Barb Crabtree, MCC Director of Operations, Exodus MCC, Abilene, TX;
- Jason O'Neill, support to the team.
(This team is still in its forming phase.) Justice Competency and Resourcing for Local Churches: The purpose of this team is to educate, support and prepare resources for local churches engaged in acts of compassion and justice. - Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Angel Collie;
- Jason O'Neill.
(This is currently a staff team and will expand.) Partnerships: MCC has partnered with many organizations under numerous offices within the denomination. The partnerships included in the Office of Outreach are generally national or global in nature and have one or more contact person(s) associated with them. The role of the Office of Outreach is to be of support to these partnerships. This area is still being created as we consider in which office each partnership is best served. - Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Jason O'Neill;
- Angel Collie.
(This is currently a staff team and will expand.) Outreach to Colleges and Universities: In our commitment to "Raising Up a New Generation of Young Spiritual Activists," we are going to be deliberate about making ourselves more visible on college and university campuses. This will be in addition to the work being done by OFLD with seminaries. This is another way we will be recruiting young leaders for MCC. - Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Angel Collie;
- Jason O'Neill.
(This is currently a staff team and will expand.) Eastern Europe Development: To work to bring about full inclusion of LGBTQI community in Eastern European countries, including the freedom to worship, freedom to public assemblies, to end hate crimes and to create MCC congregations led by indigenous people, as well as to lift up and train young spiritual leaders. - Florin Buhuceanu, Eastern European Development Coordinator, Bucharest, Romania;
- Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Rev. Jim Mulcahy, Open Arms MCC, Rochester, NY;
- Jason O'Neill, support to the team.
African Development: To work to bring about full inclusion of LGBTQI community in African countries, including the freedom to worship, freedom to public assemblies, to end hate crimes and to create MCC congregations led by indigenous people, as well as to lift up and train young spiritual leaders. - Sharon Ludwig, African Development Coordinator, Good Hope MCC, Cape Town, South Africa;
- Rev. Elder Diane Fisher;
- Jason O'Neill, support to the team.
We look forward to the unfolding of this exciting new program area within MCC and finding ways to partner with you as this work continues to evolve. Please watch for our first edition of REACH, the newsletter for the Office of Outreach. God Bless, 
Rev. Elder Diane Fisher Director of the Office of Outreach |
| | | | Prayer Request: Senior Leadership Team and Governing Board Meetings MCC's Senior Leadership Team will be meeting 31 July-4 August, and MCC's Governing Board will be meeting 3-7 August, both in Sarasota, Florida. We are excited and humbled to ask for your prayers for this historic event. This is the first time the full Governing Board will be meeting with the full Senior Leadership Team. |
Summer Reading Sale - LAST CHANCE! We are offering special 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. |
| Upcoming MCC Events 
26-27 August Programming Summit Registration Deadline: 25 July 
27-30 July Young Adult Retreat 
9-10 September Stewardship Summit Registration Deadline: 10 August
23-24 September Size Summit Registration Deadline: 22 August  28-31 October Young Adult Leadership Mentoring Retreat Registration Deadline: 22 August 12-14 September OFLD Clergy Retreat Registration Deadline (extended): 30 August For a full listing of MCC events, click here. |
MCC's Updated Program Booklet As we work to use church size theory for our denominational work, we want to ensure that our churches have easy access to programs that support leaders, grow churches and provide care and connection. To that end, we are continually creating and updating resources that are producing results. Click here for the most recent listing of programs being offered this year. |
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