15 January 2009

MCC General Conference 2010 - Official Launch


General Conference 2010




JUNE 28 - JULY 2, 2010
With God's power working in us,
God can do
much, much more
than anything we can
ask or imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
Welcome to General Conference
Rev. Elder Nancy L Wilson
A Message from MCC's Moderator and the General Conference
Host Steering Committee

"Come to worship, heal, learn, and open yourself up to all that God wants to do in your life..."

Dear Friends and Allies,


Can you believe it? We thought three years would be a long time until the next General Conference, but as of today, it is just around the corner.



This historic conference will be our first in a Spanish-speaking country, our first in Latin America. Our sisters and brothers from Latin America are so thrilled and honored to offer their "Bienvenidos!"

Visit the General Conference website for the full letter from Nancy and Host Steering Commitee.

MCC General Conference Host Steering Committee Members:
Carlos Chavez, Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, Jennifer Justice, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Rachel Meyer, Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo, Bryan Parker, Rev. Lewis Reay, Troy Sanders, Rev. Elder Glenna Shepherd, Rev. Gavin Ward, Marsha Warren and Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson.

Registration
Register for Conference Today for Special Pricing
We want to make General Conference affordable to all who wish to come and therefore continue to use the World Council of Churches model of a tiered fee schedule based on your country of residence and income levels. We have multiple payment options and registration rates available. Visit our website http://generalconference.mccchurch.org/ for more information and to register today.

As a special promotion for those of you who register early, we are offering two options:

Installment Plan Registration
Must register by February 15, 2009
Spread your registration fee cost into seventeen affordable monthly payments.

Promotional Rate Registration

Must register by March 15, 2009
Get 50% off the regular registration rate if you register by March 15, 2009. A savings of up to $225.00 USD per person.
Website and Tools
We are pleased to announce that General Conference 2010 website is now live! We are very excited with the launch of this website and we hope you begin using it as a tool to start making your plans to attend this exciting event.

Click on the link below to visit the website now.

http://GeneralConference.MCCchurch.org

Our website features the General Conference Schedule of Events that will help you start planning your week at conference. Check out the media page to view streaming video from previous General Conferences. You can also participate in our new Online Forums where you will be able to connect with other MCC'ers to find or share a ride from the airport or even find a conference roomate to share the hotel expenses.


Logistics and Location
Make your Hotel Reservation Early to Guarantee Your Room Acapulco Princess Hotel
Our host hotel for MCC's 24th General Conference is the beautiful Fairmont Acapulco Princess located in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. The resort is situated on 480 lush, tropical acres, encompassing 710 rooms and suites, two challenging 18-hole golf courses, eight tennis courts, four swimming pools, a variety of restaurants and bars, a fitness center, a children's center and a Willow Stream health spa.

Make sure to use our group name, listed below, to receive our guaranteed room rate of $125.00 USD, per night! Click Here to visit our website for more details.

Hotel reservations are currently being accepted by phone only:
From the US & Canada dial: (800) 441-1414
From other countries dial: +1(506) 863-6301

Group Name: UFMCC 2010 General Conference

Features
MCC Conferences go Green

green pic 100MCC cares about the environment and the sustainability of the Earth. For the 2008 and 2009 Regional Conferences we started implementing the "greening" of MCC events by taking steps such as reducing the amount of paper products used and using technology to replace traditional conference practices.
We plan to continue this model and further lower the impact that our conferences have on the Earth's environment. Keep posted to conference updates and our website to follow the steps we're taking and help us become a "greener" conference with your contributions.

raptim
MCC Travel Partner
Adam Stopa
adam@raptimusa.com
(800) 750-1224 Ext. 5267

hola


Useful tips to help you along in Mexico
Common Spanish Words
Hola - Hello
Gracias - Thank You
Adios - Goodbye


Fun Facts:
Acapulco is located on the pacific coast of Mexico and boasts sunshine 360 days of the year. So... Don't forget your sunblock!



07 logo transMCC CONFERENCE TEAM
conferences@mccchurch.net


Carlos Chavez (310) 489-3899
Jennifer Justice (213) 447-2953

Post Office Box 1374 Abilene, Texas 79604 USA


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MCC Announces Creation of Joint MCC/Fellowship Collaboration Team

Metropolitan Community Churches

Tearing Down Walls.  Building Up Hope.  

 

January 2009

 

New Horizon

 

 

 

Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson

Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson 

 

 

 

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner

 

 MCC ANNOUNCES CREATION OF JOINT MCC/FELLOWSHIP COLLABORATION TEAM

 

On September 11, 2007, the MCC Board of Elders hosted the leadership of The Fellowship in a historic meeting that marked the official beginning of intentional relationship-building between the two faith-based groups.
 
The Fellowship is a cross-denominational fellowship of primarily African-American Christian leaders representing churches and faith-based organizations from diverse geographic and theological backgrounds. The overriding purpose of The Fellowship is to support religious leaders, both clergy and laity, in moving towards a theology of radical inclusivity which, by its very nature, requires an equally radical social ministry reaching to the furthest margins of society to serve all in need without prejudice or discrimination.
www.RadicallyInclusive.com
 
Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) is the world's largest and oldest Christian denomination with a primary, affirming ministry to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. Known as the "Human Rights Church" for its commitment to social justice, local MCC congregations can be found in 28 countries around the world.
www.MCCchurch.org

The MCC/Fellowship leadership body declared solidarity and committed to work in unity on three objectives.

1.  Resistance to and healing of religious and spiritual violence perpetrated against people who have traditionally lived at the margins of society, including people suffering from substance abuse; people living with HIV/AIDS and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and inter-sex people;

2.  Radical and full inclusion of all people living at the margins of  communities of faith and spiritual practice;

3.  Commitment to the deep and challenging work toward reconciling the historical divisions in faith and religious communities created by racism, sexism, classism, serophobia and homophobia.

 

Rev. Nancy L. Wilson (L), Bishop Yvette A. Flunder (R)

Rev. Nancy L. Wilson (L), Bishop Yvette A. Flunder (R)
Photo taken on September 11, 2007, at DaySpring Conference Center
in Florida (USA) during discussions that led to the historic joint commitment
to work for "radical inclusivity."

 

Next Steps: Joint MCC/Fellowship Collaboration Team

 

The leadership of MCC and the Fellowship met again twice in 2008 to prepare the way for strengthening and deepening the organizational relationship. An outcome of those conversations was the decision to create a joint 12-person MCC/Fellowship Collaboration Team.  

The six MCC representatives to the Joint Collaboration Team are:

·  Ms. Kathy Beasley, Team Leader (MCC staff and member of Joy MCC in Orlando, FL)

·  Mr. DeWayne Davis (member of MCC Washington, DC)

·  Mr. Robert Ferguson (Deacon and member of Jesus MCC in Indianapolis, IN)

·  Rev. Dr. Cindi Love (MCC Executive Director)

·  Rev. Dr. Mona West (MCC Director of Formation and Leadership Development)

·  Rev. Phil Mathews (Pastor of Imani MCC in Durham, NC)

The charge to the joint MCC/Fellowship Collaboration Team is to carve out clear steps and decisions that will bring about mutually-beneficial collaboration between the two organizations. The intention is that their work will be completed by and reported to the 2010 MCC General Conference.  Potential areas for collaboration that the Team will explore include, but are not limited to, such things as recognition of clergy, affiliation of local congregations, support of local churches and church leaders, collaboration on social justice and human rights efforts, and shared administrative and personnel services.

 

We are eager to receive feedback from you about this next step as MCC and The Fellowship move forward from cooperation to collaboration. You can contact us at RevNancyWilson@MCCchurch.net and RevDarleneGarner@MCCchurch.net. For more information about the MCC/Fellowship Joint Collaboration Team, click here

 
In closing, we invite you to join us in prayer that God will bless the work of the Joint MCC/Fellowship Collaboration Team so that we might all grow from strength to strength in our commitment to radical inclusivity.
 
Grace and Peace, 
 
The Rev. Nancy Wilson, Moderator
The Rev. Darlene Garner, Vice-Moderator

Metropolitan Community Churches
www.MCCchurch.org

 

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FW: News from MCC - The Fellowship 2009 Leadership Retreat

 

Metropolitan Community Churches

Office of Formation & Leadership Development

 

 

 

January 2009
 

Dear Colleagues and Friends of MCC,

It is not too late to register for The Fellowship's Leadership Retreat scheduled for February 18-21, 2009 in Charlotte, NC. This retreat is open to all pastors, clergy, and persons serving in leadership. Speakers include Bishop Yvette Flunder and Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson.  Early bird registration is $125 by February 1, 2009. Click here to register now!

 

The Fellowship Leadership Retreat

 

 The Fellowship 2009 Leadership Retreat

 

Theme: WHOLE Leaders

 

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (NRSV)

 

+++

 

February 18 - 21, 2009

 

 

The event will be held at the Omni Hotel Omni Charlotte Hotel
132 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
 
Reserve your room by 1/16/09 to receive the special Fellowship Rate of $125.00 (single) or $145.00 (triple) per night
Reservations: (800) THE-OMNI 

 

Here is an overview of the agenda for this incredible time we will have together.

LEADERSHIP RETREAT OVERVIEW


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
6:00 PM - WELCOME FELLOWSHIP
Facilitators: Bishop Yvette Flunder, Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson

 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009
PLENARY: WHOLE Leaders: What constitutes WHOLEness for us as leaders and for our churches?
Facilitator: Bishop Yvette Flunder


Panel Discussion: What are the Challenges to authentic ministry and how do these challenges differ regionally, theologically, and culturally?


Group Discussion: How does our personal growth* impact our ministry growth? (*Health, Self-worth, Intellectual, Theological, Relationships)

 
WORKSHOP: Healthy Relationships
How can we develop non-toxic intimate relationships?


In the press toward equality, how can we avoid legalizing dysfunction?


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009
PLENARY: Destroying Boundaries
Facilitator: Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson


Panel Discussion: The Barriers: Race, Men and Women Issues, Transphobia, Homophobia, Sexism

How do we destroy the boundaries and dismantle the barriers of denomination, theology, race, and gender among ourselves and within our organizations and our congregations.


WORKSHOP: Higher Ground: A Theological Journey to Radical Inclusivity


WORKSHOP: The Bible and Whole Leaders

 
WORKSHOP: Intersections of Racism and Homophobia

FELLOWSHIP/MCC SOCIAL


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

9:30 AM - Praise and Worship

9:45 AM - Morning Homily

10:15 AM - Healing Service

Note: Breakfast for all registered participants will be served on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM

 

Peace,

Mona
 
Rev. Mona West, Ph.D
Director of Formation and Leadership Development
Metropolitan Community Churches
P.O. Box 1374
Abilene, TX 79604
Office Phone: 310-360-8640
Fax: 310-388-1252
Skype: mona.west1

 

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The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or entity(ies) to which it is addressed and may contain confidential or privileged material. After review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you receive this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

12 January 2009

News from MCC - Announcement of MCC Structure Review Team

 

Metropolitan Community Churches

Tearing Down Walls.  Building Up Hope. 

 

Structure Review Team

 

In July 2001, the General Conference of the UFMCC overwhelmingly passed a major restructure plan for Metropolitan Community Churches. The plan had been carefully developed with extensive grassroots consultation and feedback over the previous four years. Over the following four years, from 2001 to 2005, many elements of the new structures and systems were successfully put into place. Six full years of experience with the new structure in place have been gained since 2003. Much has been accomplished globally by MCC since 2001.

Since July 2001, many changes have occurred both within MCC and in its external environment. In response to these new realities some adjustments were made in the implementation of the plan. Also, some needed changes have been made to the structures and systems.

Click the following link to continue reading this information on the new Structure Review Team's webpage.  (Click Here)

 

Rev. Tony Freeman, Chair

 

Rev. Tony FreemanTony served as Senior Pastor of MCC San Diego from August 1996 to March 2006. He has also served the denomination in a number of roles, including Chair of the Strategic Growth Initiative, and as a pastoral consultant to MCC's around the world helping with strategic planning, church transitions, conflict resolution, team ministry, and leadership development. Tony is currently the Executive Director of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the 3rd largest LGBT-focused community foundation in the United States. He also managed a corporate giving program and led the establishment of a new corporate foundation with a mission to serve at-risk children and youth. Tony has been actively involved in his local community serving on boards and committees ranging from alcohol and drug treatment facilities to AIDS organizations. He has received several awards for his work in the community, including The NickY's Governor's Award, Champion of Pride award, and the "Visionary" award from the Center for his leadership in the establishment of the LGBT homeless youth sheltering project.

 

Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston

 

Rev. Elder Cecilia EgglestonCecilia is currently serving as the Pastor of MCC Newcastle, a vibrant and exciting congregation in the NE of England. She served as Regional Elder for Region 4 for four years and prior to this, served as the District Coordinator of the European District for five years. She served on the General Council that guided the denomination through the transition from the district to the regional structure. She has worked with congregations in Europe and Africa and understands the joys and challenges of becoming a truly international movement. Cecilia is a member of the Geographic Review Board and has also ministered on the Church Planting Initiative, the Bylaws Advisory Committee and the Church Revitalization Initiative. She is a trained facilitator, specializing in consensus building, especially where there are greatly diverging views.

 

Barry Hundley

 

Barry HundleyBarry Hundley is a long time MCC Lay leader and community activist. The recipient of numerous awards hailing his participation in causes which uplift, educate and inform LBGT people of color. Barry is a leader in the "In The Life" conference, the largest LBGT conference of people of color in the nation. 
 
He is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he obtained a BA in Business Administration, with a minor in Political Science.
 
After graduating from college, Barry eventually settled in Atlanta, GA with a successful career in retail management.  With his 21 years of successful Retail Management experience, Barry is now the General Manager of the Atlanta flagship store for Brooks Brothers.
 
In 1992, Barry made the decision to leave the AME church and to make his spiritual home at First MCC of Atlanta.  Barry has served on the Board of Directors, been Co-Facilitator of the Christian Education Program, been a CELL group leader, and has served 12 years as Lay Delegate.  He was also the Chair of First MCC's 30th Anniversary Celebration and has served as a mentor for many of the up and coming leaders at First MCC. 
 
Barry has served in ministry for the former Gulf Lower Atlantic District, Region 2, and UFMCC.  He was a lay member of the Gulf Lower Atlantic District Board of Ordained Ministry.  After the Fellowship switched to Regions, Barry served as the Communications Facilitator and then as Laity Development Facilitator for Region 2.  Barry helped to organize two MCC conferences in Brazil and served as the Coordinator of the 2004 Regional Conference for Region 2.  Barry has attended all of the People of African Descent Conferences and served as co-chair for the 2002 conference in Atlanta.  Barry is currently a member of the MCC Geographic Review Board and a Project Manager for the Church Revitalization Initiative.  In honor of his excellent service and leadership, Barry was presented with a Laity Leadership Award at the 2005 General Conference. At the 2006 People of African Decent Conference Barry was awarded the Trail Blazer Award for opening doors for minorities in MCC and helping to shape and mold the next generation of MCC leaders.

 

Dr. Jonelle Neighbor

 

Dr. Jonelle NeighborDr. Jonelle Neighbor has been a part of the UFMCC since Fellowship Sunday of 1980 and has belonged to four congregations in Texas, Minnesota, and Colorado. Dr. Neighbor has served at the local church level as Lay Delegate, as teacher of Christian Education and facilitator of MCC's Creating a Life That Matters, as praise team sign language interpreter, and as lay pastoral leader for 10 months. She has worked at the district level as Lay Representative, founder of the Mid-Central District Commission on the Laity, and Conflict Management Consultant. She has ministered at the regional level, working with six different congregations in two regions on conflict transformation. She has volunteered at the denominational level as member and assistant chair of the Commission on the Laity and as member and currently chair of the Geographic Review Board. Dr. Neighbor holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and works professionally as a School Psychologist with middle and high school aged students. She further holds credentials as a Licensed Psychologist and School Administrator, and coaches middle school volleyball.

 

Stan Kimer

 

Stan KimerStan Kimer is a long time lay leader across all levels of MCC ministry.  He's a member of St. John's MCC in Raleigh, NC; was chair of the MCC Commission on the Laity 2001 - 2003, is currently Second Vice President of the North Carolina Council of Churches, and currently serving as the chair of the MCC Moderator's Ecumenical and Inter-religious team.  In his professional life, Stan  is currently the Director of Sales Operations for IBM's Global Business Services and is one of IBM's out GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) executives.  His 29 year career in IBM has included management and staff positions in sales, finance, marketing, and Human Resources (on the diversity staff leading IBM's GLBT diversity initiatives.)  Stan received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Science from Georgia Tech, and his MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.  He currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Rich, his partner of 17 years and his vocational interests include coin and stamp collecting, exotic world wide travel and photography.

 

 

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The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or entity(ies) to which it is addressed and may contain confidential or privileged material. After review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you receive this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.


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About Me

My photo
Metropolitan Community Church is a place for all people. It is our founding belief that all are welcome at the table whether they are GLBT, Straight, Questioning, a member of MCC, a member of another church, or not affiliated with a church at all. The love of God is NOT conditional. All are welcome!