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| May 5 | International Family Equality Day | | May 17 | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia | | May 19 | National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | | May 22 | Harvey Milk Day | | May 24 | Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day | | |
Join the PAD Conference 'Family Reunion' on July 26 to 28 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Early Bird Registration EXTENDED! | |
PAD Family Reunion! The last PAD gathering was in 2017 and it is about time to have another to gather the MCC siblings to the Motor City! | |
MCC Detroit has the unique opportunity to co-host North America’s longest running Black Pride celebration in Detroit, entitled “Hotter Than July.” This year’s Black Pride will have a gospel theme to it featuring the artist B Slade featuring special guest Bishop Yvette Flunder. | We have a fantastic time planned for you and worked to keep costs affordable. We are honored to have our Moderator the Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston and her spouse Orgena Rose travel to be with us. Won't you join them as well? Plan to join us in the Motor City for the 2024 PAD: The Next Generation Conference and Reunion! | |
Plan to join us in the Motor City for the 2024 PAD: The Next Generation Conference and Reunion! | Schedule: July 26-28, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church - Detroit, Michigan, USA | |
Early Bird Registration is EXTENDED until Friday, May 10 at 11:59PM PST, so get your tickets now! | |
Early Bird Registration is EXTENDED until Friday, May 10 at 11:59PM PST, so get your tickets now! | |
| $125 | Early Bird, until May 10 | | $200 | Regular, May 11 - June 30 | | $250 | July 1 and after Registration | | $80 | Saturday Day Rate (In-Person Only) | | $25 | Livestream Access (Saturday Worship / Workshop and Sunday Worship) | | |
If you identify as a person of African descent, you are welcome to attend the PAD:TNG Gathering Calls for the month of May. | |
Saturday, May 11: 9AM PST / 10AM PST / 11AM CST / 12PM EST / 5PM UK / 6PM South Africa / 6PM Sweden
Tuesday, May 14:
4PM PST / 5PM MST / 6PM CST / 7PM EST / 12AM (next day) UK / 1AM (next day) Sweden / 1AM South Africa
| The link will be in the next CONNECT. In the meantime, you are invited to visit the PAD:TNG folder in the Resource Bank. | Join the PAD Conference Choir! | If you are interested in participating in the PAD Conference Choir, please email us at PAD-TNG@MCCchurch.net. The Conference Choir will sing during the conference on Saturday and the closing worship service on Sunday. | |
Pre-PAD Conference Webinar on May 1 at 9PM ET / 6PM PT | Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow will be hosting a half-hour webinar to answer any questions or concerns people may have regarding the upcoming PAD Conference. This webinar will also be recorded for those who are not able to join on the live webinar. | Questions, Concerns, Clarifications? | If you have any questions regarding the upcoming PAD Conference and its related events, you may email PAD-TNG@MCCchurch.net. | We are excited to hear from you. Share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for this historic gathering where we get to connect with fellow members of the community, build relationships, and forge collaborations, while celebrating our rich heritage. | |
In Photos: Activities of ICM Sephoras in in São Paulo, Brazil | |
Some of the activities held by ICM Sephoras in São Paulo, Brazil include Trans Dinner Meetings, Solidarity Cafe our Street Siblings, LGBTQIA+ Book Fair, and the inauguration of a new MECT inclusive ministry by another Trans Pastor. | |
Prayer For Those Affected By The Bondi Junction Stabbings in Sydney, Australia | |
(Prayer Courtesy of Crave Church led by Christian Leed) | Dear Holy Spirit we welcome you into this place. We bring our offering, our heart to you. In Jesus’ name, we bring our community of Sydney to you. Whatever we are going through God, when our peace has been taken away, we know that our peace will be restored in this community of Sydney. Whatever fear that comes into us, there will be no fear! The fear will be taken away. | |
Jesus, Holy Spirit, we bring our community to you right now. Bring us to your safety. For those people who are impacted by the 2024 Bondi Junction Stabbings, we bring them to you. Comfort them and bring peace to them. | |
We know there is no fear in your presence. The fear will dissolve. The fear will not be present in your Light, Jesus. And we thank you for everything that you give us. That we know we can walk today into our life, know that peace will keep flowing and overflowing eternally, and knowing that we are safe and no fear will be present in our life journey. | In the name of Jesus, this we pray, Amen. | |
North American L.E.A.D. 14 Retreat | |
On April 19-21, 2024, ten lay leaders from North America gathered at Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, FL, USA, for the fourteenth North American (NA) LEAD retreat, pursuing a certificate in the UFMCC Laity Empowered for Active Discipleship (LEAD) Program. The most recent LEAD participants spent Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon learning leadership skills in the four LEAD competencies: Spiritual Maturity, Diversity and Cultural Awareness, Developing and Equipping Others and Situational/Strategic Leadership. The retreat ended with the participants spending time in discernment concerning their call to lay ministry and sharing this call at the closing ceremony. It is anticipated that the participants will complete their certificate requirements within 12-18 months. | The participants at this most recent LEAD retreat included: Carmell Bostock-O’Dell, MCC of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Don Faust, MCC of the Quad Cities, Davenport, Iowa, USA; Ray Griffin, Pike’s Peak MCC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Alysha Hayes, Pike’s Peak MCC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Lyric Jones, MCC of Detroit, Ferndale, Michigan, USA; Bethany Kowal, MCC of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Eric Larrieux, MCC of Detroit, Ferndale, Michigan, USA; Sandi Lemon, Exodus MCC, Abilene, Texas, USA; Anna Naden, aChurch4Me, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Marie Tasker, Love MCC, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | The faculty for the NA LEAD 14 retreat was comprised of the NA LEAD Core Team Members: Elder Velma Garcia, Barry Hundley and Elder Nancy Maxwell, with special guest facilitator, Rev. Elder Lillie Brock, who presented the Change Cycle. | |
The NA Core Team members express their gratitude to the congregants of Church of the Trinity MCC Hospitality Team, who provided the lunches and dinners for the retreat, as well as the congregants who hosted the retreat participants in their homes, served breakfast and provided transportation to and from the retreat. A special thanks goes to Rev. Elder Lillie Brock, Senior
Pastor of Church of the Trinity, as well as Laticia Williams, Church of the Trinity Housing Liaison and a NA LEAD 6 graduate, and JT Priar, Church of the Trinity Young Adult Minister and Hospitality Team Liaison and a LEAD 13 participant. Church of the Trinity MCC also has the most LEAD graduates of any MCC congregation, several of whom supported the NA LEAD 14 participants by attending the retreat’s closing ceremony.
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Good News Story: How an MCC church in Waco, Texas USA Jumpstarted Their Transgender Ministry | |
Around the world, life is very tough for our trans siblings at the moment and one local pastor just had a really great idea. Reverend Charley Garrison who pastors Central Texas MCC in Waco, Texas USA noticed that there were no trans folk in the congregation. | |
As it is commonly known, Texas is a conservative state, and Waco is a very conservative area. This, however, did not hinder Reverend Charley, motivated by the idea that there are trans people everywhere, even in Texas. | |
Reverend Charley set about collecting different resources for trans folk and set up a page on their church's website - which includes videos, books, clinicians, health and well-being support, how to change one's legal documents, and even contact details for a makeup artist. | |
These different and comprehensive resources are designed to support trans people and their families. It also showcases Central Texas MCC's determination in welcoming and supporting the trans folk in their local area. | Now, they have a trans group meeting twice a month in their church building, simply because trans folk know that their church is a safe environment where they are welcome. In addition, trans people in the congregation are now making their own contribution by being in ministry. | The MCC family is proud to have trans folk who are pastors, clergy, chaplains, lay leaders, board members, elders. Thank you to Central Texas MCC for the great idea to serve your community because it takes all of us to be MCC. | |
2024 Governing Board Nominating Committee Application | |
If you feel called to serve on the MCC Governing Board Nominating Committee, you may submit your application now. | |
Members of the Governing Board Nominating Committee (GBNC) must have the following skills, talents, time available, and call a commitment to the continuing success of MCC around the world, and willingness to commit a significant amount of time to the process, among other skills and capabilities. | Deadline for submission of applications is on 24 May 2024 (5pm USA EDT / 9:00pm UTC). | |
Gender and Sexuality Course | Join our comprehensive Gender and Sexuality Course which delves into the fascinating and diverse tapestry of the human experience. Explore the concepts of sex, gender, and sexuality, and how they affect our human lives. Let's challenge the stereotypes, embrace inclusivity, and gain insights on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. | This course fulfills the Ministry Action Plan requirements, and is open to anyone who is interested. The course will have Rev. Dr. Francisco Danielsen-Morales as the instructor. | Schedule: June 7, June 14, June 21, and June 28; 4PM to 6PM ET | Please contact Rev. Cathy Alexander via email for more information (link below). | |
Dive into our Queer History Course and learn about the often-hidden stories of queer lives, struggles, and triumphs across different cultures and time periods. Explore the lives of trailblazing activists, artists, and everyday people who shaped the LGBTQ+ community, from Stonewall and beyond. | This course fulfills the Ministry Action Plan requirements, and is open to anyone who is interested. The course will have Rev. Dr. Kelby Accardi-Harrison as the instructor. | Preliminary Meeting: June 1; 11AM-12PM CST (1 hour) | Class Meetings: June 22, July 13, July 27; 11AM-1PM CST (2 hours each) | Please contact Rev. Cathy Alexander via email for more information (link below). | |
Call For MCC Theologies Submissions | Send in your wonderful work so current and future generations may benefit! | We accept sermons, liturgies, Christian Education materials, essays, books, academic papers, and spiritual teachings and reflections - in written, audio, or video format. | |
Queer and Catholic: Making Sense of Recent (and Confusing) Catholic Statements on LGBTQ Issues | Join LGBTQ Religious Archives Network for a timely and opportune online presentation on May 16th: "Queer and Catholic: Making Sense of Recent (and Confusing) Catholic Statements on LGBTQ Issues." Read more about this program and its presenters here. | This Zoom webinar is co-hosted by the Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) and LGBTQ-RAN. | Schedule: May 16, 2024; 5PM PT / 6PM MT / 7PM CT / 8PM ET | |
Reimagining Giving Traditions | In this podcast episode of Leading and Thriving in the Church, Prince talks with David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving as well as Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies within the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. | As an American religious historian, his research interests broadly include exploring the practices of 20th- and 21st-century American and global faith communities as well as more specifically investigating how the religious identity of faith-based nonprofits shapes their motivations, rhetoric and practice. | |
Metropolitan Community Churches is looking to be more dedicated to seeking, forming, instructing, and empowering Latino ministry within our local congregations. | Las Iglesias de la Comunidad Metropolitana buscan estar más dedicadas a buscar, formar, instruir y empoderar el ministerio Latino dentro de nuestras congregaciones locales. | |
Kinship Groups offer a safe spaces of connecting with other people of similar struggles and challenges. We have groups for Trans, PAD, API, God-Talk, and Latinx. | If you have any questions, are interested in a particular Kinship group, or interested in forming another Kinship group, you may email Rev. Hector Gutierrez. | |
Living Well With Differences 2024 Course | This course helps participants learn how to recognize and understand the signs of potential tensions and sources of conflict earlier and respond with confidence. We will explore what conflict ‘looks’ like in our faith communities, explore different approaches and responses that can help develop your skills in transforming relationships and navigating tricky conversations. | The Europe, Africa, and Australia cohort starts on the 12th of June. | |
SunCoast MCC 6-Night Fundraiser Cruise | Join SunCoast MCC and other MCCers for a six-night fundraiser cruise. | Schedule: September 30 to October 6, 2024; Departs from Tampa. | Contact MCC members:
Dan Mullins 1-407-731-7704 or Lorna Hunter 1-941-220-984 | |
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