Council of Elders

End of Term Report - January 2023 to March 2024

The Council of Elders is grateful to the fellowship of MCC for trusting us to minister and attend with you. We spent our third year maturing and stretching into the responsibilities of Elders.

Our work is only truly possible with the support, collaboration, and communication of MCC Staff. We are deeply grateful to these staff, directors, and volunteers for the quantity and quality of work and service, known and unknown, provided to the people of MCC.

The following includes those efforts recorded by the Council of Elders between January 2023 and March 2024, which may not constitute all service of the Council. It was an honor and a privilege to serve in this role.

Prayer and pastoral messages and group offerings continue to be a pillar of the Council.

Elders organized and facilitated monthly virtual gatherings of Tea Time for devotional reflection and prayer.
Elders provided monthly reflection Calls to Prayer, seasonal prayers, and occasional prayers and videos for electronic distribution, such as Advent, Lenten, and other important dates and holiday observances.
Elders provided occasional ceremonial prayers for events such as the Brazilian Conference, occasional ceremonial prayers for church anniversary events and markers (3), and appeared monthly to open with prayer at the meetings of Governing Board.
In February 2023, Elders hosted rolling prayer vigils for a 24-hour period through the global time zones.
An Elder co-leads MCC’s Trans Kinship Group with Rev. Jakob Hero and serves with European RevM.
Elders organized and provided a series Spiritual Practice webinars offering prayerful reflection and centering.
Elders presided in-person and virtually to mark the life of congregations through ordinations and installations (5), funerals (2), and to bestow MCC Awards.
Elders were engaged with marking and supporting global ecclesial events that included MCC 50 Years in Europe, Northern Lights Pride History, Gold Coast Australia, and clergy peer networking.

A core piece of the Council’s denominational role is to provide spiritual support to clergy, chaplains, spiritual leaders, and congregations.

Elders receive frequent email concerning needs and affirmations for and feedback from MCC congregants and leaders. These concern surviving partners and congregations of clergy and leaders who have died; those experiencing natural disasters or acts of violence; those discerning or moving toward closing; and clergy ordinations, installations, and retirement.
Requests are sent to the Council of Elders by congregations, leaders, and MCC Staff and others for Elder support. Each message is important and attended to carefully.
Elders provided pastoral support to leadership experiencing personal or professional crisis (11) and their congregations (5). Elders provided sermons and messages, particularly for congregations in transition (31).
Elders provided training and support for congregational Boards of Directors, sometimes in partnership with MCC Staff (2).
In 2023, Elders received Staff support to personally reach out and thank all MCC clergy and leaders for their ministries.
Elders provided letters of recommendation and other support to new churches and ministries. An Elder provided extensive pastoral support to a transgender group from Uganda. Individual congregations (5).
The Council of Elders FaceBook page was maintained to share weekly prayers, Elders statements, and Elder pastoral events and activities. Positive and critical feedback is received through this tool, and each receives a respectful acknowledgement. When our profile was raised by involvement with the European Conversion study and the Brazilian Black History series, the social media point elder worked to address anonymous harassment and other online violence.

Self-Care:

Elders planned and joined for a Council of Elders Retreat led by Rev. Dr. Kerr Mesner to build relationship, attend to and model spiritual self-care, and address group needs.

Drafted statements to inform about and elevate matter of importance:

Elder's statement on Protection of Journalists
Elder's statement on Anti-Transgender Attacks
Elder's statement Against Death Penalty
Elder's statement on Gaza

Review and response to denominational policies in collaboration with the Governing Board, participate in or liaise with global teams, and proposal consideration:

In 2023, Elders attended and facilitated three informational global webinar presentations on the updated MCC Clergy Sexual Conduct Policy.
Elders participated and took leadership Report on MCC Core Values.
Elders drafted a revision and update of the MCC Professional Ethics policy and forwarded to the Governing Board.
Elders provided support for MCC’s Dreams for the Future of MCC initiative.

Program and systems strengthening (Administrative)

Elders participated in and provided support for systems infrastructure and programming efforts.
Elders met with, helped to coordinate, and supported MCC Theologies Team efforts.
Elders created and coordinated a speaker series highlighting Theology From the Margins including inviting, prepping, and supporting speakers Rev. Dr. Ana Ester; Professor Revelation Velunta; Professor Kakay Pamaran; and Rev. Elder Carmenmargarita Sánchez DeLeón
Elders participated in general Strategic Planning meetings and engaged in Committee work to support the initiative.
Elders were active with global spiritual efforts, including Place for Hope training in Europe, outreach to clergy and leader networks, Brazilian Black Awareness, and advocacy with global churches considering affiliation.
Elders participated in and contributed organizationally to two spiritual webinar panel discussions of spirituality and sexuality called Angels & Saints.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to MCC LEAD initiatives.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to Thriving in Ministry initiatives.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to the Moderator-led MCC Dream sessions.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to MCC’s Courageous Leadership and Partners in Hope initiatives.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to the work of the Pathways to Healing Commission.
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to the work of People of African Descent (PAD).
Elders were active in supporting and contributing to the work of 2024-2026 Elder town halls, transition efforts, and skills- and systems-sharing. Most Elders remained active into and through March 2024 to facilitate a warm and smooth transition for MCC Churches and to the new Council.

Local initiatives to strengthen protections for LGBTQ peoples:

Elders were engaged throughout the world in large- and small-scale work to address queer, genderqueer, HIV-related, and other relvant education, policy shaping, and awareness work. Some Elders were targeted because of these efforts for harassment and other online violence.

These local and broader initiatives included the following: