Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Team

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Metropolitan Community Churches

• Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Team
• Workshop for Region 3/5 Conference, July, 2009
• Stan Kimer, Team Chair

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Contents / Agenda

• Introductions and the team
• Why is ecumenical and inter-religious ministry
  important to MCC?
• MCCs history of ecumenical and inter-religious
  work
• Practical suggestions how to evaluate
  opportunities and get involved
• Available resources
• Rev Candy Holmes will share about our
  relationship with The Fellowship
• Conclusion discussion - questions

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Team Members

• CURRENT MEMBERS
• Mr. Stan Kimer (chair)
• Ms. Lynn Farrand
• Rev. Elder Diane Fisher
• Rev. Candy Holmes
• Ms. Connie Meadows
• Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson
• Rev. Bill Young
• RETIRED MEMBERS
• Rev. Araceli Ezzatti
• Rev. Robert Griffin

                         
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Introducing the MCC Ecumenical and
Inter-Religious Strategic Team
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of MCC, has
worked diligently to re-invigorate MCC's
ecumenical and inter-religious work
denominationally and to help MCC re-engage in
this ministry in the 21st Century.  As part of
this effort, the Moderator's Office has
established the MCC Ecumenical and
Inter-Religious Strategic Team.  Rev. Elder
Wilson serves the team as guide and reference for
MCC's historical ecumenical and inter-religious
work.  The MCC Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
Strategic Team will work to nuture established
denominational ecumenical and inter-religious
partnerships and form new partnerships.  The team
will also recognize and nurture local-church
affiliations as invited.
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Purpose

• MCCs Statement of Direction challenges us to
  proclaim a spirituality that is liberating and
  sufficiently profound to address the issues of
  our chaotic and complicated world.

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• Leadership and participation in ecumenical and
  inter-religious work is a critical component in
  fulfilling this call.

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• As ecumenical/inter-religious partners, we unite
  across denominational and religious lines to
  advocate an inclusive and genuine respect for the
  sacred worth of all people

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• to reduce human suffering and to establish
  justice, peace and equality in the world.

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God has been up to something unique with MCC
since our beginnings.

• We are an inclusive and diverse church for all
  people.
• We do welcome, affirm and celebrate the goodness
  and worth of LGBT people and the Queer community.
  
• We are about tearing down walls and building up
  hope

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We affirm that Metropolitan Community Church is a
Christian Church.

• We honor and seek to follow the healing and
  compassionate example of Jesus, whom we call
  Christ.
• We claim our Christian identity and respect
  others religious identities.
• We believe that we are all children of God, and
  can work together to reduce human suffering and
  promote human dignity.

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We are compelled to work for justice for all
creation

• including environmental protection, peace, and
  the end to poverty, racism, oppression for LGBT
  people etc.
• much of this work involves recognizing the
  economic reality of our world.

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What does God expect of us as ecumenical/inter-rel
igious partners?

• How do we continue to lift up the cause of
  economic justice and address inequalities in the
  world?
• How do we continue to stand in solidarity with
  those suffering with HIV/AIDS, particularly in
  places where medications are not available?

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MCC has an ecumenical calling to the whole
Christian Church.

• We are called to help heal the churchs
  historical disconnect of body and spirit, which
  has contributed to the sins of exclusion, racism,
  sexism and homophobia.
• Our testimony and the embodiment of a new
  inclusive community can help heal the larger
  Christian community.

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MCC has much to learn from our Christian
colleagues and friends.

• There are churches open to partnering with MCC in
  ways that will change the world
• We must be willing to accept those invitations
• MCC churches globally must be trained to engage
  with churches in their communities, and refuse to
  be isolated.

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There is much to be done across religious
traditions.

• We are connected by our humanity, concern for
  each other and a desire to establish peace and
  equality in our world
• As we claim our rightful place in the human
  family, we must do so with an attitude of
  humility and respect.
• This is what it means to build bridges that
  liberate and unite.

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MCCs ecumenical / inter-religious work will not
be an attempt to convert.

• It must be a work that involves mutual respect so
  that we can hear what the other is saying even as
  we wish to be heard.
• In such an environment honest relationships are
  built, and friends working together can make a
  significant difference in the world.
• If we believe the answer to the question, Would
  Jesus Discriminate? is No!, we must live that
  out and be faithful participants in the global
  Body of Christ and the whole human family.

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Key Points from Dwelling Together in Unity
MCCs Approach to Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
Relationships

• MCCs Statement of Direction challenges us to
  proclaim a spirituality that is liberating and
  sufficiently profound to address the issues of
  our chaotic and complicated world.
• Leadership / participaton in ecumenical and
  inter-religious work is a critical component in
  fulfilling this calling
• We can unite across denominational and religious
  lines to
• Advocate an inclusive and genuine respect for the
  sacred worth of all people (a link with
  Theologies team!)
• To reduce human suffering and to establish
  justice, peace and equality in the word (a link
  with Justice team!)
• We have something unique to offer the religious
  world we are called to heal the churchs
  historical disconnect of body and spirit which
  has contributed to the sins of exclusion, racism,
  sexism and homophobia
• And we have much to learn from our religious
  sisters and brothers we can unite on key issues
  and engage instead of being isolated.
• This kind of work is what it means to build
  bridges that liberate and unite.

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Some MCC Historic Milestones of Ecumenical and
Inter-religious ministry
1974 Rev Nancy Wilson invited to attend the first meeting of the Commission on Women in Ministry of the US National Council of churches (US-NCC). Adam DeBaugh works in the 1970s for MCC in Ecumenical Relationships from Washington, DC office.
1976 Rev Ken Martin invited to participate in the Family Life and Human Sexuality team of the US-NCC
1979 Nancy Wilson leads the first delegation of LGBT religious leaders to meet with President Carter at the White House
1983 Colleen Darraugh becomes the first MCCer to attend a World Council of Churches Assembly
Late 1980s MCC admitted to its first US state Council of Churches (Hawaii)
1990s Rev Jeffrey Pulling serves for more than 6 years on the US NCCs Faith and Order Commission
1991 MCC is granted observer status in the World Council of Churches (WCC)
1992 - 1993 MCC admitted to its second US State Council of Churches (North Carolina)
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Some MCC Historic Milestones of Ecumenical and
Inter-religious ministry (continued )
Late 1990s Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord serves as MCCs Ecumenical staff person and serves as president of the California Council of Churches
1998 MCC sends a delegation to the WCC meeting in Zimbabwe and participates in several sessions and worship services
2004 MCC partners with several secular groups as a religious participant in LGBT civil rights issues (HRC, NGLTF, National Black Coalition)
2006 MCC sends a delegation, lead by Moderator Nancy Wilson to the WCC meeting in Brazil
2007 The Moderators new Ecumenical and Inter-religious team meets in Sarasota, Florida
2008 MCC is admitted to its first National Council of Churches (Denmark)
2009 MCC formalizes its partnership with the Fellowship and names Rev Candy Holmes our official liaison to the group
2009 After serving as 3rd and 2nd Vice President, MCC lay leader Stan Kimer is elected First VP of the North Carolina Council of Churches
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Ecumenical / Inter-religious involvement can be
at many levels

• Global (ex World Council of Churches)
• Regional / Multi-country (ex pan-European
  bodies)
• State / Province Level
• Local

• Involvement can be
• official membership
• dialogue
• one-time event

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Governance Process
Type of Relationship Responsible
(A) Denominational / Judicatory relationships
(A-1) Major global or cross-regional bodies (i.e. World Council of Churches, US National Council of Churches, Pan-European bodies) MCC Moderator with full BoE agreement. Supported by the Ecum/IR team
(A-2) US State bodies (i.e. State Council of Churches), Provincial bodies and country (other than US) bodies Applicable Regional Elder(s) with support from the Ecum / IR team and local churches
(A-3) Regional (large city, county) bodies with 2 or more MCCs in territory Local churches with Regional Elder approval / Support
(A-4) Bodies requiring denominational relationship but only 1 MCC in territory Local church recommend but Regional Elder approval needed since it is a denominational commitment
(A-5) Denominational / Movement Relationships and Affiliations (i.e. with The Fellowship, UCC) MCC Moderator with BoE involvement
(B) Individual church relationships
(B-1) Any global / national group other than dual affiliations that takes individual church memberships (i.e. Center for Progressive Christianity) Local church. However, Ecum / IR team can provide a recommended list and church can ask Regional Elder for opinion / support.
(B-2) Local groups that take individual church involvement Local church. Recommend informing around the fellowship as a vehicle to inform MCC of involvement and activities
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Criteria for Involvement
Denominational Involvement Local Church Involvement
Support MCC vision, direction, strategic priorities Consistent with local church strategy, goals, ministry priorities
Healthy two-way relationship? Healthy two-way relationship?
Do we have the denominational level financial and human resources to participate? Does the local church have the necessary financial and human resources to participate?
Theology and beliefs consistent with MCCs? Will they be welcoming? Theology and beliefs consistent with local church? Would they be open and affirming?
Is there an upcoming conference or event where we can participate contribute or learn? Is there a local event or conference where the church can participate and contribute or learn?
Is there a key social justice issue for us to collaborate on? Is there a key social justice issue in the community we can collaborate on?
So you have the support from the appropriate Elder(s) / Moderator / Ecumenical and Inter-religious team? Do you have the necessary board and / or pastor and/or ministry committee approval and support?
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Where to find the Ecumenical and Inter-religious
page
Here under Program and Initiatives
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And what is available on the Ecumenical and
Inter-religious page?

• Our statements
• History
• Partners
• Resources
• Latest News
• Our Team

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Current (denominational) Partnerships

• California Council of Churches
• Colorado Council of Churches
• Conference of Churches of Aoteara New Zealand
  (Observer Status)
• Danske Kirkers Rad (Danish National Council of
  Churches)
• Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
• The Fellowship
• HRC Religion and Faith Program
• Lesbian Gay Christian Movement (UK)
• NGLTF Religious Roundtable
• North Carolina Council of Churches
• Other Sheep
• The Center for Progressive Christianity
• The Institute for Welcoming Resources
• World Council of Churches (Observer Status)

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Current available online resources

• The MCC Ecumenical and Inter-religious Strategic
  Team Purpose (English and Spanish versions)
• MCC Ecumenical and Inter-religious Overview
  Presentation
• Small Group Discussion and Study Guide
• Ecumenical and Inter-religious Governance Process
• Our relationship with the United Church of Christ
  in the USA
• Our relationship with The Fellowship
• Criteria for Ecumenical and Inter-religious
  Involvement
• Ecumenical Team Report to the BOE, August, 2008

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MCCS Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Team

• Thank you!

Psalm 1331
Micah 68
Rev Bill Young
Stan Kimer
Rev Robert Griffin
Rev Elder Nancy Wilson
Lynn Farrand
Connie Meadows
Rev Candy Holmes
Rev Elder Diane Fisher
Rev Araceli Ezzatty