Transforming Ourselves as We Transform the World 6-23-13

     

Transforming Ourselves as We Transform the World    6-23-13

            God, we pray for all those people who are members of MCC worldwide.  Help us to remember to pray for them and celebrate their churches and communities.  Teach us to look beyond our comfortable walls and enjoy the wonder of your created world in all her diversity and joy!  Help us today to hear your sweet soft voice.  Amen

            Today is the day we end our series on MCC values and purpose.  It has been a varied journey and has changed along the way.  In this series of sermons, I want to leave you with a very important message:  MCC is growing and changing all over the world.  We must become involved in this denomination as a global movement in order to serve God beyond our comfortable borders. 

            Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson introduces us to the International Task Force of MCC like this:  “After General Conference in 2010, the Governing Board sent out applications and went through

an exhaustive search for members of the ITF.  We also set out a plan and parameters, …  We were looking for people, mostly from outside the US., who had demonstrated leadership in their local church or area, who had expertise but not preconceptions. … most of the people on the ITF had little denominational level experience or baggage, though they have a devotion to the mission and vision of MCC.  We were so thrilled at the number and quality of the applicants and gave them a huge task.”

            One of the important things the Task Force did was to review the history of MCC. Dr. Juan Battle , professor of sociology in New York City, met with the Steering Committee by phone

7 May 2011, while the group met in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, USA. He analyzed UFMCC in terms of phases during the life of the church. Battle stated that the first phase of MCC was the “LGBT Church.” During this time, MCC brought the message that God’s inclusive love extended to all persons, that God made LGBT people and loved them the way they were. The second phase of MCC’s development was “The AIDS Church.” MCC had a full-time pastor of HIV Ministries. MCC congregations around the globe provided pastoral care at hospices and hospitals and helped families come to terms with HIV and AIDS. The third phase of MCC was the “Human Rights Church.” He reminded them (and us) that MCC is well-known throughout the world for its work in Eastern Europe, Jamaica, Africa, Latin America, and North America as a leader in demanding the human rights of religious freedom, freedom of association, and freedom to marry of all persons.” 

            In 2008, Rev. Elder Diane Fisher, a First-Nation Canadian, wrote a Human Rights Protocol for MCC, which was adopted by the MCC Council of Elders at the time in August 2008. It

reflected MCC’s acknowledgement of the Christian mission to bring God’s transformative love through Jesus Christ into reality by supporting the right for all people to be fully human as God intended. “We are called as Christians to

• stand in solidarity with those who are marginalized and oppressed

• be partners in working for change

• be witnesses who call attention to Human Rights abuses

• be a voice in the international community for justice

• lift up new generations of remarkable, far-reaching spiritual activities

• build on hope and create our future.”

            The Task Force concluded, “MCC is now both an inclusive church for all people and a church that respects and embraces human rights, whilst still ministering effectively and powerfully to the LGBT community that gave birth to MCC. This is often challenging but is also central to MCC’s missiology as Christians working out what they believe to be God’s Will in the margins of society.  The struggle to defend minorities, preserve human dignity, and support human rights will be a long and enduring one.  The hope of many rests on us.  This is certain.

            The Task Force also spoke with Rev. Pat Bumgardner who is the head of the Global Justice Team.  She stated her belief that everyone involved in church planting should have a firm grounding in the Gospel as an instrument of social change.  She explained that financial support for the ministries GJI is undertaking and any newly planted ministries is one of the most crucial issues for MCC and the ITF.

The ITF looked at leadership development for pastors, the roles of lay delegates, leadership development in geographical areas, clergy and laity training, the Code of Conduct and Judiciary, and leadership in general within the church and the denomination.  They noted, “Churches often appoint individuals to perform selected tasks that are predefined or

characterized as functions of leadership, rather than accepting all people as leaders and

supporting them as they live into their individual callings. It is the case, though, that no human can lead others effectively without first being led—servanthood is a part of Christian leadership. Paradoxically then, emphasis for developing leadership in the Church lies in developing servanthood.

As a very important part of their study, the ITF explored issues of cultural diversity within churches and the acculturation of MCC in the communities that become a part of the denomination. The task force encourages all churches to be open to the rich varieties of cultures in communities, providing accessibility for speakers of other languages and for those persons with hearing and visual impairments. Radical inclusion of persons of all genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, abilities, and economic status should be a priority.  The importance of adapting the MCC experience to local cultures has been a major topic of exploration for the ITF. As groups approach the denomination for information about worship, theology, and structure, they should be encouraged to apply their cultural ethics, music, art, organizational style, etc. in their group development. However, the internalization of historical and current oppression by outside churches and governments can lead to lack of pride in one’s own culture, particularly if that culture has been maligned as inferior for centuries.

The International Task Force looked at communion as very important in inclusion.  Open Communion is an aspect of MCC theology and practice that liberates people from any culture that has kept them away in the past. Millions around the world, heterosexual as well as LGBT people, live on the margins believing they are unworthy and unlovable.

            Finally, in the conversations of the International Task Force, several themes and core ideas began to emerge. 

First—Believe , Trust, Have Faith—Expanding and consolidating the global ministry of MCC is not going to be met without opposition. MCC must remain faithful to the God who makes the ministry of MCC authentic, as well as trust that God will empower the denomination to bear the witness they believe God desires them to bring.

            Secondly—Transformation—MCC has a transformative ministry to bring to the global community. “Tearing down walls and building up hope” throughout the world would positively change lives, societies, churches, communities, and families. States of being and ways of doing that are not yet realized must be imagined. If the denomination and the ITF want constructive solutions to current and future challenges, then everyone must think and pray creatively and imaginatively to foresee and explore these challenges and envision ways around them. MCC should be open to new ways of being church and of being God’s witness.

Thirdly—Authentic Community—Whatever changes or evolutions happen within an organization, it should not lose the authentic voice of the community it serves. In order to retain its authenticity as a globally inclusive community church, MCC must be responsive to the indigenous roots of the local churches and be adaptive to accommodate the diversity of that in dignity. MCC is Metropolitan Community Churches: Community is the middle name. This, by definition, should be a group of people, brought together in community to share common ground and relationship with one another. It is the people and the fellowship that defines what kind of a

group and community MCC is. The conversations of the ITF centered around the premise that it is the people, the members of MCC and the wider community, that should be driving any

exploration of who and what MCC is as a church.

In the fouth place—Inclusivity—MCC identifies first and foremost as an inclusive church. Any expansion or consolidation of its global ministry must embrace inclusivity at its heart. It was important for the ITF to talk about what it means to be inclusive in today’s age, and how inclusivity might be seen differently in different times, cultures and contexts.

Finally—Accessibility—In order for church to be inclusive, MCC must be accessible. Much of the ITF’s conversations centered on maintaining or improving accessibility for all members of the worldwide community to the transformative gospel and ministry that MCC believes it is called to share. MCC now exists in a technological age. Failing to use technology eventually leaves organizations or individuals on a back foot, as they struggle to keep up with society’s expectations. On the same note, an ability and willingness to embrace new technology at the outset can maximize efficiency and efficacy in ways that were not possible previously.

            The International Task Force has learned that adaptation, as in biologic evolution, is the key to the survival of MCC. The churches must adapt to changes in demographics in their locality, changes in technology, and changes in people’s desires for spirit-filled worship.  Young people must be included in leadership positions in churches to keep the process fresh and in step with the times. All assumptions must be challenged, and the church should be continuously reinventing itself. The denominational structure may need to be adapted to meet the needs of a widely dispersed global church. The culture of MCC must be adapted as it arrives in culturally diverse locations so that a new story is written for new churches. The history of MCC is inspirational and must be shared with all new participants so they will be encouraged to persist in their efforts to achieve more civil and religious rights in the face of oppressive cultures and governments. Inspiration combined with faith leads to transformation.  Amen and amen.