Justice Ministry
- Rev. Karla Fleshman, Barbara Gittings, Rev. Troy Perry
As members of a spiritual community, we are called to live out our shared values, to "walk our talk". MCC strives to create justice and equality among its membership through its denominational programs as well as in local churches.
UFMCC is at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements, including efforts in the mid-1990s to end the ban on lesbians and gays in the U.S. military, respond to human rights violations in Brazil, and fight the radical religious right. Since its earliest years, UFMCC led marches, promoted demonstrations and staged sit-ins to gain justice for lesbian and gay people. Down through the years there have been many who understood their calling to be that of standing with those who are oppressed and marginalized by society. Countless members of Metropolitan Community Churches live their faith in action - working to change unjust laws, to feed the hungry, to protest injustice and to work for the coming of God's realm.
In witnessing to God’s call for justice and human dignity, the Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church joins with the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in seeking to celebrate diversity, build inclusiveness, and ensure equity for God’s people locally, nationally and internationally.
MCC Invited to U.N. Commission of Human Rights Meeting
FREE and EQUAL in
DIGNITY and RIGHTS
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton |
MCC was honored to be one of 38 invited guests to the U.N. Commission of Human Rights meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to hear U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's historic address. You can read more about it in Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson's article on Huffington Post entitled Occupy Queer Rights Around the Globe! or via MCC's press release.
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Rev. Pat Bumgardner (MCC New York and Global Justice Institute) and Dane Lewis (MCC in Jamaica and JFLAG) |
Imago Dei MCC and OutFest
The Philadelphia region uniquely celebrates OutFest: The National Coming Out Day Block Party. Usually held the Sunday prior to Columbus Day every October, OutFest attracts over 20,000 people, making it Philadelphia's second biggest LGBT annual event and the largest NCOD Event in the world!
Imago Dei MCC had a table at OutFest!
Imago Dei MCC and Equality Forum
Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum presents annually the largest and premiere national and international GLBT civil rights summit. Equality Forum 2010 had over 45 programs, parties and special events.
Imago Dei MCC had a booth at SUNDAY OUT!
Imago Dei MCC and the YES! Coalition
The YES! Coalition seeks to nourish the spiritual expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and same-gender-loving people, and our families and friends. Volunteers carry out this mission in partnership with affirming faith communities in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties that welcome people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and same-gender-loving). The YES! Coalition works under the fiscal sponsorship of the Interfaith Working Group, a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization.
Imago Dei MCC Environmental Stewardship
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." Genesis 1:26-28
Whether you believe that God created the universe in six days as described in Genesis, Darwin’s theory of evolution, or that “God created evolution,” it’s obvious that, outside of the forces of nature, we’re in charge of everything, including, to a large extent, our own destinies, and that of our planet. Dominion comes from the Latin word for God, Dominus, and such is the generosity of our God that we are deemed gods of this earth in Genesis 26. That’s a lot of responsibility!
There are a variety of ways individuals can reduce their carbon “footprints” on a daily basis and many other ways they can preserve our environment and influence the larger economic systems that also need to change. As part of Imago Dei’s initiatives to create a “Culture of Generosity,” three simple ways have been identified by which Imago Dei MCC can effect positive change:
- Education on the importance of environmental stewardship
- Practicing the “Three R’s” of environmental stewardship: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle
- Implementing the most cost-effective ways to reduce consumption of paper and oil, re-use resources whenever possible, and recycling all paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum waste.
Click here for information on how you can help Imago Dei MCC when you recycle.
MCC Asian Pacific Initiative
MCC Philippines
Did you know there are now two MCC churches in the Philippines? The original Manila church was affiliated in 1991 (now known as Makati) and is currently pastored by Regen Luna (pictured left). Two years ago, a satellite branch was planted in Quezon City. This church is currently pastored by Rev. Ceejay Agbayani (pictured right) and under his leadership, the church has grown tremendously! Rev. Elder Ken Martin and Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong attended the affiliation service and Rev. Agbayani's ordination on September 14.
MCC Quezon City is settling into its new worship space, thanks to your generosity! We have also been able to provide a $50 monthly stipend toward Rev. Ceejay's salary.
The local news station did a feature on the church in their new facility. Attendance continues to grow, especially from the neighboring university, attracting straight allies as well. MCCQC has become a church for all God's children! There has also been a desire to start study groups in cities like Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. Rev. Agbayani has been busy training the next generation of MCC leaders in the Philippines
Pakistan
While most LGBT people enjoy relative freedom in North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, queer people literally have to live in fear that their lives would be in danger just by stepping outside the door. Islamic Fundamentalists frequently send "enforcers" to keep sexual minorities in the closet, or worst yet, "eliminate" them completely. It is not uncommon for a lesbian to be raped by the enforcers or for a gay man to be beaten and tortured. Consequently, many gay men end up marrying women, or in some rare cases, gay men marry lesbians.
Lesbians are often referred to as "those who wish not to marry" and are left with little economic alternatives in a patriarchal world. This is why MCC wants to partner up with CARE Pakistan, to offer training for women to become self-sufficient and to provide a safe environment for lesbians to learn a marketable trade.
USD$1,500 would be able to sponsor the vocational training for one lesbian. API has a goal of training three women. Please e-mail Stedney Phillips to make a commitment today.
- The API Team: Rev. Elder Ken Martin, Rev. Ed Paul, Stedney Phillips, Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong.
Imago Dei MCC and The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund
The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) strives to increase philanthropy and grantmaking to support the community needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) and straight-allied communities. DVLF advances philanthropy for the LGBTI community through endowment building, fundraising, community outreach and education.
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