Rev. Elder nancy Wilson endorses National Equality March

Tearing Down Walls. Building Up Hope. MCC Action Alert! MCC Leader Endorses National (U.S.) Equality March! A C T I O N S T E P S Here are the steps you can take today: 1. Get the latest information by visiting the National Equality March's website. 2. While at the website, read about accommodations, airfares, and how to attend on a budget. 3. Sign-up to endorse the National Equality March. If you're willing to serve as a volunteer, or to help organize locally, indicate that, as well. 4. Begin to promote the March in your community. Make posters. Include info on your website. Insert announcements in your bulletins and newsletters. Make public announcements on a regular basis. 5. If you will be attending the March, write to Rev. Nancy Wilson and let me know you will be joining us in Washington, DC. I will keep you informed of plans for the March and the MCC events that will take place in Washington. Public Statement from Metropolitan Community Churches To All U.S. based Activists MCC Leader Endorses Oct. 9-11, 2009, National Equality March in Washington, DC "I'm marching in the National Equality March because of its one single demand: 'Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.' We must accept no less and we must work until it is achieved," says MCC's Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator. Remarks by Rev. Nancy L. Wilson Office of the Moderator Dear Friend of Equality: On Sunday, October 11, 2009, I'll be marching in the National Equality March in Washington, DC, along with tens of thousands of supporters of justice and equality. I hope you'll join me for this historic event in the ongoing struggle to achieve equality under the law for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens within the United States. Let me share with you why I, along with the entire MCC Board of Elders, am supporting the National Equality March in Washington, DC. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because MCC has a history of being at every March on Washington to take a public stand for LGBT equality under the law. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because it offers an opportunity for a new generation of LGBT youth and supporters who have never marched to become involved in the vital work of justice. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because I believe it is important for people of faith to have a visible presence before our government's leaders in the White House, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because of its one single demand: "Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states." I agree with the March's organizers -- we must accept no less and we must work until it is achieved. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because its theme touches the key issues facing our LGBT communities: repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, immigration reform that recognizes same-sex couples and includes our LGBT families, an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that ends workplace discrimination for everyone, hate crimes legislation that includes LGBT people, and the equal right to adopt children and raise our families without government restrictions. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because this is one March in which we're not forced to choose between whether to address national issues or to support state and local organizing. The March's organizers are mobilizing grassroots support in all 435 local congressional districts and carrying our voices to the federal government. I'm marching in the National Equality March... because we must hold the President accountable for his campaign promises. Justice must never be postponed; equality must not be delayed. The time is right for this National Equality March. It will take place during National Coming Out Day, the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder, and the 30th anniversary of the first March on Washington for LGBT rights. This March will achieve what every past March on Washington has accomplished: It will make voices heard at the federal government, give national visibility to the LGBT equality movement, and birth a new generation of activists with a passion for justice and equality. That's why I and the full Board of Elders of Metropolitan Community Churches encourage you to join us in Washington, DC, in October. Together, let us march on Washington... and demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Together, let us march on Washington... to hold our government officials accountable and to work for the realization of full equality for all people as envisioned inn our country's founding documents. Together, let us march on Washington... and together, let's make history during October 10-12, 2009! The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson Moderator Metropolitan Community Churches

The Latest on Transition from Rev. Elder Wilson

Metropolitan Community Churches Tearing Down Walls. Building Up Hope. In This Issue of The Latest Thank You! In Our Prayers In The News! Stay Tuned Staff Reductions Cluster Teams Thank You! Give thanks for a very generous donor who gave a gift of over $20,000 this week to MCC! In Our Prayers Please continue to pray for Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair of our Global Justice Team, who is in Pakistan this week, bringing funds we have raised for education to a group of lesbians who are seeking to live independently; and for Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo, who with Rev. Pat visited queer Christian and activist groups in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and our church-in-formation in Kuala Lumpur. In The News! Rev. Nancy had the joy this week of speaking on the radio program moderated by Rev. Fernando Frontan from ICM in Monterrey, Mexico - this broadcast reaches people in Spanish speaking countries all over the world! Stay Tuned... A new MCC Staff Organization Chart that will be featured on our website in the next few weeks. A lot more information about General Conference in Acapulco!! The Structure Review Team's invitation to participate in their surveys as we move forward in faith! Friends and Family: MCC has officially endorsed the National Equality March, set for October 10th in Washington, DC. I will be there, and participating in interfaith events along with many from MCC's. There will be ways congregations can participate in their own cities, stay tuned for more information. Staff Reductions In accordance with our goal to stay within budget this year, and manage during this economy, we have taken additional steps, the last, we hope, this year, to cut expenses through staff reductions. We are also reorganizing staff to absorb, as best we can, the lost positions. We are pleased that Judy Dale has graciously offered to volunteer to continue to edit The MCC IMPACT for us, which will be published once, instead of twice per month. Thank you Judy! Her ability to capture the the stories and the efforts of the people in our local churches and communities serve as a point of inspiration for many. Judy Dale served as Great Lakes DC for many years, as Chair of the BOA, and as the special assistant for ommunication and lay Resources since 2006. Please express your gratitude toJudy at: JudyDale13@aol.com. Jim Birkitt has worked in support of the mission and ministries of MCC for many years, through many changes and he has served as the director of communications & public relations for 9 years. During this time, he has assisted Rev. Perry in the fight for Marriage Equality in California, and has dedicated himself to bringing to life the stories from struggle and justice of many MCCers around the world. We take this opportunity to wish Jim well in all of his future ministry endeavors. Please take a moment to express your thanks to Jim at: JimBirkitt@aol.com. Joe Rattan has served as our director of graphic design & publications/strategic brand management since 2007. The results of his creative efforts can be found on numerous MCC publications and conference materials. We want to thank Joe for sharing his gifts and talents with us and invite you to express your thanks and well wishes to Joe at: JRattan@JosephRattandesign.com. Rev. Thomas Friedhoff, has served as our German Development worker. Dring his time with the organization, his efforts have been instrumental to development of ministry and we thank Thomas for his faithful service to Region 4 and the MCC churches in Germany. We are grateful for all of the ways in which these individuals have served and will continue to be a part of the work of MCC around the world. Cluster Teams Thanks to all who have volunteered, thus far, to be Cluster leaders for our Regions, to assist with care and connection! You are already making a difference, and we appreciate your service!! Canada Cluster: Rev. Deana Dudley (pastordeana@aol.com) New England Cluster: Brianna Johnston (briannajjohnston@yahoo.com) Mid-Atlantic US Cluster: Rev. Jim Mulcahy (mulcahyj@citlink.net) Central Eastern US Cluster: Rev. Susan Deitrick (swdeitrick@neo.rr.com) and Judy Dale (JudyDale13@aol.com) South Eastern US Cluster: Rev. Belva Boone (pastor@stjohnsmcc.org) Tennessee and Georgia US Cluster: Rev. Paul Graetz (revtpaul@aol.com) Central US West Cluster: Rev. Gordon McCoy (grmchitown@aol.com) Northern Central US Cluster: Rev. Wendy Woodruff (pastor@milmcc.org) Michigan Cluster: Ann Cox (coxie331@aol.com) & Rev. Lin Stoner (revlin@aol.com) Kansas and Missouri US Cluster: Terry Curry tcurry@gmail.com Nebraska and Colorado US Cluster: Linda Beckstead Linda@brennerbeckstead.com Northwest Texas and Oklahoma US Cluster: Rev. Connie Mangin cjmangin@swbell.net Northeast Texas US Cluster: Leonard Dacy ldacy@sbcglobal.net North Florida US Cluster: Elizabeth Jensen-Forbell peaceliz@aol.com Central Florida US Cluster: Rev. Carol Chambers revcarol@joymcc.com South Florida US Cluster: Rev. Robert Griffin rogertg@aol.com Central Eastern US Cluster: Rev. Joe Cobb (namastejoe@gmail.com) Southern California/Nevada US Cluster: Rev. Dr. Shore-Goss (revbobshoregoss@sbcglobal.net) Arizona/New Mexico/El Paso US Cluster: Rev. Judy Maynard (revjudym@mccabq.com) Southern Texas US Cluster: Rev. Mick Hinson (mccsapastor@sbcglobal.net) Spanish Cluster: Rev. Hector Gutierrez (HectorGutierrez@mccchurch.net) Portuguese Cluster: Rev. Cristiano Valerio (pr.cristiano@uol.com.br) Western Europe and Africa Cluster: Eastern Europe Cluster: Florin Buhuceanu (florinbuhuceanu@mccchurch.net) Asia/Pacific Cluster: TBA Pacific/Northwest US Cluster: Kimberly Brown (ksbpnw@gmail.com) Valley/Bay Area US Cluster: Rev. Sky Anderson saplus6@earthlink.net Southern/Coastal US Cluster: Rev. Keith Mozingo mccbr@aol.com Western Europe: Rev. Kieren Bourne kowhai45@hotmail.com; Rev. Janice Bowker RevJaniceBowker@aol.com; Jochen Gewecke Jochen@gewecke.net Africa: Sharon Cox (health@triangle.org.za) The Board of Elders will be meeting in Austin Texas August 17 though 21, to continue to work through the transitions, focusing on the new ways of working together. We will also be meeting with Barb Crabtree talking about program, staff, communications and budget for 2010. We will be working on General Conference, and meeting with our Office of Leadership Development Staff as well. Please keep us in your prayers as we meet, pray, worship, and work together. Grace & Peace, + Nancy Rev. Nancy Wilson MCC Moderator