LGBT religious-themed support groups and the MCC denomination

Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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 Affirmation booth at the 2013 Washington D.C. Capital Pride street festival.
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons is an international organization for gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and intersex people who identify as members or ex-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Affirmation holds that "homosexuality and homosexual relationships can be consistent with and supported by the Gospel of Jesus Christ."[1]
Under the name Affirmation: Gay Mormons United, the first Affirmation group was organized in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 11, 1977 by Stephan Zakharias and a group of other Mormon and ex-Mormons Gays and Lesbians. The original group struggled to survive until 1978, when Paul Mortensen formed the Los Angeles chapter and in 1980 the name was changed to Affirmation:Gay & Lesbian Mormons. Through the influence of the Los Angeles chapter, Affirmation groups appeared in many cities around the country.[2]
In 1985, some members of Affirmation formed a Latter Day Saint church for gays and lesbians known as the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ.

Contents
  [hide] 1 Affirmation and the LDS Church
2 Related organizations
3 Membership and presence
4 Prominent LGBT Mormons
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Affirmation and the LDS Church[edit]
Affirmation has sometimes denounced the LDS Church. Affirmation members have come forward to describe the aversion therapy they were persuaded to undergo in the 1960s and 1970s at Brigham Young University, an LDS Church school.[3] Gay students at Brigham Young University in 1977 widely distributed an anonymously published pamphlet called Prologue: An Examination of the Mormon Attitude Towards Homosexuality which described the aversion therapy, persecution of gays, and irregular behavior by the administration and faculty of Brigham Young University such as entrapment by the BYU security forces, recruiting student spies, and recruiting young Mormon women to attempt to sexually convert gays to heterosexuality by encouraging gay men to get married to these women in order to "cure" their homosexuality. The pamphlet said a significant percentage of the students at BYU were in fact gay and that psychologists had noted that it seemed that there was a larger percentage of Mormon gays than in any other religion.[4][5] This pamphlet led directly to the formation of Affirmation in June 1977.
In October 1999, some Affirmation members in Salt Lake City protested the LDS Church’s lobbying and funding of initiatives in California and other states to keep the traditional definition of marriage.[6]
Related organizations[edit]
The last decade has seen the formation of other gay Mormon organizations, some of which are close allies. Gamofites, an organization for gay Mormon fathers, began in 1991. Family Fellowship, an organization for parents of gay and lesbian Mormons, was formed in 1993. LDS Reconciliation, a group of Gay and Lesbian Mormons that was originally started in conjunction with Family Fellowship, serves a similar purpose but is focused on gay and lesbian Mormons in the Utah and Idaho areas, rather than worldwide as is Affirmation. The first group for gay Mormon youth, Gay LDS Young Adults, was launched in Salt Lake City in 2001.[7]
With the advent of the Internet, many gay and lesbian Mormons began to participate in Affirmation from overseas, especially in Latin America. In 2001 the first non-English chapter was formed in Mexico City, and later chapters appeared in Santiago (Chile), Valparaíso (Chile), and Puebla (Mexico).[8]
In addition, GALA (Gay and Lesbian Acceptance), the support group for GLBT members of the Independence, Missouri -based Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), was a break off from the Affirmation Chapter in Kansas City, Missouri in the mid-1980s.[9]
Membership and presence[edit]
Affirmation functions through local chapters established mostly in the Inter-mountain West, Chile, and Australia. At the head of the organization is an executive committee composed of three members.[10] Annual conferences, held in a different city each year, attract hundreds of members and friends from around the United States and abroad. Affirmation publishes a monthly newsletter, Affinity.
Prominent LGBT Mormons[edit]
Prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Mormons who have been associated with Affirmation include gay activist Leonard Matlovich,[11] artist Trevor Southey,[12] and writer Patrick Califia.[13]
See also[edit]

Portal icon LGBT portal
Portal icon Latter-day Saints portal
Criticism of Mormonism
Cultural Mormon
Gay Liberation
Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Law of adoption
LGBT-welcoming church programs
Religion and sexuality
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ
Same-sex reproduction
United Order Family of Christ
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons: General Charter
2.Jump up ^ In The Beginning: A Brief History of Affirmation
3.Jump up ^ With All Thy Getting, Get Understanding
4.Jump up ^ "Prologue—An Examination of the Mormon Attitude Towards Homosexuality" by Cloy Jenkins et al—1977 Reproduction on the Internet of the content of the pamphlet which led to the founding of "Affirmation—Gay & Lesbian Mormons":
5.Jump up ^ Image of the cover of the pamphlet "Prologue: An Examination of the Mormon Attitude Towards Homosexuality" widely distributed at Brigham Young University in the spring of 1977:
6.Jump up ^ Steve Fidel, "Protesters Target Church Activism in California," Deseret News, 4 October 1999, A6.
7.Jump up ^ “Group Helps Meet Social Needs For Gay LDS Youth,” Sunstone 120:72 (November 2001).
8.Jump up ^ Carlos Peralta, “Affirmation Mexico Holds Its First Meeting,” August 2001.
9.Jump up ^ GALA: Gay And Lesbian Acceptance!
10.Jump up ^ Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons General Charter
11.Jump up ^ Leonard P. Matlovich (1943 - 1988)
12.Jump up ^ Affirmation Celebrates 30th Anniversary
13.Jump up ^ Affirmation 2002 Conference Report
External links[edit]
Affirmation.org (English site)
"Same Sex Temple Sealings: Did the Early LDS Church Embrace Homosexual Relationships?", Salt Lake Metro, September 2004
History of “Homosexuality and Mormonism 1840-1980” (1994) by Connell O’Donovan:
"Private Pain, Public Purges: A History of Homosexuality at Brigham Young University (1940-1992)"—Address given by Connell O'Donovan on April 28, 1997 at UC Santa Cruz:
 

Categories: LGBT Latter Day Saint organizations
1977 establishments in Utah
Organizations established in 1977
LGBT organizations in the United States
Intersex organizations
Latter Day Saint movement in Utah



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DignityUSA

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DignityUSA is an organization with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts that focuses on LGBT rights and the Roman Catholic Church. Dignity Canada exists as the Canadian sister organization. The organization is made up of local chapters across the country, and functions both as a support and social group for LGBT and LGBT-accepting Catholics to worship together, and as an activist group for LGBT rights and education about LGBT issues.
See also[edit]

Portal icon Catholicism portal
Portal icon LGBT portal
LGBT-welcoming church programs
New Ways Ministry
References[edit]

External links[edit]
DignityUSA official website
Finding aid to the Dignity/USA records at ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
Stub icon This Roman Catholicism–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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Categories: Homosexuality and Catholicism
LGBT Christian organizations
Roman Catholic Church in the United States
Roman Catholic Church stubs
LGBT organization stubs






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Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International

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  (Redirected from SDA Kinship International)
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Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International is a support organization that provides a spiritual and social community to current and former Seventh-day Adventists who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex (LGBTI), and have felt hurt or rejected because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. SDA Kinship offers them the compassion and support not generally available within the organized Adventist Church.[1]

Contents
  [hide] 1 History and organization
2 Member services 2.1 Media services
2.2 Kampmeeting
2.3 Regional services
2.4 Special interest group services
3 Actions taken to inform and sensitize the Adventist Church 3.1 Information packets
3.2 Church leaders invited to Kampmeeting
3.3 AIDS conference
3.4 Kinship Advisory Council
3.5 Workshop on Homosexuality
3.6 Media Activities
3.7 Exhibits at church conferences
4 Relations with Adventist Church 4.1 Church sues SDA Kinship over use of church name
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
History and organization[edit]
SDA Kinship grew out of a 1976 meeting in Palm Desert, California, after some gay Adventist men placed an advertisement in The Advocate seeking other gay Adventists. Within four months there were 75 members and a rudimentary organization. During this time the name "Kinship" was chosen because Seventh-day Adventists typically enjoy a close-knit family relationship with each other. Small groups of gay Adventists who had found each other in New York and San Francisco soon joined Kinship.
SDA Kinship is managed by a volunteer board and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1981. Current membership, including friends and family, is approximately 1,500 people in 62 countries. At this time Kinship has no formal connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[2]
Member services[edit]
SDA Kinship exists to ease the initial distress of Seventh-day Adventists when they realize that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, and to facilitate the reconciling of their spirituality with their sexual orientation by offering suggested reading materials, personal dialog, professional counseling referrals, and a network of supportive members.3
Media services[edit]
SDA Kinship enables communication among members by publishing a free monthly newsletter, Connection, and maintaining a free online community, Kinship Online (KOL), which includes a web-based chat venue called KinNet.
Kampmeeting[edit]
Since 1980, SDA Kinship has organized an annual week long conference called Kampmeeting where members can meet and renew friendships. Worship, lectures, music, group activities, and good food, including vegetarian fare, are all part of the program. Spiritual ministry is provided by supportive church leaders and gay former pastors. Communion service is conducted on Friday evening and is the only communion received by many members who have been alienated from the church. In recent years (as of 2008), similar gatherings have been held in Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world.[3]
Regional services[edit]
In order to communicate with and serve its diverse membership SDA Kinship is organized by regions, with nine United States regions and eight overseas regions: Australia-New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Central-South America, Europe, Germany, The Philippines, and the British Isles. Regional coordinators communicate with members, sometimes by newsletter, and often sponsor meetings for social, recreational, educational and worship purposes. The frequency and type of activities depend largely on the number and proximity of members living within each region.
Special interest group services[edit]
In addition, attention is paid to the needs of special interest groups. "IMRU?" (I am, Are You?) is an outreach for college-age and under-30 young people and there are also coordinators for intersex persons, transgender persons, older adults, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and friends and family. www.someone-to-talk-to.net is the website for the ministry for families.
Actions taken to inform and sensitize the Adventist Church[edit]
Information packets[edit]
SDA Kinship has mailed thousands of information packets to Adventist pastors, teachers and counselors and to every Adventist academy and college in North America. Information about HIV/AIDS has also been sent to every Adventist church in the United States.[2]
Church leaders invited to Kampmeeting[edit]
In 1980 SDA Kinship held its first national gathering called Kampmeeting (similar to a typical Adventist camp meeting). Three professors from the Adventist Theological Seminary and two pastors were invited to participate. They received permission from the General Conference, with the stipulation that SDA Kinship would not claim that this indicated the church’s acceptance of homosexuality and that Colin Cook also be invited to present his ideas about helping homosexuals find healing. The invited theology professors, after the first in-depth research into what the Bible has to say about homosexuality, came to the conclusion that it was silent about persons with a homosexual orientation, and that its proscriptions against sexual exploitation, promiscuity, rape, and temple prostitution apply equally to heterosexuals and homosexuals. After hearing the traumatic stories of growing up gay in the Adventist church, the clergy were deeply moved and drew up a list of recommendations in their report to church leadership.[4] However, protests from conservative members prompted church president Neal Wilson to instruct Adventist college, hospital, and church administrators to prevent anyone from meeting with Kampmeeting attendees the following year. Nevertheless, certain pastors and church leaders have continued to attend and speak at the annual Kampmeetings.[5]
AIDS conference[edit]
In 1989 a pastor at Sligo Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland, attended by many denominational headquarters personnel, conducted a support group for people with AIDS and their family members. The editor of the denominational magazine, Adventist Review, was a member of Sligo Church and together Sligo Church and the staff of Adventist Review sponsored a weekend AIDS Conference. They asked SDA Kinship to send three of its members who were ill with AIDS as delegates. A call was made at this conference for the church to address the AIDS epidemic through its hospital system. However, nothing of substance was accomplished until the extent of the epidemic among many heterosexual church members on the African continent became known.
Kinship Advisory Council[edit]
In 2000, a group of supportive church leaders was invited to form an advisory council to guide SDA Kinship in bringing the Adventist Church to a more loving and redemptive attitude. This Council was instrumental in organizing a Workshop on Homosexuality and publishing a book resulting from the workshop.[6]
Workshop on Homosexuality[edit]
In January 2006, a Workshop on Homosexuality, held in Ontario, California, was jointly sponsored by SDA Kinship and the Association of Adventist Forums (now Adventist Forums), and was attended by about 60 invited observers. Twelve papers were presented on biological, sociological, psychological, legal, pastoral, theological, ethical, and Biblical aspects of homosexuality, and personal experiences.[7]
Media Activities[edit]
A book, My Son, Beloved Stranger, written by the wife of an Adventist minister about her family’s experience after learning their youngest son is gay, was published by Pacific Press in 1995. Another book, Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives, consisting of the papers presented at the 2006 Workshop on Homosexuality and six responses, was published by Adventist Forums in May 2008. Complimentary copies were mailed to 500 pastors, administrators, and thought leaders of the Adventist Church.[8] In 2005 SDA Kinship produced a DVD, Open Heart, Open Hand. It records three conversations with leaders in the Adventist Church who are parents of gay and lesbian children. It is introduced by an Adventist theologian whose brother was a gay man. It was filmed by Dr. Harry and Janice Wang, who also have a gay family member.[8]
Exhibits at church conferences[edit]
Beginning in 2000, at the quinquennial General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, “Someone to Talk to,” an outreach to Adventist families and friends of gays and lesbians, has had an exhibit presence in at least one large church convention every year, with informational handouts and book and DVD sales. A growing interest has been noted over these years.[9]
Relations with Adventist Church[edit]
See also: Homosexuality and Seventh-day Adventism
In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, homosexual relations are considered a violation and members engaging in such relations are subject to discipline.
Church sues SDA Kinship over use of church name[edit]
In 1987 a federal lawsuit was filed by the Adventist Church against SDA Kinship in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, California, charging that by using "Seventh-day Adventist" in its name the gay support group was guilty of trademark infringement. Curiously, the lawsuit came ten years after the organization and seven years after the incorporation of SDA Kinship, and after limited cooperative contacts between the church and SDA Kinship. Leaders of SDA Kinship surmised the reasons for this belated decision may have included anger over a recent Kinship demonstration at church headquarters.[10] The lawsuit was decided in favor of SDA Kinship.
See also[edit]

Portal icon LGBT portal
LGBT-welcoming church programs
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Welcome to SDA Kinship
2.^ Jump up to: a b Welcome to SDA Kinship
3.Jump up ^ See also "Kampmeeting Supports Gay Adventists" by the editors, Adventist Today 3:6 (November 1995)
4.Jump up ^ Benton, Elvin (April 1982). "Adventists Face Homosexuality" (PDF). Spectrum (Roseville, California: Adventist Forums) 12 (3). ISSN 0890-0264. Retrieved 2008-06-18. See also the other two articles in the same issue
5.Jump up ^ "The Caring Church" by Ron Lawson in Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives, David Ferguson, Fritz Guy and David Larson, eds., Adventist Forums, 2008
6.Jump up ^ Bylaws of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International
7.Jump up ^ Connection: The Journal of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc., February, 2006, Vol. 30, No. 2
8.^ Jump up to: a b SDA Gay Perspectives
9.Jump up ^ Someone to Talk to
10.Jump up ^ Peter Freiberg, "Gay Seventh-day Adventists Sued by Church," The Advocate, April 12, 1988, Issue 486
Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives, edited by Fritz Guy, David Ferguson, and David Larson (Roseville, California: Adventist Forums, 2008)
Gay religion by Scott Thumma and Edward R. Gray
External links[edit]
Kinship International official website
Kinship Australia
"Dilemmas of a Homosexual" by Wayne Blakely. Adventist Today website, posted September 7, 2009
Adventists and homosexuality part one and part two, from ReligiousTolerance.org
Marriage, Homosexuality and the Church special report, from the Adventist Review
 

Categories: Independent ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
LGBT Christian organizations
Religious organizations established in 1981

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Metropolitan Community Church

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Metropolitan Community Church
LogoMCC.JPG
The Metropolitan Community Church logo in front of the altar at a regional conference of the denomination at All God's Children MCC in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Classification
Protestant
Orientation
Mainline
Polity
Congregationalist
Geographical areas
Worldwide (divided into regions with congregations in 37 countries)
Founder
Rev. Troy D. Perry
Origin
1968
 Los Angeles, CA USA
Congregations
222
Official website
http://www.mccchurch.org/
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), is an international Protestant Christian denomination. There are 222 member congregations in 37 countries, and the Fellowship has a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and communities.[1]
The Fellowship has Official Observer status with the World Council of Churches. The MCC has been denied membership in the US National Council of Churches, but many local MCC congregations are members of local ecumenical partnerships around the world and MCC currently belongs to several state-wide councils of churches in the United States.[2][3]

Contents
  [hide] 1 Beliefs and practices
2 History
3 Governance and administration 3.1 Leadership
3.2 General Conference
3.3 List of regions
3.4 Local congregations
4 Popular culture
5 Notable clergy
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
Beliefs and practices[edit]
Part of a series on
Christianity and
 sexual orientation
Christianity and homosexuality
 Christianity and transgenderism
 
History of Christianity and
 homosexuality
The Bible and homosexuality
 Queer theology
 Blessing of same-sex unions
 LGBT-affirming churches
 
Denominational positions
Anglican·
 Baptist
 Eastern Orthodox
 Latter-day Saints
 Lutheran·
 Methodist
 Metropolitan Community Church
 Presbyterian·
 Quaker
 Roman Catholic
 United Church of Christ
 Uniting Church in Australia
 
Ordination of LGBT clergy
In the Roman Catholic priesthood
 
v·
 t·
 e
   



 Eucharist at an MCC worship service
MCC bases its theology on the historic creeds of the Christian Church such as Apostles' and Nicene creed. Every church is required to celebrate the Eucharist at least once a week, and to practice open communion, meaning that recipients need not be a member of the MCC or any other church to receive the Eucharist. Beyond that MCC allows its member churches independence in doctrine, worship, and practice. Worship styles vary widely from church to church.
MCC sees its mission being social as well as spiritual by standing up for the rights of minorities, particularly those of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people (LGBT). MCC has been a leading force in the development of Queer theology.[4]
Many local churches are also involved with other national and international campaigns, including Trade Justice[5][dated info] and Make Poverty History



 Infant baptism in an MCC church
Among its social justice works, MCC has a strong commitment to marriage equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. MCC's founder, the Revd Elder Troy Perry, performed the first public same-sex marriage in the United States in Huntington Park, California in 1969. In 1970, he filed the first lawsuit in the U.S. seeking legal recognition for same-sex marriages. Perry lost that lawsuit but launched the debate over marriage equality in the U.S. Today, MCC congregations around the world perform more than 6000 same-sex union/marriage ceremonies annually.
The Reverend Brent Hawkes and the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto were key players in the legal action that ultimately brought same-sex marriage to Canada.[6]
A notable aspect of MCC's theology is its position on homosexuality and Christianity where it fully embraces and welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Indeed, the majority of members are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, with many clergy being openly LGBT. MCC fully affirms the ministry of both men and women, seeing them as equal, and the recent election of the Revd Elder Nancy Wilson as Moderator makes MCC one of a small number of communions with female senior leadership.[7]
History[edit]
The first congregation was founded in Los Angeles by Troy Perry in 1968, a time when Christian attitudes toward homosexuality were almost universally negative. The MCC has grown since then to have a presence in 37 countries with 222 affiliated churches. The largest presence is found in the United States, followed by Canada. The denomination continues to grow: In 2010, El Mundo reported that the first MCC congregation in Spain would be established in Madrid in October. It would be the first church to recognize and perform religious same-sex marriages in the country, as the Roman Catholic Church (the former state church) refuses to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies or adoptions.[8][9]
Perry served as moderator of the Fellowship until 2005, when Nancy Wilson was elected moderator by the General Conference; she was formally installed in a special service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on October 29, 2005.[10]
In 2003, a scandal occurred involving the flagship of the church, as well as the largest gay church in the world, Cathedral of Hope when former board member Terri Frey accused minister Michael S. Piazza of financial impropriety, an accusation that prompted the UFMCC to open an investigation. However, the investigation ended when the Cathedral's membership voted to disaffiliate from UFMCC with 88% support. The split cost UFMCC 9% of its membership, and 7% of its annual operating budget. Church members, including copastor Mona West, claimed that the vote was less about the investigation and more about the congregation's long-simmering frustration with the denomination, including the opinion that the denomination was focused too much on gay issues and hampered their desire to reach out to Dallas residents disaffected by conservative churches; as church member Michael Magnia explained: "The tie with MCC was more about gays and lesbians. You're going to have a difficult time getting even progressive heterosexuals to come to a church that is anchored to a gay and lesbian church." [11]
Governance and administration[edit]
Leadership[edit]
MCC is led by a Council of Elders (COE) and a Governing Board. The Council of Elders consists of a Moderator and regional elders appointed by the Moderator, approved by the Governing Board, and affirmed by the General Conference. The COE has responsibility for leading the Fellowship on matters of spirituality, mission development, and Christian witness. The Governing Board is made up of the Moderator, 4 Lay members and 4 Clergy members elected by General Conference, and is the legal corporate board of the denomination, handling responsibility for financial and fiduciary matters.[12]
As of 2012, the Council of Elders includes Nancy Wilson (Moderator), Lillie Brock, Darlene Garner, Ken Martin, Mona West, and Hector Gutierrez.[13] The Governing Board includes Raquel Benitez-Rojas, Rev. Onetta Brooks, Liz Bisordi, Rev. Tony Freeman, Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin, Kareem Murphy, Bryan Parker, and Rev. Dr. Candace Shultis.[14]



 Ordination of clergy by the laying on of hands
The primary responsibility of Elders is to give pastoral leadership and care to enable the Fellowship in its spiritual journey. The Elders exercise spiritual and pastoral authority to build a shared vision for the UFMCC, prepare UFMCC for the future, and support UFMCC’s strategic direction. The Elders serve as official representatives of the Fellowship in the areas of public and community relations; provide oversight of and support to congregations; consult with churches on issues related to church development; and fulfill other ecclesial and ceremonial duties.[12]
General Conference[edit]
Internationally, the government of the UFMCC is vested in the tri-annual General Conference, subject to the provisions of the Fellowship Articles of Incorporation, its bylaws, or documents of legal organization. The General Conference is authorized to receive the reports from the various boards, committees, commissions and councils of the Fellowship. Throughout its history the General Conference has met both in and outside of the continental United States, in places such as Sydney, Australia and Toronto and Calgary, Canada. The last General Conference in 2010 was held in Acapulco, Guerrero, with future conferences occurring every three years. The 2013 General Conference will be held in Chicago, IL USA.[15]
List of regions[edit]
The worldwide church is administratively divided into 7 regions, each of which are represented by an elder on the Council of Elders.[16] Since the 2000s, many are further divided into sub-regional networks.[17]
Region 1: Region 1 Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Western Canada (British Columbia, Yukon), China, Micronesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Eastern Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam and the United States of America (Alaska, California (Northern), Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Australasia Network
Pacific Northwest Network
Valley & Bay Area Network
Asia & Pacific Islands Network
Region 2 - Canada (Manitoba and Nunavut), and the United States of America (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas (Eastern), and Wisconsin). Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama Network
Heartland Network
North Central US Network
South Gulf Coast Network
Region 3 - Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and the United States of America (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC). Northeast United States Network
DC, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia Network
Carolinas Network
Region 4 - Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Denmark, Egypt, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Holland, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Western Europe/United Kingdom Network
African Network
Region 5 - Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Eastern Canada (Baffin Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec), Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Tajekistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America (Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia), Uzbekistan, Vojdovina. Central US East Network
Canadian, Michigan & Windsor Network
Region 6 - Antarctica, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela and the United States of America (Arizona, California (Southern), Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas (Southern). Southern California/Nevada Network
Arizona, New Mexico & El Paso Network
Southern Texas Network
Ibero-America & Caribbean Network
Region 7 - Western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories), and the United States of America (Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas (Northern). North Florida Network
Central Florida Network
North Texas and Oklahoma Network
South Florida Network

Local congregations[edit]



 MCC of North London taking part in Pride London 2011.
Each affiliated member church of MCC is a self-governing, legally autonomous body, is vested in its congregational meeting which exerts the right to control all of its affairs, subject to the provisions of the UFMCC Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, or documents of legal organization, and the General Conference. An ordained pastor provides spiritual leadership and administrative leadership as the moderator of a local church administrative body. In the United States and Canada the local church administrative body is usually called "board of directors". Each local congregation is required to send a tithe of income to UFMCC, currently set to reduce from 15% of income to 10% by 1% every two years stating in 2005.[18] Each local church elects its own pastor from the roster of MCC credentialed clergy.
Each local congregation is free to determine matters of worship, practice, theology and ministry providing they meet certain basic requirements involving open access to communion and subscription to the traditional Christian creeds. Styles of worship include liturgical, charismatic, evangelical, traditional and modern — diversity is an important part of MCC.
A recent innovation has been for some MCC congregations to explore multi-denominational affiliation. New Spirit Community Church in Berkeley, California was an outreach of MCC San Francisco and, in addition to MCC affiliation, has affiliated with the United Church of Christ and is In Care with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Popular culture[edit]
MCC was featured in the 2009 Lifetime Television movie Prayers for Bobby.
Notable clergy[edit]
This list includes notable present and former clergy associated with MCC.
Troy Perry (founder)
Robert Sirico (former)
Nancy Wilson (Moderator as of 2009)
Arlene Ackerman
Delores P. Berry
Lillie Brock
Sharon Ferguson (Chief Executive of Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement)
James Ferry
Darlene Garner
Chris Glaser
Bob Goss
Brent Hawkes
Jim Mitulski
Cindi Love
Rembert S. Truluck
Jean White
Mel White
See also[edit]

Portal icon Christianity portal
Portal icon LGBT portal
Portal icon Religion portal
Queer Theology
LGBT-welcoming church programs
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches". UFMCC Official Web Site. UFMCC.
2.Jump up ^ Metropolitan Community Church glbtq article
3.Jump up ^ "Eccumenical Ministries". UFMCC Official Website. UFMCC.
4.Jump up ^ Edward R. Gray, Gay religion By Scott Thumma, Alta Mira Press, 2005
5.Jump up ^ E.g., MCC of North London: see "Camden Churches Fairtrade Directory July 2007", retrieved October 2009
6.Jump up ^ Copy of the Court's Decision
7.Jump up ^ List MCC Board of Elders as of 16 October 2009
8.Jump up ^ Olga R. Sanmartín (07/03/2010 18:27). "Llega a España la primera Iglesia gay". El Mundo. ‹See Tfd›(Spanish)
9.Jump up ^ Agence France-Presse (Sun Jul 4, 8:36 am ET). "Spain to get church for same-sex marriages: report". Yahoo! News.[dead link]
10.Jump up ^ "UFMCC Fact Sheet". FACT SHEET FOR METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES (MCC). UFMCC. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
11.Jump up ^ Caldwell, John (2003-09-30). "When the rainbow isn't enuf: a disagreement over its gay focus splits the world's largest GLBT denomination from its biggest church". The Advocate (Liberation Publications, Inc.). Retrieved 2010-08-20. "church member Michael Magnia. "The tie with MCC was more about gays and lesbians. You're going to have a difficult time getting even progressive heterosexuals to come to a church that is anchored to a gay and lesbian church.""
12.^ Jump up to: a b "ARTICLE V – GOVERNMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OFFICERS". UFMCC Bylaws as of June 2010. UFMCC. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
13.Jump up ^ http://mccchurch.org/how-we-work/board-of-elders/
14.Jump up ^ "MCC Governing Board".
15.Jump up ^ "RECORD OF ACTIONS". GENERAL CONFERENCE XXIV BUSINESS MEETING. UFMCC. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
16.Jump up ^ Welcome to Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles’ Membership/Inquirer’s Class
17.Jump up ^ Network Leadership
18.Jump up ^ "Article IX - Church Finances". UFMCC Bylaws As Of June 2010. UFMCC. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
External links[edit]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metropolitan Community Church.
Official website
Who we are - Metropolitan Community Church official website
A Church that Cares and Accepts

[hide]
v·
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Early LGBT rights advocacy in the United States (pre-Stonewall riots)


Organizations
Council on Religion and the Homosexual·
 Daughters of Bilitis·
 Janus Society·
 Knights of the Clock·
 Mattachine Society·
 Metropolitan Community Church·
 NACHO·
 ONE, Inc.·
 PRIDE·
 Society for Human Rights·
 Student Homophile League·
 Veterans Benevolent Association
 

Mattachine Society
Hal Call·
 Rudi Gernreich·
 James Gruber·
 Harry Hay·
 Dale Jennings·
 Frank Kameny·
 Jack Nichols·
 Chuck Rowland
 

Daughters of Bilitis
Lisa Ben·
 Barbara Gittings·
 Barbara Grier·
 Kay Lahusen·
 Phyllis Lyon·
 Del Martin·
 Ruth Simpson
 

Others
Merton Bird·
 Reed Erickson·
 Arthur Evans·
 Henry Gerber·
 Morris Kight·
 Aristide Laurent·
 W. Dorr Legg·
 Bob Mizer·
 Troy Perry·
 Clark Polak·
 Craig Rodwell·
 José Sarria·
 Randy Wicker·
 H. Lynn Womack
 

Publications
The Advocate·
 Drum·
 Journal of Homosexuality·
 The Ladder·
 Vice Versa
 

Events
List of actions·
 Newport sex scandal (1919)·
 Secret Court of 1920 (1920)·
 One, Inc. v. Olesen (1958)·
 MANual Enterprises v. Day (1962)·
 Annual Reminder (1965–1969)·
 Compton's Cafeteria riot (1966)
 

Related
Black Cat Bar·
 Black Cat Tavern·
 DOB Australia·
 Homophile·
 Garden of Allah (cabaret)·
 Julius (NYC bar)·
 Minorities Research Group (UK)·
 ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives·
 Oscar Wilde Bookshop·
 The Patch·
 Tavern Guild
 

 

Categories: Metropolitan Community Churches
Liberal Christianity denominations
LGBT churches
Organizations established in 1968
1968 establishments in California




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