Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and the U.S. States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), North Carolina, South Carolina

May 2006

Around the Region - Holy Week and Easter In Review 2006

MCC Baltimore, MD , held Holy Week activities that included the culmination of several projects of the Lenten season. Kristen Claire Foley coordinated the collection of clothing for a men's and a women's mission program and 16 large bags of clothes were taken to them on Maundy Thursday. They held a traditional service of Tenebrae on Good Friday. 40 days of prayer and prayer walking along the west side of downtown Baltimore and to Baltimore's famous Lexington Market, the longest continuously operating public market in the United States, ended with a Jericho walk around seven times and a shout on the Saturday before Easter. On Resurrection Sunday they held their two services, the traditional service, then the praise service led by the Gospel Chorus.

St. Jude's MCC, Wilmington, NC , joined an interfaith sunrise service on Wrightsville Beach.  Their treasurer invited them to breakfast at his beach house afterwards.  In their new home they doubled last years attendance at the 9:30 and 11am worship.  This year they had an Easter Bonnet parade after worship with local celebrities to judge.  In the evening their choir performed a full Easter cantata "Jesus is ALIVE."

Imago Dei MCC, Glen Mills, PA , celebrated their sixth Palm Sunday with their fourth annual Ham Dinner sponsored by the HIV Ministry.  Their special guests were from the Ralph Moses House and Gift of Mary House, both facilities provide housing to men and women with HIV/AIDS.  The Good Friday service was their third annual Tenebrae Service, which is always well attended. Followed by their sixth Easter Sunday celebration that included their first ever Easter Egg hunt sponsored by their Children's Ministry. They experienced a record Easter attendance that also included a special love offering of thanks and support for MCC Philadelphia - their sister church in the city!

Open Arms MCC, Rochester, NY , shared their Good Friday service with Tawa Pano Unity Fellowship church, a new congregation in Rochester for LGBT people of color.  There was an equal number from their two congregations as they sang and meditated on the Last Words of Jesus.  On Easter Sunday, they had 78 people in church, 6 more than their previous all-time high number.  During service they received 16 new members and one transfer into the church and increased their membership by one-third.  They had a potluck brunch after Easter Worship.

New Light MCC, Hagerstown, MD , held a Tuesday movie night, watching "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe."  Wednesday there was a pot luck meal followed by a footwashing service followed by an Easter meditation.  Thursday was their "Queer Seder" in which they recounted the Passover story and then shared their own liberation stories.  Friday they held the 'Stations of the Cross' service which was very reflective with Gregorian chants and the Stations were read.  Sunday was their Easter Sunday service followed by an hour of social time.

At MCC Winston-Salem, NC , they celebrated Palm Sunday with pomp, definite passion and procession as they sang "Hosannas," passed out palms and passed the peace to one another.  On Maundy Thursday they gathered in small groups around tables in their "lower room" (i.e., our fellowship hall) to observe a candle light communion followed by the symbolic act of serving one another - "foot washing."  They sang the hymn "Sweet Sweet Spirit" and "went out".  On Good Friday, they were led in worship by their new Clown Team in a "Clown Communion."  This very powerful and moving communion was followed by "the tenebrae" - the extinguishing of the candles separated by scripture, music and silence... with the service ending in both silence and darkness.  Before sunrise on Easter Sunday morning they gathered again in darkness... symbolically going to the tomb... those coming for worship were asked to enter the sanctuary and sit momentarily in silence and darkness. With scripture and music, they reflected on the events between Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning... and upon the "tombs" in which they sometimes find their own selves buried alive ... and the need to have the stones from "their" tombs rolled away. As Don Francisco's "He's Alive" began to build, the stained glass windows of their sanctuary were literally uncovered in dramatic fashion at the peak of musical climax... cutting both the silence and the darkness. As the morning light poured into the sanctuary...the congregation stood in unison as on cue with applause and audible "hallelujah's" heard among those present. From there, they went immediately out into the morning... symbolically "casting away the stones" they had been given... and proclaiming to the world (and our "new" neighbors) that Christ is indeed alive and risen today... with trumpet accompaniment we sang, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today!"  A fellowship breakfast for the entire congregation followed their Sonrise service.  During their 11:00 a.m. regular morning worship service, their praise team, Voices of Praise, presented a special Easter Resurrection Celebration concert. Their children's time, both in regular worship and during Children's Church, each had a special Easter focus; and a traditional Easter Egg Hunt for children of all ages followed the morning worship time.  During their 6:00 p.m. regular evening worship service, their Sanctuary Choir performed the Easter cantata, "Because He Lives," by Sue Smith and Russell Mauldin.  The sermon for both services was entitled "Pink Golf Balls and Purple Forks."

New Covenant MCC, Columbia, MD , was blessed with its most enriching Holy Week and Easter thus far!  Each of their worship services was more highly attended than in years past, and there was a strong consensus that their observances were transformative for participants. On Wednesday in Holy Week, they gathered for a service of prayer and communion, with anointing for healing and wholeness. Through silent reflection, prayer, and a participatory confession that involved participants lighting candles at the altar, the community prepared itself for the experience of the great Three Days. All who were present came forward for anointing with oil and a blessing for health and wholeness. On Good Friday, they gathered again for their annual tennebrae worship service. They entered again into the story of Jesus' death as told to us by John, and they tasted sour wine (vinegar) as a visceral sign of their participation in the suffering of God. They returned on Easter for the completion of that experience, moving with Christ from death to resurrection. This year, their Easter celebration was marked with the joy of baptism, as their youngest community member received the sacrament. They had a large crowd, and many guests were present for the occasion. Gathered around the light of the Paschal candle, they truly seemed to be glowing with the Light of Christ. After worship, people remained well into the night for a special reception in honor of their newly baptized.

MCC of the Hudson Valley, Albany, NY , did a joint Maundy Thursday meal and Passover celebration with their host church.  They were also part of the FOCUS {inner city urban ministry group we belong to} sun rise service on Easter with Rev. Jill Farnham providing the homily. Their Easter service was well attended with several visitors. The music team launched its' new look of white choir robes with rainbow stoles and has begun letting go of our old hymnals and moving to words projected up on the wall for people to sing.

Holy Week at MCC NOVA (Northern VA), Fairfax, VA , was book-ended by Palm Sunday and Easter worship celebrations with a high volume of fabulous music!  Their Social Justice Ministry (Micah Ministries) sponsored their Holy Thursday worship, which focused on the ways in which Jesus asks his followers to re-member him in their celebration of the Eucharist, and more specifically the ways in which they re-member the body of Christ through their feeding of one another and the world. They collected non-perishable items for a local food pantry and asked each person to bring a soup ingredient to worship. In keeping with the legend of Stone Soup, they assembled their various offerings into large soup pots, which simmered during worship. When worship was over, they ate an interesting and nourishing meal together and enjoyed a presentation by the local food agency they were benefiting. Good Friday, their Congregational Care Team organized their worship service, which included readings, songs, a multi-media presentation, and a number of personal reflections offered by care team members about their own experience of God's presence in the midst of suffering. All in all, we had a wonderful time of celebrating the fullness of Jesus' spiritual journey, as well as our own.

MCC Christ the Liberator, North Brunswick, NJ , began Palm Sunday with a delicious and fun Prayer Breakfast which was followed by a joyous worship service.  They met again for a solemn and cathartic service on Good Friday.  On Holy Saturday, Pastor Durrell sent out electronic Easter Greetings to their church members with email.  And then on Easter Sunday they had a joyous celebration of hope and renewal, followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the kids and a luncheon.

MCC Washington, DC , reenacted the entry into Jerusalem and the events of Jesus' last week all the way to the burial in the tomb. Choir members and others took the various roles and they used the Gospel of Mark as the story line and interspersed wonderful music throughout.  On Maundy Thursday Rev. Mathews had a wonderful homily on servanthood following the example of Jesus washing the disciple's feet and they offered a foot washing, and holy communion, followed by Tenebrae.  Good Friday at noon they had a service of the words from the cross. Rev'd's Shultis and Mathews as well as clergy candidates Janet Avery, Lori McPherson and Rev. Harry Patterson participated.  At 7:30, the Pastor brought the word and the service was followed by confessions for those who desired it.  For Easter they had over 600 people at three worship services (7, 9 and 11).  The choirs, all of them in various configurations, were fabulous! The sermon was taken from Psalm 30: "Weeping may linger for the night…but JOY comes in the morning!"

MCC Fredericksburg, VA , had a wonderful Easter Celebration this year!  Holy Week began with 34 people participating in the traditional waving of palms and crying "Hosanna!". The week continued with our Bible Study, "Invitation to the New Testament" which has run throughout Lent. On Friday, people gathered for a "Service of Silence and Lamentation" in which they heard from four different witnesses about the impact of the events of Good Friday. Then people joined in celebration on Easter Sunday.  Pastor, Rev. Stephanie Burns completed a two part sermon, entitled, "The Resurrected Life" and their choir, God's Own provided wonderful special music, as they did throughout Holy Week. In addition, we collected $478.88 for the MCC Eastern European Initiative. Praise God!

MCC Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA , started their Holy Week off with a bang. Quite literally. MCCLV's Pastor Beth Goudy was in a two-car collision the Tuesday of Holy Week - yet there were angels out and about on the night of the crash. Moments after Pastor Beth's accident a carload of MCCLV'ers were at the intersection where the collision occurred. Beth looked up and saw Satan (actually it was Vickie Schantz, who played the part of Satan in MCCLV's Holy Week "He's Alive" Drama). Thankfully, Jesus was also at the scene, still in her beard (Nancy Whitaker who played the Savior in "He's Alive"). Many others from MCCLV showed up in support - praise God that all drivers were okay. MCCLV had over 250 people attend it's Holy Week activities. On Holy Thursday MCCLV's Fellowship Ministry hosted a Seder Meal, based on a Seder service received from MCC New York. Good Friday & Saturday MCCLV presented "He's Alive" - a dramatic presentation of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then on Sunday MCCLV had a wonderful Resurrection Celebration with its morning and evening worship services. Up from the grave Christ arose! Alleluia!

On Palm Sunday, Vision of Hope MCC, Mountville, PA , held their annual "All Music Service." The Joyful Noise Choir began by singing songs that touched hearts, followed by a tremendous duet by Amanda Ackerman and Jenn DeWalt on "I Have Just Seen Jesus." Other soloists performed as well as the Children's Choir.  The Holy Thursday service began with a shared Agape meal which included communion. Everyone enjoyed sitting together and having a meal just as Jesus had gotten his disciples together for the last supper. When communion was served, they each took a piece of the loaf of bread that was passed around and then dipped the bread into the glass of juice that was shared. Wonderful scripture was read which included Jesus' promises and his forgiveness. After dinner they went to the sanctuary for the Stations of the Cross. The stations were displayed around the sanctuary and visuals were shown on the screens.  Time was taken to read scriptures that applied to each Station and then meditations were paralleled with today's world, with music played periodically for a time of reflection.  On Good Friday, six participants in the service read the scriptures of the seven last words of Jesus. Each person gave an interpretation of what Jesus might have meant and what he might have been thinking as he spoke those seven last words. Music was played for a time of reflection between each word. The service ended with a liturgical dance, the lights were by then completely turned off and the altar was stripped.  The screen projected the question, "Is It Finished?"  On Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil Service began with music provided by the Joyful Noise Choir and was followed by the reading various scripture. Next was the "Service of Baptism" in which baptismal vows were renewed and people had a chance to walk up to the font and bless themselves with water.  By the last song of the evening, everyone was on their feet and had some sort of instrument or noise maker in their hands as they celebrated the upcoming day of the empty tomb.  On Easter morning the Sunrise Service was attended by 14 people who enjoyed a great service and a wonderful breakfast. The pews were full for the Sunday service at 10:30 am and all could feel the excitement in the air of the Resurrection power for life.  A delicious Easter Dinner followed the service.

15th Anniversary at MCC Rehoboth
MCC Rehoboth celebrates 15th Anniversary of ministry with special guest Rev. Troy Perry, with all events taking place at The Virden Retreat Center a the University of Delaware campus in Lewes, DE. Events are: Saturday, May 13th--Banquet & Speech, complete dinner is $50.00; dessert only is $15.00; both include the speech by Rev. Perry. Sunday, May 14th--Worship at 10:00 a.m.; buffet lunch for $15.00 following at Noon. All tickets must be purchased by May 7th. Please email mccrehoboth@att.net or call Rev. Tom Bohache at 302-745-7909 to order tickets.


Prayer Request
St. John's MCC voted recently to accept a $1.8 million offer to purchase their property.  Please keep this transaction in your prayers.  St. John's is in need of a larger church home.


Recommended by Rev. Durrell Watkins
Hal Taussig's new book, A New Spiritual Home: Progressive Christianity at the Grass Roots is recommended by Rev. Durrell Watkins, pastor at MCC-Christ the Liberator.
Prof. Taussig's book about progressive Christianity includes a section where he highlights 21 thriving progressive churches, then, at the end in the appendix, he lists 963 progressive Christian churches.  And a few MCCs are listed (5 from Region 3!). 

The list includes:
MCC of Greater Hayward (CA), MCC-Rehoboth (DE), Sunshine Cathedral (FL), MCC of Greater New Orleans (LA), New Light MCC (MD), MCC of the Chesapeake (MD), Christ the Liberator (NJ), and MCC-New York.

The churches mentioned in the book represent a variety of denominations, such as Metropolitan Community Churches, United Church of Christ, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Independent Catholic, Non-denominational, Mennonite, and others.

Hal Taussig is a graduate of Methodist Theological School/Ohio and holds a PhD from the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati. He is a member of the Jesus Seminar, and he is a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York and the co-pastor of a progressive church in Philadelphia. His academic interests include Jesus research, New Testament studies, ritual and performance, and contemplative spirituality. He has written several other books.  Not only is Prof. Taussig an excellent writer and scholar (and friend to the LBGT communities), but now he has even mentioned MCC in his latest work.


The Internet Prayer
Our webmaster, who art online
Microsoft be thy name
Thy downloads done, thy website won
On dial-up as it is on wireless
Give us hi-speed and secure servers
And deliver us from pop-ups
For thine is the domain
The power-savers and the world-wide-web
For ever and ever
LOGOFF

Written by Zoe Jeffery, the assistant worship coordinator at Imago Dei MCC


Important Gay News from 365gay.com
"Guilty In Killing Of Jamaican Gay Leader"
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
May 3, 2006 - 7:00 pm ET
(Kingston) A 25 year old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to the 2004 killing of Brian Williamson, Jamaica's leading LGBT civil rights advocate.
       Dwight Hayden will be sentenced on May 19th.
       Williamson's body was discovered in his Kingston apartment on June 7, 2004 by a roommate returning home from work.
       Williamson was lying facedown in a pool of blood. He had been stabbed at least 70 times in the neck.
             Hayden was charged in 2004 with murder and robbery. A second man, known only as "Bombhead" is still being sought in connection with the killing.
The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), which Williamson founded, branded Williamson's murder a "hate-related crime".
       In a statement the group said Williamson was "one of Jamaica's most courageous human rights activists" who was killed because he is gay.
Police have maintained the murder was a robbery gone wrong and not a hate crime, but on Wednesday the prosecutor suggested he may seek a hate crime enhancement at sentencing.
       Hayden's attorney asked the court for a psychiatric evaluation of his client to determine whether it was a hate crime.
       At least 30 gay men are believed to have been murdered since 1997, according to J-FLAG.
       In March four people were charged in the killing of another gay man - Lenford "Steve" Harvey who ran Jamaica AIDS Support for Life.
       Rap and Reggae music frequently contain lyrics calling for violence against gays and has to a call by British rights leader Peter Tatchell for hate crime prosecutions in the UK against the artists and the distributors of their music.
©365Gay.com 2006

MCC Region 3 Southern Cluster Gathering "Breaking The Barriers"
Saturday, June 10, 2006, 10 AM to 4 PM at MCC Charlotte, NC
You are invited to this training and networking event being offered in the Southern part of Region 3.

The training will focus on what it takes for churches to break the predictable attendance barriers and move the church to the next level of development. The training is geared for both lay and clergy leadership.

Included will be opportunities to worship, share resources, dialogue with the Regional Elder, and to build relationships with those from other MCC's.

Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman will serve as the facilitator for the day.

Cost: $10. includes lunch Registration: Advance reservations required.
Simply email and ask to be put on the list: RevArleneAckerman@MCCchurch.net

Everyone is welcome!

Children and Youth Coordinators Summit Update
More and more people are choosing to have or adopt children in the GLBT community. Like any other parent, these parents often want to have relegious education for the children. Education that values our families and the core values of MCC. Some of our churches are just beginning to look seriously at providing not only education, but support for our families. Other churches have been successfully offering this ministry for some time. Some of our churches have no children or youth in regular attendance while other have as many as 40. What makes the difference is the programming that we offer. What we do know is that without quality children and youth programming these families will not remain in our churches.

On May 6, MCC Region 3 hosted a one day summit to discuss common issues, share resources and network around one of the most important issues facing our churches. Over 30 people attended representing 12 churches from 5 states. The summit was facilitated by Shawn Henderson, Youth Coordinator for MCC Washington and Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman. As a result of the summit we will offer a time for leaders to get together again at Regional Conference and we are planning to have another summit in 2007.

Request for Information for the Region 3 & 5 Conference - November 2 - 5

The following a request for information to help plan workshops for the Region 3 & 5 Conference in November:

What is your church doing to reach out "beyond your doors?"
How are you making a difference in the world?
Please send replies to:
Rev. Deb Dysert: RevFluff@aol.com
Rev. Sharon Stover: MccRevStover@aol.com

Register today for your 2006 Regional Conference. Complete details at: www.MCCconferences.org

You can find flyers to post at your church or to use in bulletins at:
http://www.mccconferences.org/regionalconferences/publicity/

2006 Graduates

Congratulations to the following graduates:

Lu Johnson, Clergy Candidate - Master of Divinity, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Sandra Rogers, Clergy Candidate - Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary
Jane Nelson, Clergy Candidate - Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude), Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology
Rev. Durrell Watkins, pastor at MCC Christ the Liberator (North Brunswick, NJ) -Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Robert Griffin, MCC Clergy Development Office and MCC Christ the Liberator (North Brunswick, NJ) - Master of Divinity, Episcopal Divinity School

Rev. Rob Apgar-Taylor, pastor at Open Door MCC, Boyds, MD - Doctor of Ministry, Princeton Theological Seminary

If you or someone you know is graduating from high school or an institution of higher education, please email the Region 3 Office so that we can include this information in a future E-Newsletter.  Thanks!

A Goodbye Note From Rev. Gail Hicks
A Time For All Seasons: With this I want to thank each and everyone of you for your support, laughter and most of all the inspiring way in which you all pursue God's purpose in your individual lives. I now with Bernie my partner of over 15 years depart Region Three and move to Florida. I pray that God will continue to bless each and every one of you. Go In Peace, Rev. Gail Hicks

News from Open Door MCC
Open Door MCC, Boyds, MD, held their recent annual fund raiser Tashas Folly's "Ten and Wow", their 10th variety/Drag show.  They raised $10,000 for the church and $1,000 for the Germantown Food Bank to help those in need.  Also, their new member class recently had 15 people.  7 of those were recently received into the church.

MCC of the Spirit in New Orleans
(Harrisburg, PA) MCC of the Spirit's work camp in New Orleans was a big success! They took 11 people in 2 vehicles, pulling one camper and one small u-haul trailer. They left on a Wednesday night and drove as far as MCC of the Blue Ridge. Rev. Houchins and crew met us at midnight at the church and took us into their homes for a good night's sleep and breakfast the next morning. Then it was a very long trip the next day to New Orleans. They can't say enough for Rev. Dexter Brecht and Robert Turner. Pastor Dexter turned them over to Robert and he arranged their work projects, including a list of supplies they needed to bring, and a place for them to stay. They stayed at Joe and Julie Thompson's home. (Julie is the head of PFLAG in New Orleans) The next day they divided into work crews…with 3 going to dry wall at the home of someone who spent all their time helping others and hadn't had time to work on their own home…and the rest going to gut another house. It is amazing to see the destruction that still exists all over New Orleans. It is difficult to realize that the flood actually happened so long ago. Many neighborhoods are not being lived in yet. Traffic lights are still being worked on. FEMA trailers are everywhere. Most businesses are not open yet in the areas we were in. Robert came to Julie and Joe's and had spaghetti with them which we cooked. On Saturday, the same crew went back to dry wall and the other crew went to help another person whose home was mostly gutted and another two installed a gate for another family that we bought with funds from the church so a FEMA trailer could be moved to their yard for her sister.  That night we took Joe and Julie out to dinner to thank them for their hospitality. On Sunday, they worked once more and visited the 9th ward, which was the hardest hit area and the one they haven't even decided if it can be rebuilt.  They had a wonderful worship experience at MCC of Greater New Orleans and then went to the French Quarter to walk around and have supper. Monday morning, we headed for home…traveling in all about 2700 miles.

Pastor Eva wishes to encourage and hopes that other churches will to do this…it was one of the most rewarding experiences their folks have ever had. They have an appreciation for the wideness of MCC. They have an appreciation for the gifts that God gives us that we take for granted. They learned about the power of prayer as we prayed for the funds to take us there and God gave ENOUGH! They even had $50 left to give to someone else when they returned. They learned how to live with each other through a variety of emotions. What a blessing!

A member from their congregation would be a wonderful person to teach others how to set up such an opportunity.

MCC Hudson Valley Pastors Announce Retirement Plans
The co-pastors of MCC Hudson Valley, Albany, NY have announced that they will be retiring from pastoring after 13 years of service to the Albany community. They will be stepping down September 10.

Stewardship Article from MCC of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA

I'll Be A Better Steward When ...
By Peter Velander

I'll Be a Better Steward When...

"I can think more about giving once the kids are through school."

"We just built a new house, and things are going to be a little tight this year."

"I don't agree with some of the decisions the church council made last year. When I feel more comfortable with where things are going, I'll give more."

"My spouse was just laid off."

"The credit cards got a little out of control over Christmas. As soon as they get paid off we can consider what to do about our giving."

I used to think that statements like these simply exposed misplaced priorities - excuses intended to deflect the stewardship question when what people really wanted to say was, "I'm giving as much as I intend to, so back off." 

I'm not so sure any more. For many Christians, I think there is a two-step thought process behind their arm's length approach to stewardship. Step one says, "I'm not good enough to be a steward."
And step two follows close behind: "I'm not sure I trust God with my current set of circumstances." I'm convinced that this pair of statements not only applies to many church members, but also to clergy, and ultimately to entire faith communities.

Steps Away from Stewardship

The first step away from stewardship is the assumption that one must either have a lot of faith or a lot of time, talent, and money to be a good steward.

If stewardship requires a Moses, Solomon, Paul, or Lydia, most of us are let off the hook. Parting the waters was not Moses' first step of faith, and funding a new church probably wasn't Lydia's.

Getting started on the road to faithful stewardship, like getting started on the road to health or sobriety, first requires an acceptance and affirmation of one's starting point. Each of us has enough faith, and enough stuff to be a steward.

Related to this first step away is the second one - the worry that says we're not sure we can trust God to understand our current circumstances. We are afraid that saying yes to being a faithful steward will mean saying yes to some things that we aren't necessarily ready to embrace. We wonder whether God knows that college is a good thing, or how hard it is to make ends meet, or what's happened to the cost of living since Jesus' time. We worry that if we say yes to being a faithful steward, God will say no to many of the decisions we have already made about our lifestyles.

Struggling Toward Stewardship

At an event a few years ago, an impromptu discussion about being a stewardship leader led to a surprising opening of wounds surrounding the challenging financial circumstances that most new clergy face. Many seminary graduates have huge debts. First calls are often to small, rural congregations.  The pay is poor and the parish may be hurting financially. 

One pastor said, "I want to be a stewardship leader, and I want to lead by example. But it feels like I have to get my financial life to a livable place before I can even think about it." There was deep suffering and a genuine longing to be faithful in this pastor's voice. Her words were not intended to be a "stewardship dodge." 

But if you read her words again, I think you will see shades of "I'm not good enough to be a  steward" and "I'm not sure I trust God with my current set of circumstances." I think that the apostle Paul would name this need to save ourselves before we will make ourselves available to God as works righteousness.

I don't intend that statement to be one of judgment, but rather, of naming the path to grace. Maybe it's not that we love our things and our lives more than we love God. Maybe we've forgotten that God longs for good in our lives. God longs for us to extend the invitation to God to lead us there. Maybe we are expecting too much of ourselves and not enough of God as we struggle to be stewards in a world of high prices and skyrocketing lifestyle pressures.

"I'm not good enough to be a steward and I'm not sure I trust God with my current set of circumstances" are in evidence not only in the language of Christians and their pastors, but they become a characteristic of the faith community. If you've heard any of these words at a church board meeting, you know what I mean:

   "Things are going to be tight this coming year. I think we need
   to cut back our benevolence giving just to be safe."

   "I know the food shelf needs that space, but can we afford
   to provide it?"

   "We don't want those kids from the teen center in here messing
   up what we've worked so hard to build."

   "How can we be part of the world hunger appeal when we can't
   even keep people fed in our own community?"

Being a Leader in Stewardship

Stewardship is not the only crisis facing the mainline church today, but it is certainly an important one. Extending the current trajectory leads to some troubling places. Changing course seems daunting, but as a clergy leader, the steps toward making it happen are pretty straightforward.

First, when it comes to your own life of stewardship, recall these words from scripture. "But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And, "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail"
(Isaiah 58: 11). Don't be caught in a works righteousness trap.
You have enough to be a steward, and God can be trusted to lead you there.

Second, as your life as a steward unfolds, let it be fully visible to those who are counting on you to be their spiritual leader.
Parishioners are not expecting you to be perfect, but they will be encouraged to know that you are already walking along the path that you are inviting them to explore.

"When will I be a better steward?" When I know that I have enough right now to be a faithful steward. And when I remember that God can be trusted to take all the complicated circumstances in my life into account as God calls me forward into a life of stewardship.

Reprinted with permission from The Clergy Journal, July/August 2003. Copyright Logos Productions, 1-800-328-0200.

Peter Velander works for the Oregon Catholic Press in Portland, Oregon. 

Brought to you by Luther Seminary.
Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

Region 3 Elders Schedule
May
5 Office
5 MCC Washington, 35th Anniversary Dinner
6 Children & Youth Coordinators Summit - Washington, DC
7 MCC Nova, Fairfax, VA - Worship & forum
8 Travel Day
9 - 10 North Carolina Council of Churches meeting
12 - 14 Holy Ghost Revival - MCC Baltimore - workshop, preach
13 Region 3 Resource Team meeting - MCC Baltimore
17 - 19 Office
20 Region 3 Clergy Candidate Gathering - MCC Washington
21 New Covenant MCC, Laurel, MD - leadership training, preaching
24 - 26 Office
30 - 31 Office

Important Region 3 Dates

May 6               Children and Youth Coordinators Summit - at MCC Washington
May 12 - 13       Holy Ghost Revival at MCC Baltimore - cosponsored by a number of MCC congregations
June 10             Southern Regional Cluster Gathering "Breaking The Barriers" to be held at MCC Charlotte, MC Everyone is invited!

Nov. 2 - 5           MCC Region 3 & 5 Conference in Pittsburgh, PA (Monroeville)
                    http://www.mccconferences.org/regionalconferences/pittsburgh.html

Rev. Elder Arlene J. Ackerman
UFMCC Regional Elder
Region 3

PO Box 276
Landisville, PA 17538

Phone: 717 898-3713
Fax: 717 898-3714

E-mail: arleneackerman@MCCchurch.org

Newsletter Archive

MCC HEADQUARTERS HAS A NEW MAILING ADDRESS!
       MCC Headquarters
       P. O. Box 691728
       West Hollywood, CA 90069
Please update your mailing lists and files. Please begin using this new address, effective immediately. Please share this information with your church staff and your church treasurer, in your church's newsletter, and with anyone who may need to contact MCC Headquarters.