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

July 2006

REGIONAL CONFERENCE EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION
Friday, August 4
The deadline for early-bird registration for MCC Regional Conference in Pittsburgh, November 2-5 is August 4. After that date, registration will increase from $99 to $125/person. Please note that day rates and other discounted registrations are available for children and youth, anyone 65 or older, low-income registrants, and people on permanent disability.

A FUTURE and a HOPE 2006 MCC REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Pittsburgh, PA November 2 - 5
Dates: Conference :
Thursday, November 2, 2006 - registration open mid-day
Friday, November 3, 2006
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Sunday, November 5, 2006 - ending after morning worship

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, August 4, 2006
Registration Refund Deadline:       Friday, August 4, 2006
Hotel Rate Guaranteed until:   October 11, 2006

Location: City:      Monroeville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. [near Pittsburgh]
Hotel:           The Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh
Nearest Airport(s):   Pittsburgh [PGH] International

Regions: This conference incorporates the following Regions: 3 and 5. To read more about how combined Regional Conferences are going to work, CLICK HERE: http://www.mccconferences.org/regionalconferences/index.html#QA

St. Jude's MCC, Wilmington, NC Dedicates New Building
It is estimated that we had 300 people attend the Saturday activities last week.  The gospel concert was really great with Imani MCC, Gregory United Church of Christ, and St. Jude's MCC performing.  We were delighted to see many community leaders: new Mayor, Senator, District Attorney, school board members, business leaders, Pastor from Gregory UCC.  It was great to welcome Rev. Wanda Floyd, Imani MCC Durham and Rev. Belva Boone, St. John's MCC Raleigh who participated in the Sunday dedication service.  We were delighted to welcome back our own Rev. Preston Wells to participate in the Sunday service. On Sunday we had 205 in attendance and what a service that was!  From the bells announcing the beginning of service, to the impressive processional, to messages given by Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, MCC Moderator, Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, Assistant Professor of New Testament at the interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia who gave the Sunday message.  Thanks to our many cooks, comprised of our members and friends, who for the most part purchased and prepared the food for both Saturday's pig pickin' and Sunday brunch.  We had an abundance of food both days and the extra food was taken to one of the Shelters. Special thanks to our Dedication Committee, led by Pilar Johnson and Tony Harrington, for putting together such a memorable weekend. The Sunday service was recorded and we are hoping that DVD's might be available for sale at some point in the future.  We appreciate the prayers and support you have shown us. This was a great weekend with lots of hard work and energy expended but NOW WHAT?   This is just the beginning.

MCC Charleston Celebrates 25th Anniversary
On July 2 - 9 MCC Charleston, SC, will celebrate 25 years of faithful ministry. Rev. Tommy Hudson is their pastor. This is an exciting church, filled with faithful people, a wonderful facility and an excellent website mcccharleston.org. Congratulations!

Ordination Interviews From Region 3
Candidates from MCC Region 3 will be going for their ordination interviews scheduled during and right after the clergy conference July 13 - 14. Please keep all of our candidates in prayer. Those scheduled for interviews are Lu Johnson from Open Arms MCC in Rochester, NY, Helen Daniels and Kristen Clare Foley from MCC Baltimore, Jennifer Glass from Vision of Hope MCC in Mountville, PA, Lori McPherson , Janet Avery and Harry Patterson from MCC Washington, and Jane Nelson from MCC Richmond. Keep them all in your prayers

2006 Graduates
Congratulations to the following graduates:

Kristin Mason, St. Jude's MCC, Wilmington, NC - High School Graduate,
Marilyn Bowens, member, St. John's MCC, Raleigh, NC - Masters of Divinity, Duke University

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!

Region 3 MCCs Give To The Eastern Europe Offering
In response to the request for support of Tearing Down Walls, MCC's Eastern Europe Initiative, many local MCCs made contributions during Easter. Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and Florin Buhuceanu, our pastor in Romania, were traveling during May and June through several Eastern European countries to bring words of hope and encouragement from MCC.

St. John's MCC sent a $1,000 gift.

If your church made a contribution, please email the Region 3 Office with the information and we will include it in an upcoming E-Newsletter.

Open Arms MCC, Rochester , NY , Celebrates 25 th Anniversary on August 19 and 20 On Saturday, August 19, there will be two events.  Starting at 11am, there will be a session with Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman about the state of MCC Region 3 and the current initiatives of Metropolitan Community Churches throughout the world.  That evening at 6pm, there will be an Anniversary Banquet and dance.  Tickets are $20.  On Sunday, the Anniversary Worship will be held.  Rev. Delores Berry and her spouse, Judy, will join them for worship.  Details to be announced. In addition, Open Arms will be moving and they are still awaiting details on a firm closing date for their new church.  In the meantime, they are arranging with Calvary Assembly of God for a Sunday afternoon time slot of 2-4pm for Open Arms MCC members and friends to walk through their new church to get them psyched for the move.  The Open House will be arranged for either July 30 or August 6. 

News from MCC of the Chesapeake , MD
MCC of the Chesapeake is hard at work getting ready for an expanded Chesapeake Pride Festival to be held on August 26 from 1 to 7 PM.  Previously this event was held as a small picnic in Annapolis .  This year the decision was made to reach out to the larger GLBT community by turning this event into a festival.  The Chesapeake Pride Festival will be held at Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater , MD.   Exhibitors and vendors are welcome to apply, entertainment will be provided by local favorites and food and beverages will be available.  For tickets and information visit  www.chesapeakepridefestival.org . We look forward to seeing you there!  MCC of the Chesapeake also made the news this spring with three front page articles in the Southern Maryland newspapers.  The series featured member Beth Lanier, and Pastor Wayne Schwandt, in the series detailing GLBT life in a rural area.  You can read these articles online at www.somdnews.com . 

Congratulations to Rev. Eleanor Nealy Rev. Eleanor Nealy just completed her coursework (2 years) for a PhD in social welfare and was recently named Deputy Director for Programs at New York City 's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center . Following are some excerpts from a recent press release: NEW YORK, NY—JULY 11, 2006—Eleanor C. Nealy, MDiv, LCSW, has been promoted to the newly created position of Deputy Director for Programs at New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (the Center) effective July 10, 2006. Nealy had served as the Center's Director of Mental Health and Social Services since February 2002. As Deputy Director for Programs, Nealy will oversee the Center's efforts in mental health and social services, youth services, cultural programming, meeting and conference services, and organizational development, planning, and research… Nealy holds a Master's of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Master's of Social Work from Columbia University . She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Social Welfare at Hunter College School of Social Work (CUNY). An ordained clergy person, Nealy has had a longstanding relationship with Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) serving in pastoral and regional capacities. Between 1996 and 1999, she served as a regional coordinator with MCC for 26 churches in Texas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , and Louisiana . She also published a book of daily meditations for lesbians in recovery entitled, Amazon Spirit . Nealy resides in New York City and Ocean Grove , New Jersey , with her partner of 11 years, Gail Drinkwater. They recently purchased a bed and breakfast in Ocean Grove, which is currently open for visitors. Established in 1983, New York 's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is the largest LGBT community center on the East Coast and second largest such center in the world. Each week, 6,000 people visit the Center and 300 groups meet there.

GLSEN and MCC Partnership GLSEN, or the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network, announced its partnership today with Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) to bring GLSEN's Teacher/Educator Training Workshops to additional cities across the United States .  The Teacher/Educator Training Workshop seeks to give allies in education a more in-depth understanding of how to address anti-LGBT bias in their schools and to make them safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Senior Pastor at MCC NY , who initiated the MCC and GLSEN partnership, added, "One of the most vital things any faith community can do is to bring GLSEN's Teacher/Educator Training Workshop to your area. It will make our schools safer; educators desperately need the information this workshop provides."

To learn more about scheduling a Teacher/Educator Training Workshop in you area, contact TOT@glsen.org . To register for one of these trainings, please visit http://www.mccchurch.org/glsen-mcctraining .

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN's educational resources, public policy and public education work, student organizing programs, research or development initiatives, continue to visit www.glsen.org .

Church Resource Survey Update The Region 3 resource team would like to say "THANK YOU" to all who took the time to send out, fill out and turn in surveys. Members and friends of twenty-four churches responded. We are conducting the analysis of the data and here's a taste of what we see: The majority of us report that we excel at music, and wish to do even better. We are passionate about church growth, and want more nuts-and-bolts know-how. Many of us have strong community outreach programs, but wonder how YOUR church does it ...  perhaps we can share notes. Want more details? Stay tuned, more will follow.  If you did not submit a survey but would like to be included, please send a request to our team leader at alexcd@aol.com .

Regional Elder Schedule
While traveling Elder Ackerman can be reached via cell phone, instructions are given by calling the office phone number below.
The Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Glass is normally in the office from 9:30 - 2:30 Tues, Weds, & Thursdays.

July        3 - 4     Holiday - office closed
             5 - 7     Office
             9          Travel - Scottsdale, AZ
             10 - 13  Clergy Conference
             14 - 15  Meetings in Arizona
             15  Travel Day
             16 - 17  Days Off
             18 - 20  Office
             21 - 6   Spanish Intensive - Guadalajara, Mexico

August  
             1 - 6    Spanish Intensive - Guadalajara, Mexico
              7 - 13   Vacation
             14 - 18  Office
             19 - 20  Open Arms MCC - 25th Anniversary & Ordination Service
             21    Travel Day
             22 - 28  Board of Elders Meetings- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
             29        Travel Day
             30 - 31  Office

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.