Region 3 News

REGION 3 UPDATE

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)

October 28, 2003

Region 3 Conference - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Remember these dates, July 8 - 11. Region 3 conference will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico with our special guest, Rev. Elder Troy Perry. Start your planning today to attend.

New MCC Building Purchased In Region 3
MCC of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, Virginia, is in the midst of more than usual fall busyness. We closed on our new building last Monday and are now doing painting, repairs and making the building handicap accessible. We purchased the former Belmont United Methodist Church. This 30,000 square foot church has been a spiritual presence in Southeast Roanoke for over 100 years. We hope to begin worship there November 16 with our dedication service being December 7. This will also be our 17th Anniversary Celebration! Please make plans to join us. This Sunday we will be receiving 5 new members bringing our current active membership to 100! Since we began our intentional building search and purchase process, we have taken in over 25 new members. Do not fear growth and the challenges with it. We are walking amazed and overwhelmed in this "God thing" happening all around here down in Southwest Virginia.

MCC Fredericksburg Inaugural Worship Service
Incredible things continue to happen in Fredericksburg! In August we celebrated our Rite of Founding Membership and had 22 people become founding members and several more become friends of the church. Ms. Kim Combs, Vice Moderator of MCC Richmond (MCC Fredericksburg's parent church) helped officiate. Our Inaugural Worship Service of MCC of Fredericksburg will be Sunday, October 26, 2003, 11:00 a.m. @ Eyeclopes Studios, 3rd Floor, 810 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg.

Installation Services
The Rev. Robin Gorsline will be installed as the new pastor of MCC Richmond on Sunday, Sept. 7, during the 10:45 AM worship service. The Rev. Kharma Amos will be installed as pastor of MCC of Northern Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 4PM.

Marian Humphrey's To Be Ordained
On November 9, Marian Humphrey's will be ordained at MCC Washington at 3 PM with a reception to follow. Everyone is invited. Marian was approved for ordination at General Conference.

MCC Pittsburgh Has A New Vision
Recently, MCC Pittsburgh went through the SGI (Strategic Growth Initiative) program. Over 30 people participated in a church growth workshop, visioning day and Sunday worship affirming the work that was completed. This church is alive with college students as well as old timers and many new faces. Together they chose a new vision: Empowered by God, United in Diversity, Creating Change

MCC Howard County Has A New Vision
MCC HC in Columbia, MD began the SGI program. Over 15 people participated and together wrote their Core Value, Vision and Mission Statements. New Vision Statement:

Creating Community
Inspiring Spiritual Growth
Transforming Lives through the love of Christ.

Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) across the United States will join hands with many other faith communities to observe October 12-19 as "Marriage Equality Week," a week dedicated to the legalization of same-sex marriage. Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Christian denomination with more than 43,000 members and adherents in 22 countries.

Board of Elder Meeting Update
I want to thank Rev.'s Shultis, Matthews, Smith, Gorsline and Taylor for leading devotions for the Board of Elders Meeting. Having local leaders leading the devotions is a new approach for the Elders and was so successful that we will continue to use it as we move the Elders meeting around to the varying regions. Also, thank you to Rev. Reg Richburg for the leading the Elders in a one day retreat. This received rave reviews and it helped the Elders start our business in the best possible way. We also brought in Gil Rendell from the Alban Institute to lead a one day training session on adaptive work and core process. This work helped us focus on what is important for the Board of Elder rather than what is often thought of as urgent and informed our work with Rev. Steve Taylor as he worked with us on our futurist work in taking the next steps in our strategic planning. The last part of our meeting was actually what we normally call business. In it we approved not only a church planting strategy but named it at our number one priority for the next few years, plus we approved the Teaching Church Criteria. A more complete update will be sent out from UFMCC HQ soon.

Regional Elder Travel Schedule -

Oct. 24 - 25 MCC of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA - Board training, worship
and forum
Nov. 4 New Light MCC, Hagerstown, MD - Board Meeting
8 - 9 MCC Washington, DC - worship, forum, ordination service
15 - 16 MCC NoVA, Falls Church, VA - SGI follow-up
19 Large Church Pastors Gathering - Norfolk, VA
20 - 23 New Life MCC, Norfolk, VA
27 - 28 Thanksgiving Holiday - office closed

Please don't throw your faith away.
Yes, you can be Christian and gay!
[taken from Holy Redeemer MCC flier]

Arlene Ackerman

Previous Regional Updates:
[Jan. 03, Feb. 03, Mar. 03, April 03 , May 03, June 03, July 03, Aug. 03, Sept. 03]

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


	REGION 3 UPDATE 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) October 28, 2003 Region 3 Conference - San Juan, Puerto Rico Remember these dates, July 8 - 11. Region 3 conference will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico with our special guest, Rev. Elder Troy Perry. Start your planning today to attend. New MCC Building Purchased In Region 3 MCC of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, Virginia, is in the midst of more than usual fall busyness. We closed on our new building last Monday and are now doing painting, repairs and making the building handicap accessible. We purchased the former Belmont United Methodist Church. This 30,000 square foot church has been a spiritual presence in Southeast Roanoke for over 100 years. We hope to begin worship there November 16 with our dedication service being December 7. This will also be our 17th Anniversary Celebration! Please make plans to join us. This Sunday we will be receiving 5 new members bringing our current active membership to 100! Since we began our intentional building search and purchase process, we have taken in over 25 new members. Do not fear growth and the challenges with it. We are walking amazed and overwhelmed in this "God thing" happening all around here down in Southwest Virginia. MCC Fredericksburg Inaugural Worship Service Incredible things continue to happen in Fredericksburg! In August we celebrated our Rite of Founding Membership and had 22 people become founding members and several more become friends of the church. Ms. Kim Combs, Vice Moderator of MCC Richmond (MCC Fredericksburg's parent church) helped officiate. Our Inaugural Worship Service of MCC of Fredericksburg will be Sunday, October 26, 2003, 11:00 a.m. @ Eyeclopes Studios, 3rd Floor, 810 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. Installation Services The Rev. Robin Gorsline will be installed as the new pastor of MCC Richmond on Sunday, Sept. 7, during the 10:45 AM worship service. The Rev. Kharma Amos will be installed as pastor of MCC of Northern Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 4PM. Marian Humphrey's To Be Ordained On November 9, Marian Humphrey's will be ordained at MCC Washington at 3 PM with a reception to follow. Everyone is invited. Marian was approved for ordination at General Conference. MCC Pittsburgh Has A New Vision Recently, MCC Pittsburgh went through the SGI (Strategic Growth Initiative) program. Over 30 people participated in a church growth workshop, visioning day and Sunday worship affirming the work that was completed. This church is alive with college students as well as old timers and many new faces. Together they chose a new vision: Empowered by God, United in Diversity, Creating Change MCC Howard County Has A New Vision MCC HC in Columbia, MD began the SGI program. Over 15 people participated and together wrote their Core Value, Vision and Mission Statements. New Vision Statement: Creating Community Inspiring Spiritual Growth Transforming Lives through the love of Christ. Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) across the United States will join hands with many other faith communities to observe October 12-19 as "Marriage Equality Week," a week dedicated to the legalization of same-sex marriage. Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Christian denomination with more than 43,000 members and adherents in 22 countries. Board of Elder Meeting Update I want to thank Rev.'s Shultis, Matthews, Smith, Gorsline and Taylor for leading devotions for the Board of Elders Meeting. Having local leaders leading the devotions is a new approach for the Elders and was so successful that we will continue to use it as we move the Elders meeting around to the varying regions. Also, thank you to Rev. Reg Richburg for the leading the Elders in a one day retreat. This received rave reviews and it helped the Elders start our business in the best possible way. We also brought in Gil Rendell from the Alban Institute to lead a one day training session on adaptive work and core process. This work helped us focus on what is important for the Board of Elder rather than what is often thought of as urgent and informed our work with Rev. Steve Taylor as he worked with us on our futurist work in taking the next steps in our strategic planning. The last part of our meeting was actually what we normally call business. In it we approved not only a church planting strategy but named it at our number one priority for the next few years, plus we approved the Teaching Church Criteria. A more complete update will be sent out from UFMCC HQ soon. Regional Elder Travel Schedule - Oct. 24 - 25 MCC of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA - Board training, worship and forum Nov. 4 New Light MCC, Hagerstown, MD - Board Meeting 8 - 9 MCC Washington, DC - worship, forum, ordination service 15 - 16 MCC NoVA, Falls Church, VA - SGI follow-up 19 Large Church Pastors Gathering - Norfolk, VA 20 - 23 New Life MCC, Norfolk, VA 27 - 28 Thanksgiving Holiday - office closed Please don't throw your faith away. Yes, you can be Christian and gay! [taken from Holy Redeemer MCC flier] Arlene Ackerman Previous Regional Updates: [Jan. 03, Feb. 03, Mar. 03, April 03 , May 03, June 03, July 03, Aug. 03, Sept. 03] 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