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LAY DELEGATE PRESENTATION FOR GC 2016Metropolitan Community Churches meet as a denomination every three (3) years at a General

Conference. MCCer’s from all over the world gather together to worship and celebrate God’s all inclusive love. We meet, pray, worship, vote, make decisions, problem solve and have fun!! It’s a truly unique and wonderful experience where all are welcome to attend. We use this time together to conduct our denominational business and provide educational opportunities through workshops and plenaries

This year we will meet in Victoria, BC, Canada from July 4th to July 8th, 2016 for our 26th General Conference.

In 2010, we invited you to Imagine with us as we honored MCC’s strong history and looked forward to a prosperous future. In 2013, we came to Believe that in unity and with passion we have a unique call to make a difference in the world. In 2016, we want you to Emerge with us into that calling as we refresh our vision and empower one another to continue the important work of demanding, proclaiming and doing justice in the world.

During this Conference we will celebrate Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson’s retirement as moderator, elect a new Moderator and Governing Board, and adopt an updated Statement of Faith.

Your Lay Delegate(s) ask that you prayerfully consider the information you are being presented, so the delegate can represent your congregation during the business part of the conference and do what you feel is best for the denomination. Thank you for your time and consideration!

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HIGHLIGHTS OF BUSINESS MEETINGTUESDAY, JULY 5TH – 10:15AM – 5PM

Report of the Governing Board Nominating CommitteeGoverning Board ElectionReport of the Moderator Nominating CommitteeModerator Election Report from the Moderator

Report from the Governing Board

Report of the Commission on the MCC Statement of Faith

Report from the Governing Board Bylaw Team

Consideration of Bylaw Amendment

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VOTING FOR SIX GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS

• Electing four clergy positions• Two will be for six-year terms, and the remaining two

will be for three-year terms. • The two highest vote totals will receive the full six-year

terms and the remaining two candidates will receive the three-year terms

• We will also be voting on two lay position for a full six-year term.

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GOVERNING BOARD CLERGY CANDIDATES

R E V . O N E T T A B R O O K S

I N G L E W O O D , C A L I F O R N I A ( U S A )

R E V . D R . S T E P H A N I E B U R N S

N A P L E S , F L O R I D A ( U S A )

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GOVERNING BOARD CLERGY CANDIDATESR E V . J O E C O B B

R O A N O K E , V I R G I N I A ( U S A )

R E V . J A K O B H E R O

T A M P A , F L O R I D A ( U S A )

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GOVERNING BOARD CLERGY CANDIDATESR E V . D R . W I L L I A M H U B B A R D K N I G H T

H I L O , H A W A I I ( U S A )

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GOVERNING BOARD LAY DELEGATE CANDIDATES

K I M B E R L Y B R O W N

S A N D Y , O R E G O N ( U S A )

A N G E L C O L L I E

C H A P E L H I L L , N O R T H C A R O L I N A ( U S A )

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GOVERNING BOARD LAY DELEGATE CANDIDATEM A R K D A L G L E I S H

W O L L S T O N E C R A F T , A U S T R A L I A M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N …

To learn more about each candidate

please follow this link:

http://mccchurch.org/gbnc-candidates/

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VOTING FOR A NEW MODERATOR • Three-year process – Moderator Nominating Committee

• Select up to 5 qualified candidates• The phases of the Moderator search process were as follows:

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KEY ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE SEARCH PROCESS

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MODERATOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE

• Elisa Vega-Burns, Chair - Board of Directors, Resurrection MCC Houston, Texas, USA

• Rev. Kevin Downer, Vice Chair - Interim Pastor, Founders MCC, Los Angeles, CA, USA

• Rev. Dr. Lea Brown, Recorder - Senior Pastor, MCC of the Palm Beaches Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

• Rev. Beulah Durrheim, (Alternate) - Pastor, Good Hope MCC Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

• Stuart Sutherland, (Alternate) - Board of Directors, MCC Good Shepherd Sydney, AUSTRALIA

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CORE COMPETENCIES OF THE MODERATORDecision Making SkillsEgo StrengthOrganizational AgilityProcess Management SkillsPersonal ResiliencePublic PresenceStrategic Leadership SkillsPreaching & Worship Leadership SkillsLeadership EmpowermentCultural Competency & Embracing DiversitySupervision SkillsTeam Orientation

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QUALIFICATIONS & CRITERIA FOR CANDIDATES

Professional Skills & AbilitiesPersonal Qualities & CharacteristicsBackground & Prior ExperienceOther Knowledge, Commitments & Perspectives

For More information about the Moderator process, qualifications & competencies please visit the following link:

http://mccchurch.org/download/mnc/MNC%20Selection%20Criteria%20for%20Prospective%20Moderator%20Candidates%20-%20English.pdf

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Rev. Elder Diane Fisherhttps://vimeo.com/152861756

VISION: “We are at a critical time in our history with a decision to make. Will we continue our momentum towards becoming a more mainline denomination, or

will we continue to work and exist in the margins?”

MODERATOR CANDIDATES

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Rev. Elder Darlene Garnerhttps://vimeo.com/152862355VISION: “This is a critical time in

MCC’s history. Many people are asking, ‘Who is God calling MCC to be now?’ Without abandoning our past, we are seeking to know: What is the next direction of MCC?”

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Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrezhttps://vimeo.com/152862813VISION: “MCC is still relevant in

many ways, even though we are seeing other churches become more inclusive. What does the practice and understanding of radical inclusion mean within the scope of MCC and the community?”

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Rev. Dr. Irene Laudemanhttps://vimeo.com/152863179

VISION: “The Holy Spirit is asking more of us. How are we going to answer this expanded call and journey on a new path in order to re-emerge as the vibrant church the Holy Spirit needs MCC to be in the 21st century?”

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MORE INFORMATION ON MODERATOR CANDIDATES

We ask that you prayerfully consider who you want as our next MCC Moderator.

Please take the time to listen to their videos (link under each candidates picture on previous slides) and go to the following link

to learn more about each candidate:http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/MCC-MNC-Final-

Report-April-2016.pdfIf you have an questions, please contact your Lay Delegate know

and please share your thoughts with your Lay Delegate regarding the next moderator of MCC.

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MODERATORS REPORTHighlights of Accomplishments by Denominational Office of the last 3 years

1. Operations• World Class Conference• Financial Management• MCC Archives

2. Emerging Ministries• Trained 50 leaders• Emerging Churches in 13 countries• Diversity & Inclusion

3. Formation & Leadership Development• 43 new MCC Clergy• Expanded clergy training• 31 Lay and clergy people completed the Leadership Mentoring Retreat

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MODERATOR’S REPORT CONTINUED…4. Church Life & Health• Reorganization of office• Learning Cohorts• Open & Collaborative processes for pastoral search and interim placements

5. Moderator• More global visibility• Created Moderator’s Circle• Hired Development Director

6. Pressing Challenges for the Future• Create a new Strategic Plan• Fearless Champion of Justice• Resource our mission and vision• Strengthen our Networks• Make General Conference more affordable• Welcome & include our emerging churches & ministries• Foster healthy and hold conversations on local church assessments

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GOVERNING BOARD REPORTHighlights of Accomplishments by Governing Board over the last 3 years

1. Forward• Accomplishments• Accounting from promises

2. Financial Report • Future strategies• Current financial stability and • Accuracy and clarity of financial position• Appendix – Financial report (PDF)

3. Development• Hired New Development Director• Giving Tuesdays

4. Strategic Planning• Updated Mission and Vision statements

5. Governance• Virtual General Conference to affirm 7 new elders• General Conference business meeting

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SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PRESENTED BY GOVERNING BOARD

Motion #1: Move to form a commission to review the basis of assessments and structure of operations for the Denomination with a view to creating a simpler and more sustainable base from which to grow into the next decade. The commission shall be formed of lay and clergy members representing churches of all sizes, the Senior Leadership Team and the Governing Board. It shall report to a virtual general conference within 18 months of formation with a proposal for approval

Motion #2: Move UFMCC Bylaws Article IX.B.1 to Governing Board Policy Handbook to sit alongside the assessment rate.

Motion #3: Move to continue to follow the prescribed assessment rate reduction as scheduled in the Governing Board Policy Handbook.

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REVIEW, RENEW & UPDATE STATEMENT OF FAITH• 2013 General Conference – authorize the Moderator and Governing Board to appoint a special force to

review, renew & update the MCC Statement of Faith

• Task Force members included representatives from:Council of Elders and from the Theologies Team, as well as those representing the theological, cultural, and global diversity of MCC. The task force also sought consultation from resources inside and outside of MCC. The Statement of Faith needs to be approved by two-thirds of the Clergy House and of the Lay House at the General Conference of MCC in 2016. Purpose & Outcomes of the Commission:

The purpose of the Commission on the MCC Statement of Faith is to make recommendations for revisions of the current Statement of Faith to be presented by the Governing Board to the General Conference for consideration.

Complete a comprehensive review to: • Assess the current Statement of Faith. • Consider previous processes of theological reflection in MCC. • Study changes and trends in the larger religious landscape.

Engage in consultation with the Council of Elders to gain their wisdom and insight as spiritual and pastoral leaders of MCC.

Seek consultation from resources inside and outside of MCC. Facilitate a grass-roots dialogue to gain input and feedback on the review of the current Statement of Faith and

recommendations for revisions. Complete the recommended revisions to the MCC Statement of Faith by January 31, 2016

(NOTE: Excerpt summary from initial CSOF charter.

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STATEMENT OF FAITH TASK FORCEC O M M I S S I O N

M E M B E R S :

Rev. Elder Dr. Candace Shultis – St. Petersburg, Florida (USA)

Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrez –Guadalajara, Jalisco (Mexico)

Mr. Bryce E. Rich – Chicago, Illinois (USA)

Rev. Cathy Alexander – Washington, DC (USA)

Rev. Dr. Axel Schwaigert – Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany)

Rev. Karl Hand, PhD – Leichhardt, New South Wales (Australia)

O T H E R C O N T R I B U T O R S

Linda L. Brenner – staff support

Rev. Dr. Tom Bohache

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner

Rev. Dr. Kelby Harrison

Rev. Elder Mona L. West

Rev. Elder Jim Mitulski

Dwayne Best

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STATEMENT OF FAITH CONTINUED…The new Statement of Faith is written in the form of a prayer. We

have done this for two reasons:First, MCC is committed to the use of inclusive language in reference

to both humanity and God. Early on in our work, we were troubled by the awkward phrasings that resulted from our efforts to avoid gendered pronouns in our repeated references to God. By moving from speaking about God or specific persons of the Trinity in the third person (e.g., he, she, it), a move to speaking to them in the second person (you) alleviated this problem.

The second reason was that once we made the initial shift, we recognized that a prayer, offered communally, transformed the Statement of Faith from a list of propositions about God into an intimate communication with God.

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MCC STATEMENT OF FAITHPreambleMetropolitan Community Churches is one chapter in the story of the Church, the Body of Christ. We are

people on a journey, learning to live into our spirituality, while affirming our bodies, our genders, our sexualities. We don't all believe exactly the same things. And yet in the midst of our diversity, we build community, grounded in God's radically inclusive love for all people. We are part of an ongoing conversation on matters of belief and faith, shaped by scripture and the historic creeds, building on those who have come before us. Our chapter begins when God says to us: "Come, taste, and see."

Our Faith"Come, taste, and see." Jesus Christ, You invite all people to Your open table. You make us your people, a

beloved community. You restore the joy of our relationship with God, even in the midst of loneliness, despair, and degradation. We are each unique and we all belong, a priesthood of all believers. Baptized and filled with Your Holy Spirit, You empower us to be Your healing presence in a hurting world.

We expect to see Your reign on earth as it is in heaven as we work toward a world where everyone has enough, wars cease, and all creation lives in harmony. We affirm Your charge to all of humanity to care for the land, sea, and air. Therefore, we will actively resist systems and structures which are destroying Your creation.

With all of creation we worship You—every tribe, every language, every people, every nation. We know You by many names, Triune God, beyond comprehension, revealed to us in Jesus Christ, who invites us to the feast.

Amen.

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PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTSThere are a total of seven (7) bylaw proposals – four (4) editorial and three

(3) new changes. Following along using the link below:

http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/2016-UFMCC-BYLAW-PROPOSALS-FOR-GC2016-0406-FINAL-combined.pdf

Editorial Amendments

1. Article IV.A. Ministry – Paragraph Renumbering:• Rationale for the change: Paragraph section renumbering• Financial Impact – none

2. Article IV.B – Local Church Paragraph re-order:• Rationale for the change: Paragraph section renumbering for

ease of use and to eliminate redundancy• Financial Impact - none

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MORE PROPOSED EDITORIAL AMENDMENTS

3. Article V.E.3 – Elder Paragraph Removal Cleanup• Rationale for the changes: Paragraph Realignment• Financial Impact: none

4. Article V.E.2 – Moderator – add paragraphs – realign• Rationale for the changes: Moved paragraphs from elder section to

Moderator sections for paragraph realignment.• Financial Impact: None

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THREE PROPOSED CHANGES TO BYLAWS5. Article V.E.2.a – MNC member increases• Rationale for the changes: The amount of work is best done with distributed amongst 5

rather than 3 persons as demonstrated by the GC 2016 MNC team. The opportunity to have multiple, diverse voices and perspectives has proven to be invaluable throughout the MNC process leading to GC 2016.

• Financial Impact: minimal6. Article III.A – move to new MCC Core Documents to be created

Step I: Article III – Statement of Faith, Sacraments & Rites• Rationale for changes: The MCC Commission on the Statement of Faith chartered at GC

2013 recommends this new language for our Statement of Faith.• Financial Impact: noneStep 2: Move SOF to the MCC Core documents [ an online repository for texts that have been deemed by the denomination to be worthy of preservation]• Rationale for the changes: Keep all MCC Core Documents together in one online location

accessible to all people• Financial Impact: None

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6. Article III.A – create a new MCC Core Documents . Step 3: Remove “Article III.A – Statement of Faith” from the Bylaws and into the MCC Core Documents (as described in Step 2)

• This will require a 2/3 majority vote in both the Clergy House and the Lay House of General Conference.

• Rationale for change: The Commission on the Statement of Faith, in consultation with a number of theologians, suggests that a statement of faith does not belong in denominational bylaws. Placing our new Statement of Faith in “MCC Core Documents” on the MCC website seems to us to be the logical repository for the Statement.

• Financial Impact: NoneStep 4: Rename Article III – Sacraments and Rites• Rationale for change: The guidelines for changing the Statement of Faith will be housed in

Bylaw Addendum 5 and will continue to require a 2/3 vote of the Lay House and of the Clergy House to amend. The Statement of Faith will be housed online with the rest of the documentation called the MCC Core Documents. However change for only this one page Statement of Faith requires a 2/3 vote of both houses to be changed. The other MCC Core Documents will not require a bylaw change of the General Conference delegates.

• Financial Impact: None

Three Proposed changes to Bylaws (continued)

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7. Article IX.B.1 – Church Finances – move to policy handbook

Move UFMCC Bylaws Article IX.B.1 to Governing Board Policy Handbook to sit alongside the assessment rate. • Rationale: Article IX.B.1- Move Exempt Funds section to Governing Board Policy Handbook

to sit alongside assessment rate section.• Financial Impact: N/A

Three Proposed changes to Bylaws (continued)

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MORE INFORMATION RE: GENERAL CONFERENCE

Business Meeting Documents:

1. General Conference Procedures Manual link: http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/2016-GC-PROCEDURES-MANUAL-REV0408-FINAL.pdf

2. Business Meeting Forum Agenda: http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/2016-GENERAL-CONFERENCE-XXVI-BUSINESS-FORUM-AGENDA-REV-033016-for-posting.pdf

3. Business Meeting Agenda:http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/2016-GENERAL-CONFERENCE-XXVI-BUSINESS-MEETING-AGENDA-REV-033016-for-posting.pdf

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

1. For more information on the Governing Board Nominees please go to the following links: http://mccchurch.org/gbnc-candidates/http://mccchurch.org/governing-board-nominating-committee-home/

2. For more information on the Moderator Candidates: http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/MCC-MNC-Final-Report-April-2016.pdf

3. For more information on the Statement of Faith: http://mccchurch.org/revised-draft-of-the-mcc-statement-of-faith-released-with-a-companion-guide/

4. For more information on the Bylaw editorial changes and new changes: http://emerge.mccchurch.org/files/2016/02/2016-UFMCC-BYLAW-PROPOSALS-FOR-GC2016-0406-FINAL-combined.pdf

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As your Lay Delegate(s), we ask you to please prayerfully consider the information presented. Additionally, if you have questions, please contact your Lay Delegate. It’s our duty as your Lay Delegate(s) to represent this congregation at the GC 2016. Please provide feedback by Sunday, June 26th so we will be prepared as we arrive at the GC 2016 in Victoria, BC, Canada

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