12332 SE HWY 301, Belleview, Florida 34420, United States
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH COUNCIL OF ELDERS
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The Council of Elders is grateful to the fellowship of MCC for trusting us to minister and attend with you. We have spent our second year growing and developing and living into the responsibilities of elders.
Prayer and pastoral messages and group offerings continue to be a pillar of the Council.
- Elders provided weekly and then monthly Calls to Prayer, seasonal prayers, and occasional prayers and videos for distribution, such as Advent, Lenten, and shamanic prayers for Brazil and Cuba.
- In February 2022, Elders hosted six rolling prayer vigils through the global time zones.
- An Elder joins the monthly Governing Board meeting to offer opening prayer.
- Monthly community Tea Time is hosted by Elders to provide opportunities to commune, laugh, and pray together.
- The Council of Elders FaceBook page is a place to share scheduled prayers and resources; Elders have been working to generate creative new ways to facilitate discussion and engagement on the site.
- An Elder co-leads MCC’s Trans Kinship Group with Rev Jakob Hero and serves with European RevM.
A core piece of the Council’s denominational role is to provide spiritual presence and support to clergy, chaplains, spiritual leaders, and congregations.
- Thank you for reaching out by email to us with your needs, affirmations, and feedback. Each message is important and receives a thoughtful response.
- Elders are providing pulpit relief as able to pastors who reach out, and to congregations in transition.
- Elders have attended services and ceremonies to mark or witness important moments in the life of the church (New Light MCC mortgage burning, Resurrection MCC anniversary, ordination of Stuart Sutherland, presentation of several MCC Awards).
- Elders are checking-in with surviving partners and congregations of clergy and leaders who have died; with congregations experiencing natural disasters or acts of violence (Rev San Jose, Florida hurricanes, Colorado shooting, west coast “bomb cyclone”); with congregations who are discerning or moving toward closing;
- Elders have provided individual pastoral support to denominational leaders and church members experiencing personal or professional challenges and crises.
- The Council solicited information from the global church about how you wanted and needed to receive this care. A survey was launched and the results reviewed which resulted in the current Elder response model.
Elders engaged meaningfully in planning and supporting General Conference.
- Elders participated in the planning, fine tuning, and logistics of the 2022 General Conference supporting the excellent work of staff.
- Each of six rolling pre-Conference by-laws discussion circles was attended and supported by one or more Elders.
- Elders coordinated and facilitated offerings of Sanctuary Space and Devotional sessions throughout Conference.
- An Elder served as co-lead for the Trans Kinship Group; provided opening meditation; and co-facilitated a sex misconduct workshop.
- Elders provided a number of ceremonial roles, including prayer and consecrating communion.
Elders drafted timely statements to inform about and elevate matters of importance. The Elders are committed to global matters of social and spiritual justice, racial and ethnic justice, and justice concerning disability and other forms of access. A global list of days of observation helps to guide our justice-centered reflection and action.
- Elder's statement on European COP 26
- Elder's statement on Power of Community to Dispel Loneliness
- Elder’s statement on Release of Brittney Griner
- Elder's statement on Monkeypox
- Elder's statement on Protection of Journalists
- Elder’s statement International Women’s Day
- Elder's statement on International Workers’ Day
- Elder's statement on Peacemaking
- Elder's statement on Reproductive Justice
- Elder's statement on Vaccinations
Elders engaged in substantive review and response to denominational policies and proposal considerations. This was sometimes done in collaboration with the Governing Board or by participating in or liaising with global teams. It is humbling to be in a position to help shape and reshape our global community agreements in this way; we are proud to share in this work in our incredible movement.
- MCC Ministry Leaders Sexual Conduct Policy drafting
- Disaffiliation Bylaw Group (with Rebecca Wilson)
- Review of Judiciary Process
Elders participated with processes to strengthen denominational programs and systems.
- Living Well with Difference Training (MCC and Place for Hope) March and September 2022
- Multicultural Consulting Services and MCC workshop series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (May/June 2022)
- Two sessions of All-MCC leadership planning and retreat to discuss 5 strategic aims of Diversity, Leadership, Presence, Spirituality and Resources, and develop an action plan
- MCC Policy with Iberoamerica
- Consideration of theologies groups and affiliations
Elders engaged meaningfully with local initiatives to strengthen protections for LGBTQ peoples.
- Expert Advisory Group for the Scottish Government on banning Conversion Therapy
- Recorded biblical reflection on LGBTQI+ issues for the Assembly Executive during the United Reformed Church Jubilee.
- Texas Transgender youth rally
- Support for Australia’s Uluru Statement from the Heart: a call for a constitutional voice for indigenous Australians
- National AIDS Memorial Quilt Remarks (Lafayette College, Easton, PA USA)
- LGBT Diversity Training Facilitator at Bethlehem Emergency Shelter (Bethlehem, PA USA)
- Campus-wide presentation on UFMCC (Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA USA)
- Transgender Day of Remembrance Remarks (Allentown, PA USA)
In peace,
Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Elder Alejandro Escoto
Elder Velma Garcia
Elder Goudy
Elder Karl Hand
Elder Miller Hoffman
Elder Carolyn Mobley-Bowie
Elder Maxwell Reay
