All people-gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and heterosexual-are invited to new life through the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ in the Metropolitan Community Churches. MCC puts its faith into action by creating a global community of healing and reconciliation, and by confronting the injustices of homophobia, sexism, racism and poverty through Christian social action.

Since its founding in 1968, MCC has grown into a denomination of approximately 300 churches in 18 countries throughout the world. Worldwide membership surpassed 40,000 in early 2000. In many small communities, the Metropolitan Community Church is the only local lesbian and gay-oriented organization.

MCC HAS A HISTORY:

The story of MCC begins with one man, defrocked by his Pentecostal church for homosexuality and recovering from a suicide attempt, who dared to believe God's promise of love and justice for all people. The Reverend Troy Perry, then twenty seven, received a call from God to found a church that affirmed gay men, lesbians and all other outcasts. UFMCC was born a few months later on October 6, 1968, when the Reverend Perry led eleven men and one woman in the first worship service of what was to become Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, California. Foreshadowing the diversity that was to flower in the next decades, the congregation that morning encompassed people of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish backgrounds, including one person of color (a Latino), one Jew, and one heterosexual couple. In the following decades, the Reverend Perry received innumerable human rights awards as he guided MCC to growth and maturity.

UFMCC CELEBRATES LIFE!

Many elements characteristic of UFMCC worship celebrations can be traced to the first service in 1968: communion open to all, combining of diverse Christian traditions, joyous tears of the congregation, and the message proclaimed. In his first MCC sermon, titled "Be True to You", the Reverend Perry preached a three-point gospel empowering people to bring Christian salvation, Christian community and Christian social action to the world; this vision statement continues to guide UFMCC.

UFMCC has two sacraments, baptism and communion, as well as six rites: membership, holy union or matrimony, funeral or memorial service, laying on of hands, blessing and ordination. Today worship styles vary widely among UFMCC churches based on the background of the pastor and the composition of the local community. The theology of UFMCC pastors covers the entire spectrum from liberal to conservative, but all agree with modern biblical and theological scholars who find that Scripture does not condemn loving, responsible homosexual relationships.

The few Bible passages that are cited as proof that homosexuality is a sin have been misinterpreted or mistranslated. For example, scholarship shows that the sin of Sodom is violent inhospitality, not the particular way that the guests were abused. Some verses now used as a blanket condemnation of all same-sex love were originally aimed specifically at male prostitution in rival religious cults. Over-emphasis on a few obscure Scriptures can cause people to miss the broad theme of the Bible: God's enduring love for all people, expressed as passion for justice and solidarity with the outcasts, sexual or otherwise.

UFMCC TAKES RISKS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS...

UFMCC is at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements, including efforts in the mid-1990s to end the ban on lesbians and gays in the U.S. military, respond to human rights violations in Brazil, and fight the radical religious right. Since its earliest years, UFMCC led marches, promoted demonstrations and staged sit-ins to gain justice for lesbian and gay people. The Reverend Perry proved his personal commitment to social action by fasting in public twice to promote the human rights of gays and lesbians.

Sometimes UFMCC's courageous stand for human rights makes it a target for hate groups; for example, eighteen Metropolitan Community Churches experienced arson between 1971 and 1985, and fire bombings and other violent attacks persist. Despite opposition, Metropolitan Community Churches continue to protest homophobic policies, call attention to hate crimes, challenge the radical right, and promote anti-discrimination laws in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, as well as North America.

Today UFMCC's social action encircles the globe.

UFMCC OFFERS LOVE AND HEALING...

Compassion is at the heart of every Metropolitan Community Church. Christian love is embodied through ministry among the sick, the bereaved, the broken-hearted, the poor, the oppressed, and all who suffer. Health and wholeness of the spirit, mind and body are fostered through a variety of support groups and other church activities for individuals, couples and families. Since its founding, UFMCC has conducted Holy Union ceremonies as a way to celebrate and bless the joining of same-sex couples.

Metropolitan Community Churches have risen to the unforeseen challenges presented by the AIDS/HIV health crisis starting in the early 1980s. AIDS has dramatically affected every church in UFMCC. Thousands of UFMCC members and friends have died from complications related to HIV/AIDS. UFMCC clergy and lay leaders have also buried many non-members with AIDS, and ministered to their friends and families. UFMCC has been on the forefront of developing networks to provide education, care, comfort and hope for HIV-affected people in many local communities. At the national and international levels, UFMCC has been a public policy advocate for a health care system that serves everyone, and has published a variety of resources on ministry among people with AIDS.

UFMCC CREATES JUST COMMUNITIES...

UFMCC strives to create justice and equality among its membership through its denominational programs as well as in local churches. The status of women in UFMCC is studied and programs are implemented to encourage women's full participation in church life. The percentage of women among UFMCC clergy has grown steadily, and since the 1970s the ratio of clergywomen in UFMCC has been higher than in any other Christian denomination in the world.

UFMCC maintains a programmatic emphasis and biennial conference to promote racial justice. Efforts are made to actualize the personal and spiritual abilities of people of color and to foster reconciliation among all races, thereby building a church where people of every race and ethnic background can participate fully.

UFMCC affirms the universal priesthood of all believers, and lay people minister actively at all levels. Programs provide opportunities for lay training and networking, lay-oriented spiritual renewal, and grass roots theologizing in which the doctrine, beliefs and ministry of UFMCC are derived from people in local churches.

UFMCC TRANSFORMS THE WORLD...

The impact of UFMCC extends far beyond its own membership to the entire Christian Church. UFMCC has official observer status in the World Council of Churches. UFMCC leaders have served as evangelists for the healing of homophobia by spending many years in dialogue with church councils at the national, regional and local levels across the globe.

A front-page article in the Los Angeles Times declared, "Religious leaders and scholars believe its (UFMCC's) success was a major reason that some mainline denominations are grappling with how to deal with homosexuality" (June 7, 1991).

UFMCC EMPOWERS PEOPLE...

UFMCC provides creative avenues of education to equip people of faith through the consortium of Samaritan Colleges in Europe, Canada, the United States, and Australia and through extension centers in other countries. Various Samaritan Colleges offer a variety of correspondence courses and, in partnership with districts, teach in classrooms worldwide. Many UFMCC students also attend mainline seminaries. Guidelines for clergy training and ethics are set at the denominational level.

Located in Los Angeles, the UFMCC World Center is the communications hub for the entire Fellowship. The headquarters provide such services as financial management, conference planning, media relations and production and distribution of a wide range of resources, including UFMCC's monthly newsletter, Keeping in Touch.

UFMCC was called into existence to proclaim and live out God's unconditional love for all creation. Every local Metropolitan Community Church strives to remain true to the vision recorded in the Bible and proclaimed by the Reverend Troy Perry since the founding of UMFCC: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples".

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UFMCC...

UFMCC Resource Center
8704 Santa Monica Blvd. 2nd Floor
West Hollywood, CA 90069 USA.
Web site: www.MCCchurch.org