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Our Mission & Vision
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Our Values & Strategies
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Our History
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UFMCC Statement of Faith
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Our Mission
We are a Christian church that offers a loving, supportive, and non-judgmental environment to all people. We exist to celebrate God's love through worship, fellowship, education, and empowering individuals to develop a closer relationship with God.
Our Vision
Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit lovingly transforms lives by including all, inspiring each other, and influencing community.
We are a Christian church that offers a loving, supportive, and non-judgmental environment to all people. We exist to celebrate God's love through worship, fellowship, education, and empowering individuals to develop a closer relationship with God.
Our Vision
Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit lovingly transforms lives by including all, inspiring each other, and influencing community.
Our Core Values
Inclusion, Social Action, Spiritual Transformation, Community
Our Strategy
To achieve our vision and ensure consistency with our mission, MCC Detroit commits to the following mission strategy in all that we do:
In carrying out the business of the church we strive to:
Through long term commitment to this mission, we will be known as a church that welcomes all people. All people shall have equality of access and opportunity, which is free from discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, physical challenge, HIV status, health status, gender identity, nationality, or economic status.
Affirmed by the congregation, November 15th, 1995
Inclusion, Social Action, Spiritual Transformation, Community
Our Strategy
To achieve our vision and ensure consistency with our mission, MCC Detroit commits to the following mission strategy in all that we do:
- Provide the freedom and opportunity for spiritual fulfillment and loving fellowship.
- Educate individuals so they may develop closer relationships with God and others.
- Provide strong support to each other that will enable MCC Detroit to reach out and minister to all parts of the community.
In carrying out the business of the church we strive to:
- Communicate to enhance public awareness and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
- Encourage, facilitate, and support individual and group contributions to advance the understanding and fulfillment of the spiritual needs of our community.
- Uphold the values and beliefs of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC).
- Reach out to improve public opinion toward the image of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
- Be considered a leader in the community which stands for freedom of religion for all.
Through long term commitment to this mission, we will be known as a church that welcomes all people. All people shall have equality of access and opportunity, which is free from discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, physical challenge, HIV status, health status, gender identity, nationality, or economic status.
Affirmed by the congregation, November 15th, 1995
1971 The emerging Gay Christian Caucus of the Gay Liberation Front of Detroit (GLFD) met in John Kavanaugh’s
apartment and decided to affiliate with the fast-growing Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches (UFMCC). They began meeting for worship at Trinity United Methodist Church in Highland Park.
1972 The congregation offered a Christmas Dinner for gays and lesbians who had no one with whom to share the
holidays.
1973 Tone Clemente was installed as our first clergy and served until 1975.
1976 Rev. Nancy L. Wilson and Rev. Heather Anderson were installed as co-pastors. They were the first couple to
co-pastor a congregation in the UFMCC. That same year, Christmas Dinner was open to residents of the
Detroit neighborhood around the church. This turned the tradition into a ministry to feed the poor, elderly
and less fortunate on the holiest day of the year.
1977 Trinity United Methodist Church, our home since 1971 had to close. Central United Methodist Church in
Detroit became the new MCC Detroit home for worship. The head pastor of Central United, Dr. Richard
DeVore supported and advocated for MCC Detroit with his own church hierarchy. Dr. DeVore also helped
MCC Detroit gain admission into the Downtown Clergy Association.
1979 MCC Detroit saw staff changes as Rev. Wilson was called by Rev. Troy Perry to teach at Samaritan Theological
Institute and Rev. Anderson returned to California. Rev. Bob Gallaway stepped in during a pastoral search
which brought Rev. Brenda Hunt-Cisneros and her partner Rita to lead the congregation.
1982 Rev. Wilson and Rev. Perry visited Detroit to celebrate MCC Detroit’s 10th Anniversary!
1984 The MCC Detroit congregation purchased its own church building in Birmingham. Staff changes in the 80’s
included Rev. Hunt leaving and Rita Cisneros and Bob Hogg to serve as lay leaders until Rev. Jim Hermanot
was installed as pastor. It was also during this time that the congregation added ministries to respond to the
AIDS crisis.
1989 Rev. Linda Laster was installed as our pastor in 1989. At the same time that our worship services were
overflowing with congregants, a buyer offered to purchase the building and property to create a parking lot
for local businesses. During a short building search, we rented worship space at Detroit Unity Church. A
church, parsonage and additional property in Roseville were purchased. A busy year! It was also in 1989
Karen Dillaman, Jo Ploeger and Brenda Blizzard revived the Excel of the Lakes ministry and the church hired
music director, Brian Londrow.
1993 The Roseville property proved to be unsustainable and the building was lost to foreclosure. Once again we
looked for space to rent for worship and offices. A relationship with Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church
(DAPC) began, first with rental of the chapel and fellowship hall. We rented a tiny space for use as an
administrative office in downtown Ferndale. As our relationship with DAPC grew, we were able to rent office
space adjacent to the chapel.
1993 Student clergy Mark Bidwell stepped up to take over when Rev. Laster left and worked with the board of
directors to lead the congregation through a time of transition. This decade saw the growth of a variety of
ministries.
1997 Mark Bidwell was unanimously voted for by an enthusiastic congregation to lead the church. His studies
culminated in his becoming Rev. Mark Bidwell, licensed and ordained by UFMCC.
2000 In the new millennium, we focused on congregational “in reach” and emphasis was placed on small
gatherings to promote fellowship between Sunday worship services. Solid lay leadership was developing to
serve the congregation. Also during this decade, MCC Detroit was fortunate to add clergy in support of a
growing congregation. We welcomed associate clergy including Rev. Deb Dysert, Rev. Kevin Kinsel and Rev.
Bob Bond. This decade also saw great growth in our music ministry. The choir performs at annual Pride
events and performs a very special Good Friday program to a full church!
2010 MCC Detroit conducts a Church Size Summit
2010 Rev. Bidwell went on sabbatical and the congregation was well served as Rev. Deb Dysert and Brian
Londrow provided the stability and continuity the congregation needed.
2011 Rev. Bidwell resigned from the church. Rev. Jim Lynch was installed as Interim Pastor, while Rev. Dysert
continued her role as Associate Pastor.
2012 MCC Detroit mourned the death of Rev. Bidwell.
2013 A Pastoral Search Committee was formed to help find the next pastor.
2014 Rev. Roland Stringfellow is installed as the Senior Pastor.
2017 DAPC informed MCC Detroit of plans to sell the building by the end of the year. MCC Detroit began
exploring all options for relocation. MCC Detroit established a relationship with Clawson United Methodist
Church (CUMC) and entered into a lease agreement that began in December. The final service at DAPC was
November 26th, 2017. The first service at CUMC was held December 3rd, 2017.
apartment and decided to affiliate with the fast-growing Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches (UFMCC). They began meeting for worship at Trinity United Methodist Church in Highland Park.
1972 The congregation offered a Christmas Dinner for gays and lesbians who had no one with whom to share the
holidays.
1973 Tone Clemente was installed as our first clergy and served until 1975.
1976 Rev. Nancy L. Wilson and Rev. Heather Anderson were installed as co-pastors. They were the first couple to
co-pastor a congregation in the UFMCC. That same year, Christmas Dinner was open to residents of the
Detroit neighborhood around the church. This turned the tradition into a ministry to feed the poor, elderly
and less fortunate on the holiest day of the year.
1977 Trinity United Methodist Church, our home since 1971 had to close. Central United Methodist Church in
Detroit became the new MCC Detroit home for worship. The head pastor of Central United, Dr. Richard
DeVore supported and advocated for MCC Detroit with his own church hierarchy. Dr. DeVore also helped
MCC Detroit gain admission into the Downtown Clergy Association.
1979 MCC Detroit saw staff changes as Rev. Wilson was called by Rev. Troy Perry to teach at Samaritan Theological
Institute and Rev. Anderson returned to California. Rev. Bob Gallaway stepped in during a pastoral search
which brought Rev. Brenda Hunt-Cisneros and her partner Rita to lead the congregation.
1982 Rev. Wilson and Rev. Perry visited Detroit to celebrate MCC Detroit’s 10th Anniversary!
1984 The MCC Detroit congregation purchased its own church building in Birmingham. Staff changes in the 80’s
included Rev. Hunt leaving and Rita Cisneros and Bob Hogg to serve as lay leaders until Rev. Jim Hermanot
was installed as pastor. It was also during this time that the congregation added ministries to respond to the
AIDS crisis.
1989 Rev. Linda Laster was installed as our pastor in 1989. At the same time that our worship services were
overflowing with congregants, a buyer offered to purchase the building and property to create a parking lot
for local businesses. During a short building search, we rented worship space at Detroit Unity Church. A
church, parsonage and additional property in Roseville were purchased. A busy year! It was also in 1989
Karen Dillaman, Jo Ploeger and Brenda Blizzard revived the Excel of the Lakes ministry and the church hired
music director, Brian Londrow.
1993 The Roseville property proved to be unsustainable and the building was lost to foreclosure. Once again we
looked for space to rent for worship and offices. A relationship with Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church
(DAPC) began, first with rental of the chapel and fellowship hall. We rented a tiny space for use as an
administrative office in downtown Ferndale. As our relationship with DAPC grew, we were able to rent office
space adjacent to the chapel.
1993 Student clergy Mark Bidwell stepped up to take over when Rev. Laster left and worked with the board of
directors to lead the congregation through a time of transition. This decade saw the growth of a variety of
ministries.
1997 Mark Bidwell was unanimously voted for by an enthusiastic congregation to lead the church. His studies
culminated in his becoming Rev. Mark Bidwell, licensed and ordained by UFMCC.
2000 In the new millennium, we focused on congregational “in reach” and emphasis was placed on small
gatherings to promote fellowship between Sunday worship services. Solid lay leadership was developing to
serve the congregation. Also during this decade, MCC Detroit was fortunate to add clergy in support of a
growing congregation. We welcomed associate clergy including Rev. Deb Dysert, Rev. Kevin Kinsel and Rev.
Bob Bond. This decade also saw great growth in our music ministry. The choir performs at annual Pride
events and performs a very special Good Friday program to a full church!
2010 MCC Detroit conducts a Church Size Summit
2010 Rev. Bidwell went on sabbatical and the congregation was well served as Rev. Deb Dysert and Brian
Londrow provided the stability and continuity the congregation needed.
2011 Rev. Bidwell resigned from the church. Rev. Jim Lynch was installed as Interim Pastor, while Rev. Dysert
continued her role as Associate Pastor.
2012 MCC Detroit mourned the death of Rev. Bidwell.
2013 A Pastoral Search Committee was formed to help find the next pastor.
2014 Rev. Roland Stringfellow is installed as the Senior Pastor.
2017 DAPC informed MCC Detroit of plans to sell the building by the end of the year. MCC Detroit began
exploring all options for relocation. MCC Detroit established a relationship with Clawson United Methodist
Church (CUMC) and entered into a lease agreement that began in December. The final service at DAPC was
November 26th, 2017. The first service at CUMC was held December 3rd, 2017.
Our Denomination
MCC Detroit is part of the Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination founded by the Rev. Troy Perry in 1968 in Los Angeles. The MCC now includes over 200 congregations in the U.S. and 15 countries.
Our Doctrine
Christianity is the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and is the religion set forth in the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is foretold in the Old Testament, presented in the New Testament, and proclaimed by the Christian Church in every age and in every land. (John 1:29)
Founded in the interest of offering a church home to all who confess and believe, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches moves in the mainstream of Christianity.
Our faith is based upon the principles outlined in the historic creeds: Apostles and Nicene.
We believe:
In one triune God, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, of one substance and of three persons: God, our Parent-Creator; Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, God in flesh, human; and the Holy Spirit, God as our Sustainer. (John 14:26)
That the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, showing forth God to every person through the law and the prophets, and finally, completely and ultimately on earth in the being of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16)
That Jesus...the Christ...historically recorded as living some 2,000 years before this writing, is God incarnate, of human birth, fully God and fully human, and that by being one with God, Jesus has demonstrated once and forever that all people are likewise Children of God, being spiritually made in God’s image. (Philippians 2:9-11)
That the Holy Spirit is God making known God’s love and interest to all people. The Holy Spirit is God, available to and working through all who are willing to place their welfare in God’s keeping. (John 14:16, 17)
Every person is justified by grace to God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24)
We are saved from loneliness, despair and degradation through God’s gift of grace, as was declared by our Savior. Such grace is not earned, but is a pure gift from a God of pure love. We further commend the community of the faithful to a life of prayer; to seek genuine forgiveness for unkind, thoughtless and unloving acts; and to a committed life of Christian service. (2 Peter 1:5-8)
The Church serves to bring all people to God through Christ. To this end, it shall arrange for regular services of worship, prayer, interpretation of the Scriptures, and edification through the teaching and preaching of the Word. (Mark 16:15)
Sacraments:
Our Church embraces two holy Sacraments:
Baptism by water and the Spirit, as recorded in the Scriptures, shall be a sign of the dedication of each life to God and God’s service. Through the words and acts of this sacrament, the recipient is identified as God’s own Child. (Matthew 28:19)
Holy Communion is the partaking of blessed bread and fruit of the vine in accordance with the words of Jesus, our Sovereign: This is my body...this is my blood. (Matthew 26:26-28)
All who believe, confess and repent and seek God’s love through Christ, after examining their consciences, may freely participate in the communal meal, signifying their desire to be received into community with Jesus Christ, to be saved by Jesus Christ's sacrifice, to participate in Jesus Christ's resurrection, and to commit their lives anew to the service of Jesus Christ.
Inclusive Language:
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) seeks to be open to all people and to include all of God’s people in every aspect of Church life makes every effort to not use wording that excludes any group of God’s people; doing so would be inconsistent with the nature of a loving God. By using inclusive language in our public Worship Service, Bible Studies, written statements, and public prayers we expand our understanding of God and of the people God has called. Inclusive language reflects a sensitivity to overcome barriers that exist between individuals among communities in such areas as gender, race, class, age, physical differences, nationality, theological beliefs, culture and lifestyle.
One aspect of inclusive language is not to limit our understanding of God by addressing God in any single gender term. We do this primarily by using non-gender terms such as “Creator” or “God” instead of “Father.” Another aspect is when referring to people we seek to use terms that include all people. An example of this might be to use the term “brothers and sisters” instead of just “brothers” in certain readings.
It is understood that Jesus was indeed born a male and we do not seek to challenge or change that fact. We do not seek to change the meaning or content of scripture; we seek to identify more clearly what Jesus meant when he said, “whosoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16). It is also understood that our relationship with God and Christ is a personal one.
Inclusive language is necessary to promote justice, reconciliation and love, the agenda to which we Christian have been called. Inclusive language frees us to grasp and convey the wider truth. Paul urged the Corinthians to widen their hearts that they might fully experience the gospel (2 Cor. 6.13). In the same spirit, we are urged to widen our understanding so that we might better grasp the richness and fullness of God as well as our own humanity. It is our openness to move beyond comfortable and familiar images that enables us to grow in our relationship with God. The importance of inclusive language is that it serves to liberate everyone.
The inclusive language policy is used at all levels of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church yet is not written in stone – our understanding of what it means to be inclusive must continue to evolve.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF FAITH OF Metropolitan Community Churchesas adopted at General Conference XXVI, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Adopted on July 5, 2016 and added to the MCC Core Documents.
MCC Detroit is part of the Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination founded by the Rev. Troy Perry in 1968 in Los Angeles. The MCC now includes over 200 congregations in the U.S. and 15 countries.
Our Doctrine
Christianity is the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and is the religion set forth in the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is foretold in the Old Testament, presented in the New Testament, and proclaimed by the Christian Church in every age and in every land. (John 1:29)
Founded in the interest of offering a church home to all who confess and believe, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches moves in the mainstream of Christianity.
Our faith is based upon the principles outlined in the historic creeds: Apostles and Nicene.
We believe:
In one triune God, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, of one substance and of three persons: God, our Parent-Creator; Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, God in flesh, human; and the Holy Spirit, God as our Sustainer. (John 14:26)
That the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, showing forth God to every person through the law and the prophets, and finally, completely and ultimately on earth in the being of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16)
That Jesus...the Christ...historically recorded as living some 2,000 years before this writing, is God incarnate, of human birth, fully God and fully human, and that by being one with God, Jesus has demonstrated once and forever that all people are likewise Children of God, being spiritually made in God’s image. (Philippians 2:9-11)
That the Holy Spirit is God making known God’s love and interest to all people. The Holy Spirit is God, available to and working through all who are willing to place their welfare in God’s keeping. (John 14:16, 17)
Every person is justified by grace to God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24)
We are saved from loneliness, despair and degradation through God’s gift of grace, as was declared by our Savior. Such grace is not earned, but is a pure gift from a God of pure love. We further commend the community of the faithful to a life of prayer; to seek genuine forgiveness for unkind, thoughtless and unloving acts; and to a committed life of Christian service. (2 Peter 1:5-8)
The Church serves to bring all people to God through Christ. To this end, it shall arrange for regular services of worship, prayer, interpretation of the Scriptures, and edification through the teaching and preaching of the Word. (Mark 16:15)
Sacraments:
Our Church embraces two holy Sacraments:
Baptism by water and the Spirit, as recorded in the Scriptures, shall be a sign of the dedication of each life to God and God’s service. Through the words and acts of this sacrament, the recipient is identified as God’s own Child. (Matthew 28:19)
Holy Communion is the partaking of blessed bread and fruit of the vine in accordance with the words of Jesus, our Sovereign: This is my body...this is my blood. (Matthew 26:26-28)
All who believe, confess and repent and seek God’s love through Christ, after examining their consciences, may freely participate in the communal meal, signifying their desire to be received into community with Jesus Christ, to be saved by Jesus Christ's sacrifice, to participate in Jesus Christ's resurrection, and to commit their lives anew to the service of Jesus Christ.
Inclusive Language:
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) seeks to be open to all people and to include all of God’s people in every aspect of Church life makes every effort to not use wording that excludes any group of God’s people; doing so would be inconsistent with the nature of a loving God. By using inclusive language in our public Worship Service, Bible Studies, written statements, and public prayers we expand our understanding of God and of the people God has called. Inclusive language reflects a sensitivity to overcome barriers that exist between individuals among communities in such areas as gender, race, class, age, physical differences, nationality, theological beliefs, culture and lifestyle.
One aspect of inclusive language is not to limit our understanding of God by addressing God in any single gender term. We do this primarily by using non-gender terms such as “Creator” or “God” instead of “Father.” Another aspect is when referring to people we seek to use terms that include all people. An example of this might be to use the term “brothers and sisters” instead of just “brothers” in certain readings.
It is understood that Jesus was indeed born a male and we do not seek to challenge or change that fact. We do not seek to change the meaning or content of scripture; we seek to identify more clearly what Jesus meant when he said, “whosoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16). It is also understood that our relationship with God and Christ is a personal one.
Inclusive language is necessary to promote justice, reconciliation and love, the agenda to which we Christian have been called. Inclusive language frees us to grasp and convey the wider truth. Paul urged the Corinthians to widen their hearts that they might fully experience the gospel (2 Cor. 6.13). In the same spirit, we are urged to widen our understanding so that we might better grasp the richness and fullness of God as well as our own humanity. It is our openness to move beyond comfortable and familiar images that enables us to grow in our relationship with God. The importance of inclusive language is that it serves to liberate everyone.
The inclusive language policy is used at all levels of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church yet is not written in stone – our understanding of what it means to be inclusive must continue to evolve.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF FAITH OF Metropolitan Community Churchesas adopted at General Conference XXVI, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Adopted on July 5, 2016 and added to the MCC Core Documents.