Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church affirms that all individuals are of sacred worth without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, education, marital circumstances, economic status, physical and mental condition, or criminal history. We declare ourselves in support of the reconciling movement and welcome the full participation in the church of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered persons and their families, as a reflection of God’s unconditional love. At the same time, we recognize differences of opinion on issues of sexuality and seek to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect.
MMUMC is proud to be a reconciling congregation. After a period of prayerful discernment, we joined the reconciling ministries network in June 2008. As a ministry team we work to ensure that everyone who walks into the doors of our church are welcomed. We are always welcome to new ideas and to find unique ways to declare God’s love for ALL of God’s children.
MMUMC also is involved with the B-WARM Network, the Baltimore/Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists. BWARM works to encourage dialogue and education about LGBT issues, increase the number of reconciling congregations, and stand in solidarity with all who have been excluded or marginalized by the Church. Members come from United Methodist churches from across the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Some of us are members of reconciling congregations; many of us are not. We are LGBT and straight people. (Wording adapted from the B-WARM website). BWARM meets the second Saturday of each month. If you are interested in getting involved with us, please contact Ann Michel
Reconciling Ministries Update
Metropolitan Memorial Marches in the Capitol Pride Parade!
A group of Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish members marched in the DC Pride Parade on June 12, 2010. Below are some recollections of the day!
Kerm Towler - Initially the size of our group group reminded me of the Quakers in the 60’s who stood silently on a street corner with a sign while the rest of the country was debating the Vietnam War. I did wear a shirt emblazoned with the words “Self-Avowed Practicing United Methodist”. We didn’t play Lady Gaga tunes. No one danced or dressed outlandishly and we didn’t have 60 people in our contingent. In fact, we were pretty vanilla-looking in comparison to the other groups, but we did have a sign which loudly and warmly proclaimed a welcome to all people-the only UMC in the parade.
As the parade proceded through Dupont Circle, the crowd’s reaction was incredible. We carried the banner down the street bearing the name of Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church and handed out cards and they screamed. As I recounted to Dr. Parker, I’ve never been in a Pride celebration where people yelled out at the top of their lungs, “Yay John Wesley!!!” and “Yay Methodists” repeatedly. It is very strange. You just don’t hear people cheering the Church these days.
Excitement aside, there is something very spiritual about the act of walking; in our case it was an act of spiritual witness. In the same way that ordinary people “walked” the British out of India or to protest the treatment of African-Americans in this country, we walked for people who can’t walk, can’t “hear” the walk, or have no one to walk for themselves.
Jeff Clouser - The day of the Pride Parade is always hectic from an organizing stand point. I was charged with collecting everyone together on the big day and getting us all lined up and equipped with our banner, beads, bubbles, and fliers. Needless to say, it is a little stressful! However, once we began to walk the gratitude of the crowd towards us as we marched along was overwhelming. I soon forgot about the hassles in getting us all there and focused on the good will and acceptance that washed over each of us. It was amazing to look out over the crowd and see people smiling, waving and thanking us for being there and supporting the community. Even though we were a small crowd marching this year, the energy we sent out and received back from the crowd made it feel as if we were a 100 strong. If you have not marched in the Pride Parade, I urge you to do so. It is a fun and amazing event and one that you won’t soon forget!
Reconciling Sunday, Dr. Parker Preaching both services
Sunday, June 6
Each year, reconciled congregations set aside one Sunday to celebrate its commitment as a reconciled church. This allows the conversation and hospitality to be refreshed each year. It also is helpful to new members of a congregation to have the opportunity to hear the story, understand the priority, and share the hope. Reconciled congregations seek justice, full inclusion and participation for GLBT people in the Church. In celebration of Metropolitan’s second anniversary as a reconciled church, Dr. Parker will preach on the importance of marriage equality.
Discussion with Carol Cook Moore
Sunday, June 27
10:10 a.m., Great Hall
Carol Cook Moore, Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching at Wesley Theological Seminary, will facilitate an interactive discussion on marriage in the United Methodist Church.
Marriage Equality and the Church
On Wednesday, March 3, The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, which permits same-sex couples to marry in the District of Columbia, took effect. Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the bill into law December 18, 2009. The law provides equal rights for same-sex couples to marry in DC and preserves the right of clergy and congregations to adhere to their faiths. Because the passage of same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia creates new possibilities and new questions for our congregation, the clergy of the parish and the Advocacy Team have planned a number of learning and discussion events related to the subject of same-sex marriage and the church. Dr. Parker held open discussion with Metropolitan’s church leaders on February 2 and with the congregation on March 2, sharing, that he will perform same-sex marriages at Metropolitan for members of our congregation. A third discussion will be held on May 16. Our discussions provided participants with the opportunity for thoughtful discernment and discussion on the issue of marriage equality, and the effect Dr. Parker’s decision will have on Metropolitan, in light of United Methodist Church law. Our congregation is invited to enter this time of discussion, dialogue, and discernment prayerfully and with open hearts as we seek to live into our calling as a reconciling congregation to affirm and welcome the full participation of GLBT persons in the ministry of the church. Please plan to be present for our upcoming events.
June is Gay Pride Month!
June 28, 2010 marks the 41st anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. Today, Gay Pride events are held annually throughout the world during the month of June. DC Gay Pride events include:
• Interfaith Worship Service on the evening of Tuesday, June 8.
• Capitol Pride Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 12. Congregants from Metropolitan Cooperative Parish will be marching in the parade. All are welcome! Those interested in marching should email Anne Brown at anne_p_brown@live.com. A complete list of Pride events is listed at http://www.capitalpride.org
Marriage Equality and the Church:
Same-Sex Marriage and United Methodist Doctrine
Homosexual Marriage By Rev. Tex Sample
The term homosexuality as we understand that word today appears nowhere in Scripture. In fact, the word was not coined until the nineteenth century. Moreover, there is no evidence that the Scripture addresses the matter of sexual orientation as that characteristic is now understood. In Scripture the attention is given to same-sex practices. It is a minor concern and appears in only five passages. (I exclude two passages on same-sex rape that are not under consideration here. Rape of any kind is wrong.) Biblical scholars hotly contest all of these passages. Read more.
Reconciled Churches Set Record
The Reconciling Ministries (RMN) Network is a growing national movement of United Methodists working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church. Since its formation in 1984, individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups have declared their dissent from UM policy on Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender issues and joined the RMN movement.
RMN encompasses 325 Reconciling Congregations and 114 Reconciling Campus Ministries and other Reconciling Communities and Ministries. There are over 80,000 Reconciling United Methodists.
In 1984, 9 United Methodist Churches became reconciled churches.
In 2009, 23 United Methodist Churches became reconciling churches, the most churches to reconcile in a single year in RMN’s history.
Congratulations are extended to Chestnut UMC (Portland, Maine), Green Street UMC (Winston-Salem, NC), Journey of Faith UMC (Round Rock, Texas), and United Methodist Church of Tarrytown (Tarrytown, NY) on becoming the newest reconciling churches to join the movement.
Thank You to Metropolitan and the Advocacy Team
I wish to express my gratitude to Metropolitan and the Advocacy Ministry team, chaired by Ann Michel, for hosting a screening of my documentary film, “Incompatible with Christian Teaching” on Dec. 6. The event was attended by 63 guests. In the coming months, I will be screening and discussing the film at United Methodist Churches and organizations all over the country. It was an honor to share the film with all of you at Metropolitan before I take the film on the road. —Yours in Christ, Anne Brown
Links:
Gaychurch.org is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay Christian community and to the friends of our community.
