Any MCC'ers out there?

I dunno, but after reading your quiz scores on the other thread, I would suggest the Episcopal Church over the MCC.

Ah. Pardon for the misread.

Dunno if any MCCers post here. Kinda doubt if any do, but we both might be suprised.

Good luck!

There's a congregation in Indianapolis and they maintain a good website: http://www.jesusmcc.org

Never been to an MCC myself, but from reading their stuff I'd certainly be interested if there was a congregation near me.

My wife and I went to St. John's MCC in Raleigh on two occasions, first to a concert put on by their Gospel Choir, and second to a Sunday morning service as representatives of our own Episcopal church, to get dialogue and information about "safe space" initiatives both churches were interested in. Our experience:

The Sunday morning service was liturgical, communion in a "High Protestant" form (wafer and chalice à la Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Anglicanism) but a liturgy that was remarkably bland, reminiscent of a Methodist communion service with the rough edges sandpapered off. Good, fairly emotionally moving sermon, long on individual experience and short on theology. The choir concert was, quite simply, a concert with a small bit of witness included.

Nice, welcoming people. A very pleasant community. Other than a bit more "openly gay" references in the sermon and witness than one would probably hear most anywhere else, it was a very typical generic Protestant service and a classic Southern Gospel choir concert.

My church is called MCC, but it doesn't stand for metripolitan community church, though that definitely confuses people sometimes I think.

Within a month they had filled it.

Within two months, they were having two services.

Now, they have a service on Saturday evening, two Sunday morning services, a Sunday evening and a Wednesday evening service; and their building is in use seven days a week.

Several churches within the Austin convocation have begun working with this MCC to try to build ecumenical bridges (and to find out their secret for how they have managed to grow so explosively!).

UberLutheran said:

Within a month they had filled it.

Within two months, they were having two services.

Now, they have a service on Saturday evening, two Sunday morning services, a Sunday evening and a Wednesday evening service; and their building is in use seven days a week.

Several churches within the Austin convocation have begun working with this MCC to try to build ecumenical bridges (and to find out their secret for how they have managed to grow so explosively!).

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Judging from what Mel White wrote in his autobiography, I would guess the secret of their success is being a hospital for the injured. Many have been injured by the Christian churches, and they understand why the Gospel is called Good News when they hear a church telling them that God loves them unconditionally.

I know an MCC pastor. He says he emphasizes love and grace because most of the congregation has been beaten with sin and judgement.

What exactly is MCC?

Buttermilk said:

What exactly is MCC?

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The Metropolitian Community Church

http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About_Us

Thanks

I used to go to an MCC in Brighton near me.

My experience:
The pastor was very loving, caring and friendly, as were most of the congregation. The service was not so liturgical in style. There were modern Christian songs being sung. There was some 'High Church' liturgy though.

ottaia said:

I know an MCC pastor. He says he emphasizes love and grace because most of the congregation has been beaten with sin and judgement.

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Amen... I would say we ALL need churches like that!

Have just developed a craving for apples . . . golden apples.

been to MCC north London, and as far as i can tell the style and liturgy tend to differ, the one i went to was extremely Charasmatic, however they infused it with litergy and put a emphesis on the Sacrament simillar to that of a middle of the road Anglican or Methodist (at least methodist in the UK..i get the impression it implies something quite different in the US).

Going in a bit dubious i was impressed by the "religiousness" of it, i could imagine it being vauge however they were Evangelical in their convictions, though with different convictions.

The other thing i'd say was (to my utter shame) i felt a little uncomfortable sitting near some of the people in there, and i slowly realised that because of they're dedication to working with the homeless/rejected they'd brought alot of those people in. needless to say with in minutes i was shocked by my earlier prejudice.

Oh the other thing, they didn't mention the "gay thing" once...
and the other thing, they use inclusive languages, which is a bit odd, so they never refer to the "Father" or "Lord" or anything that implies a masculine identity to God...which was a bit unnerving...

hope that helps
Steff
p.s. i'm going back!

I've had plenty of experience with the MCC. My church was a former member of the MCC. However, do to some ugly disagreements a few years ago, my church opted to disaffiliate. I'm sure part of the reason is that my church has a substantially larger membership (several thousand) than the average MCC. Thus, the elephant effect.

MCC's will be different in various cities. Most of the time, they tend to have a smaller congregation (under 100) and many times will use another church's building for meeting space. Of course, this isn't true for all cities.

The MCC does great work. I'll attend their services in various cities while traveling. Every MCC church allows open communion. They also use inclusive language. They will also welcome every single person, regardless of sexual orientation or religious affiliation. I've never heard a word which offended or upset me during an MCC service. There may be times when I disagree theologically, but I've never been angered by the pastor.

I tend to prefer worship a bit more liturgical than I have found in most MCC churches. Still, even if I wasn't a member, I'd visit on a regular basis. I'd probably find a liberal church with a formal service as a home church and then visit the MCC often. Many times, they will hold worship on Wednesday or Sunday evenings.

I have attended a MCC church on many occasions and I find them to be very loving and unconditional as Christ taught us to be.

I live in Manhattan in NYC, and on cable access the local MCC has its services. Here, it is very much known as the "gay" church. The back of the pulpit is draped with rainbow bunting, and the pastor is somewhat androgynous, and, I'm assuming, a lesbian, and that's according to my reasonably well-developed Chelsea-resident gay-dar.

I've listened to a little of her sermons, and she knows her Bible very well and is a very good speaker. As I am an evangelical, born-again, conservative So. Baptist, I don't agree with some of her theology.

I do admire her/her congregation's commitment to social issues. She and her congregation led a march through Manhattan within days of 9/11 calling for peace and turning the other cheek. I didn't agree with the message, but I admired their display of commitment to the Gospel. It was a brave thing to do in those days.