STONEWALL

I have just finished listening to a very stirring and encouraging address given by President Barack Obama in The White House, on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The room was filled with the great and the good of the LGBT movement, including Rev Troy Perry, the founder of my own church – MCC.
He said all the right things, (though falling short of admitting his support for marriage equality!) and said profoundly moving words about that small group of outcasts and misfits – hustlers, drag queens, trans folk, gay men and others, that finally, after years of persecution and bullying, stood up to the police on the night of June 29th 1969.
For years before this, respectable gay folk had been going about their lives in as much anonymity as they could obtain – avoiding arrest (mostly), often getting married, and generally keeping their heads down and trying to survive. This is all very understandable, but nothing had changed despite decades, indeed centuries of people keeping their heads down and avoiding notice.
What set the whole movement for recognition and rights on its way was an act of authentic, truthful defiance. Just like refusing to stand up on a segregated bus, refusing to disperse and go quietly away. Refusing to accept injustice, and refusing to accommodate it anymore.
We in the LGBT community are great enablers. We make endless excuses for people’s bad behavior – for prejudice and ignorance, for intolerance and cruelty; perhaps it allows us to carry on as normal and not to challenge it. We sit in church pews where preachers condemn us, or bishops refuse to marry us and bless our families – we pour money into institutions that serve us, when they serve us, only by holding their noses. We have been quick to assume that situations are unchangeable, and too frequently we put up and shut up when we should shout loud enough to wake the dead.
Apathy and the closet don’t just delay progress, they kill people – their legacy is marked in ruined lives, deceit and despair. They leave women as tools to be used to hide behind; they reduce us to victims instead of the controllers of our lives and destinies. They have added to the holocaust that is HIV/AIDS. They condemn YET ANOTHER generation of LGBT kids to the same mess we went through.
Just like Jesus telling the respectable folk that ‘The Harlots and the publicans are entering the Kingdom of Heaven before you’ it is those who cannot ‘pass’, those for whom dishonesty is not an option for whatever reason that burst the gates of living death and show us our true humanity and potential – show us the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to be shown that keeping your head down and surviving is not living, that being tolerated is not good enough, and that the only antidote to more ignorance and more untruth is truth; though we must offer that truth with love, it cannot be downplayed. We must never be ashamed of it. We must not be frightened of its consequences.
If those we sit next to in church think well of us because they have no idea who we really are then we are playing a cruel trick on ourselves. If our boss pats us on the back and gives us a raise because he thinks we are someone else then all our accomplishments are in someone else’s name. If our parent’s love us, but we suspect that they would not love us if they knew our God given identity then lets not beat about the bush – they never properly loved us at all. Self deception is no substitute for self respect. We can have self respect, but we need to claim it as if we believed it, and sometimes that means shaking things up, and causing a bit of a riot – rather like the overturning of the money changers tables in the temple.
Just because we live in Louisiana does not mean that bigots, homophobes and racists should be allowed a free ride – we have the truth, they desperately need it, and unless we shout it aloud and with dignity, they will never hear it.

Proposed Standard Operating Procedures

The Big Easy Metropolitan Community Church
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
DRAFT

I. Financial Policies
A. These operating procedures have been developed to safeguard Church assets, provide accu­rate and reliable accounting data, promote operational efficiency and encourage adherence to UFMCC standards.
B. Offerings/donations/receipts to the Church shall be counted by at least two members of the board of directors, staff or others designated by the board of directors.
1. All individual tithes and donations are to be held in the strictest confidence.
2. Offerings shall be removed from the sanctuary by a member of the Board of Directors and at least one other person. Offerings shall remain in joint custody of those officials until count is completed and both have signed a record of the count, which will become a part of the permanent financial records. As part of this process, all checks should be restrictively endorsed, a bank deposit slip is to be completed and all cash and checks are to be placed in a sealed envelope.
3. The bank deposit shall be made by a member of the board of directors or staff — either in person on the following business day or by placing it in the bank's night depository following a service.
4. Bank receipts for deposits should be verified against the count sheets by a member of the board or staff other than the counters or treasurer(s).
5. No two spouses, significant others, and/or persons in a romantic or dating relationship may count financial offerings simultaneously.
C. The treasurer(s) shall present financial statements, bank reconciliation data and attendance figures to the board of directors and the congregation (through posting) on at least a monthly basis.
1. Monthly financial reports shall include beginning and ending cash and fund balances, due and unpaid bills, and all receipts and disbursements.
2. The treasurer(s) shall keep the board of directors and the pastor informed of financial activities, especially problems, in the most expedient manner.
3. The treasurer(s) shall present annual financial report summary to the congregation at scheduled congregational meetings and shall prepare a budget for approval by the congregation based upon input from the pastor and board of directors.
4. The treasurer(s) may be supported by a bookkeeper and the discretion of the Board of Directors.
D. The treasurer(s) shall maintain up-to-date and accurate finance and attendance records.
1. These records shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Records of all disbursements made by check, cash, and debit card.
i. Checks require two authorized signatures, and the payee may not be one of those to sign the check.
ii. Cash disbursements are to be supported by appropriate receipts or notations on count sheets signed by board members.
iii. A check register will be kept current and balanced against the monthly bank statement. This reconciliation should be performed monthly.
b. Files containing copies of all reports, count sheets, invoices, receipts, bank statements, etc.
2. Church financial records shall be retained for at least five years. Asset records shall be retained for five years after the assets are disposed of.
3. Church financial records (other than individual tithe and offering records) shall be made available for inspection by the congregation at reasonable times.
E. Monthly tithe reports and quarterly reports to the UFMCC Board of Pensions shall be completed and given to a board or staff member for mailing to the fellowship, Region or board of pensions after the last worship celebration of the appropriate month and prior to the 10th of the following month. In addition, checks for other bills shall be supplied to board members at that time and should be mailed or delivered to appropriate parties by a board or staff member other than the treasurer(s).
F. Petty cash funds may be authorized by the board of directors.
1. Disbursements from such funds may be made by one individual authorized by the Board of Directors.
2. A written record of all cash transactions from petty cash funds will be prepared by the person responsible for the fund and accounted for at least monthly. Appropriate receipts for all cash paid from a petty cash fund must be obtained and kept.
3. The person authorized to make disbursements from a petty cash fund shall be responsible for maintaining, in cash and receipts, the total amount of the petty cash fund.
G. The treasurer(s) is (are) responsible to the board of directors, the moderator of the board and the Region and Fellowship authority.
H. The treasurer(s) shall provide at least two (2) weeks written notice of unavailability/resignation to either the pastor of the clerk of the board of directors.
I. The treasurer(s) shall not have access to the post office box or other mail receptacle of the Church.

II. Spending Priorities
A. Cash shall be expended in the following order of priority:
1. Tithes to the Fellowship.
2. Pastor's salary.
3. Building expenses.
4. Other expenses, as determined by the Board of Directors.
B. A majority of the board may agree to temporarily circumvent these policies if a "financial emergency" exists and the strict adherence to these priorities could result in excessive penalties on payments due to creditors, loss of building lease, violation of the pastor's contract, etc. In such an event, the board shall make all efforts to catch up on any payments that should have been made under the priorities in this section as soon as possible.

III. Travel Expenses
A. Travel expenses must be preapproved by the Board of Directors.
B. The federal per diem rate is authorized for meals, tips and other miscellaneous expenses.
C. Travelers will be reimbursed for approved registration, transportation, per diem, and lodging ex­penses (if such expenses were not prepaid by Church funds) within 60 days of the re­ceipt of a written travel report, which should include receipts for all expenses, the dates and purpose of travel and a brief explanation of daily travel expenses. Check Request Forms may be obtained from the treasurer(s).
D. When funds are available, the Church shall prepay authorized registration, transporta­tion and lodging expenses for those who are to be traveling at Church expense. When travel expenses are paid in advance, the traveler is responsible for obtaining all appropriate receipts (hotel bills, airline ticket receipts, etc.) and supplying them to the treasurer within 10 days of the conclusion of travel. Prepayment of expenses must be approved by the Board of Directors.
E. Reimbursement for mileage while on church business will be paid at the federal mileage rate for round trips of 50 miles or greater, pending approval by the Board of Directors.

IV. Credit Cards
A. Credit cards may be issued to any individuals authorized by the board of directors.
1. At a minimum, card holders should include the pastor.
2. Other board members, volunteers or ministry leaders may be authorized to have church credit cards – based on an evaluation of needs by the board.
B. Applying for and opening any credit card account must be authorized by a vote of the board of directors.
1. The board should review all of the financial institution’s policies related to the account and should attempt to obtain the best deal for the church (including, but not limited to, avoiding cards with annual fees and obtaining the best possible interest rates).
2. The account should be obtained in the church’s name (as a business account) and guaranteed by the church’s credit. Guaranteeing or obtaining such accounts by an individual (or secured by an individual’s credit) should be avoided.
C. The balance on the credit card account should be paid in full each month to avoid interest charges (or late payment charges) – unless the board authorizes an extension for a major purchase.
D. Cards issued on the church’s account must be used only for official church business.
1. All holders of credit cards must sign an agreement acknowledging that they understand all policies for use.
2. Any misuse of credit cards will result in revocation of the card issued to an individual and may also result in additional disciplinary or legal action.
3. Individuals will be expected to repay any unauthorized charges made by them.
4. Individuals are expected to safeguard the integrity of the account.
a. They agree to immediately report a lost or stolen card to the treasurer or pastor, who will immediately contact the credit card company.
b. They agree to be responsible for any fees for fraudulent charges made as a result of their failure to immediately report loss of the card.
c. They agree not to loan the card issued to them to anyone else.
E. Credit cards may be used for the purchase of routine supplies and expenditures, subject to the following limitations:
1. Transactions with a combined total in excess of $200 must be authorized by the Board of Directors.
2. Card holders must not exceed a total of $200 in charges in any monthly period, unless authorized by the board of directors.
3. Items such as conference expenses, which are budgeted and generally would exceed these limits, still must be authorized by the board prior to charges being made.
F. The treasurer will be responsible for tracking the total of monthly charges made by all card holders and ensuring that the total does not exceed the account’s credit limit.
1. To facilitate that process, individuals must supply receipts for any purchases to the treasurer immediately (within one week).
a. The receipt should be accompanied by a check request/charge form that gives details on the charges and their purpose.
b. In cases where a receipt is not available immediately (such as a phone or Internet order where a printed receipt arrives with an order shipped to the church), the individual should still supply the check request/charge form within one week that gives details on the total charges and purpose. The receipt should be supplied as soon as it arrives.
2. Should the church approach the predetermined minimum balance, the treasurer shall inform all card holders, as well as any members of the board who are not card holders, as soon as possible.
a. Charges on the account will cease at that time.
b. Charges may resume when sufficient payments have been made to the credit card company and the treasurer determines it is practical to do so without exceeding the credit limit.

V. Inclusive Language
A. It is policy of UFMCC and this Church to practice inclusive language as approved by the General Conference. Church staff, board members and worship leaders shall endeavor to use inclusive language in all situations.

VI. Calendar
A. An official calendar shall be kept by the pastor or other person designated by the pastor or board of directors and be made available to the congregation.

VII. Building Use
A. The building shall be used in accordance the terms of The Big Easy MCC’s lease with St. Matthew United Church of Christ. The remainder of the policies listed below are in effect unless they directly contradict those of the lease terms.
B. The primary purposes of the facilities in use by BEMCC are to conduct Church worship services, Church business, and Church activities.
C. BEMCC would like to make its facilities as readily accessible as possible for all compatible uses, but the Pastor, Board of Directors, and Congregation reserve the right to refuse such use without statement of reason or cause.
D. Use of the facilities will be governed by policies established by the Board of Directors, local/state/national laws and ordinances, and any applicable insurance policy restrictions.
E. All uses of the building should be in keeping with the Church’s ministries and priorities.
1. No illegal activities will be allowed or tolerated.
2. Sales of any products, services, or other goods on church property must first be approved by the Pastor and the Board of Directors.
3. Any activities or groups that may detract from church worship services or other church activities will be suspended (or will not be approved).
F. All requests for use must be compared to the church calendar and the existing schedule of ongoing events before any decisions are made. If actual or potential scheduling conflicts exist:
1. Official Church functions always take precedence over other activities.
2. Existing scheduled activities/groups should receive priority over new requests.
3. Scheduled activities/groups that need to be changed as to location, date, or time to accommodate Church functions should receive at least two weeks’ notice of the change.
a. Accommodations of alternative space in the building should be offered, if possible.
b. For groups paying periodic fees, no fee should be levied for times when the group cannot be accommodated because of a conflicting Church activity.
4. If a scheduling conflict cannot be clearly resolved based on these priorities, it should be brought to the Board of Directors for a decision.
G. Requests for activities to be held in Church facilities should be directed to the Pastor, the Building Coordinator, or the Clerk of the Board of Directors.
1. Individuals or duly authorized representatives of a group requesting use of Church facilities must complete a written application and sign a building use agreement before any request for use will be considered.
a. The application should state, at a minimum, the proposed dates and hours of use, whether the event/activity is a one-time occurrence or will be ongoing, the proposed purpose of the event/activity, and any other pertinent details.
b. The person(s) signing a building use application must agree to be individually responsible for any damage to, destruction of, or theft of church property that occurs as a result of the actions of the individual(s), the group, or their guests.
c. The individual or group must agree to remove all trash related to the event/activity from the building, to clean up any messes made in any areas of the building, and to leave all furniture and equipment as they found them.
d. Payment of the appropriate damage deposit must accompany the application for the application to be considered.
2. Applications must be appropriately approved before the event/activity may be officially scheduled or held.
a. The Pastor may approve and schedule all requests for Church activities on the premises.
b. The Pastor or person designated by the Pastor may approve all uses of Church facilities.
VIII. Building Keys
A. Church building keys may be issued to persons who have a legitimate reason for gaining access to the Church for ministry tasks.
B. All persons with building keys must sign a “Key Policy and Agreement” form (See Appendix for Copy of Form), which outlines the policy on building keys and the alarm system.
C. The Board of Directors, Pastor and/or Building Coordinator must authorize the issuance of all keys and ensure that appropriate forms are completed before keys are issued.
D. The Board will designate a person from its membership or the Building Coordinator to organize key distribution and key records. This person will also be responsible for maintaining Master Keys in the Church office safe, for ensuring printed and computer records on key holders are up to date and for the making of necessary copies of said keys for distribution.

IX. Church Computer/Church Correspondence
A. The Church computer, Church Internet and Church e-mail system shall be used for Church business only.
B. All corporate church e-mail correspondence shall be considered “open” information.
C. All corporate church e-mail correspondence shall require the name(s) of persons sending such correspondence.
D. E-mail correspondence shall not be used as a tool of communication when said communication involves conflict(s) between persons or leaders, or issues of conflict in the Church. Should such issues arise, said persons in conflict shall be required to follow the Direct Dealing guidelines of the Communication Policy of BEMCC.

X. Reports
A. At the regularly scheduled annual congregational meeting, a written annual report will be presented by the Pastor. In addition, a written financial summary will be provided by the treasurer.

XI. Executive Sessions
A. Executive sessions may be called at the discretion of the Moderator and/or Board. Executive Sessions will be closed to all persons except Board members and the individual(s) directly involved in the matter to be discussed. Executive Sessions shall be held to discuss personnel issues, issues regarding the discipline of members, bequests or requests for financial assistance, or matters regarding the critique, removal or resignation of personnel. The discussion that takes place in Executive Session is confidential information, and Board Members must hold these discussions in confidence. Written record of the discussion that takes place in Executive Session will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the Regional Elder.
XII. Phone or E-mail Polls
A. A phone or e-mail poll shall be considered an official meeting of the Board of Directors of BEMCC and shall be governed according to the UFMCC and BEMCC Bylaws, Article VIII.C.3.
B. A phone or e-mail poll shall be limited to emergency issues that cannot wait until a scheduled Board meeting, and shall not have financial consequences that exceed $500.
C. All members of the Board of Directors must be notified simultaneously and given at least 24 hours to respond prior to a decision being made, unless the emergency is a matter of life or limb.

XIII. Historical Records
A. Historical records shall be kept according to the following guidelines:
1. Financial records – 5 years
2. Clerk’s records – 3 years
3. General office records – 2 years
4. Copies of all board meeting minutes, congregational meeting minutes, and yearly financial statements shall be kept indefinitely.
B. All Church records shall be maintained at the Church office, according to the following guidelines:
1. 1 copy on the hard disc of the main Church computer
2. 1 paper copy in the Church office filing cabinet, organized
3. Bimonthly back-up of all document computer files, kept in the Church office fire-proof safe
4. 1 additional copy of all financial records, kept on reliable electronic storage, at the treasurer’s residence.

XIV. Job Descriptions: Board of Directors
A. Qualifications: All members of the Board of Directors must be active members (members in good standing) for at least six months prior to running for election at a congregational meeting. Each person should be spiritually gifted in areas related to property, personnel and/or financial management. Each shall be dedicated to fulfilling the mission and purpose of the Church as defined by the congregation and led by the Pastor. A member of the Board of Directors may not hold any other positions that require election by the Congregation, be a Deacon, or hold a paid staff position concurrently with their membership on the Board of Directors.
B. Removal From Office: By majority vote, any Board of Directors member may be removed from the Board for disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, or dereliction of duty according to the Bylaws, SOPs and the UFMCC Code of Conduct. By majority vote of the Board of Directors, a member of the Board may be removed for reasons of a pattern of non-attendance and/or non-participation in Board of Directors meetings and duties.
C. General Responsibilities: The Board of Directors is elected by the congregation to represent and be accountable to the voice and witness of the congregation, as it acts to govern the body for The Big Easy Metropolitan Community Church between congregational meetings, in accordance with the Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures of the UFMCC, the Region 2, and BEMCC.
D. The following are the basic duties of the Board of Directors:
1. The Board of Directors will handle all matters pertaining to the Articles of Incorporation or other documents of legal organization, Church property, finances, and the physical affairs of the spiritual community of BEMCC.
2. The Board of Directors has the responsibility for raising, collecting, counting, and disbursing funds, keeping accurate financial records, and making the required financial reports to the congregation, the UFMCC, and Region 2. The Board of Directors serves as the Board of Trustees for all property owned by the Church. These duties may be assigned to the Treasurer at the direction of the Board, and acceptance of the Treasurer.
3. The Standard Operating Procedures of BEMCC will be created, maintained, and revised by the Board of Directors. Acceptance of, amendments to, and alterations are approved by a majority vote.
4. The Board of Directors is empowered by the congregation of BEMCC to interpret and facilitate the enforcement of all Bylaws and Sop’s.
5. The Board of Directors serves as BEMCC’s Bylaw committee and is required to present all amendments or alterations of the Bylaws for approval by the congregation at a duly convened congregational meeting.
6. The Board of Directors serves as the Pastoral Search Committee upon the event of a vacancy of a Pastor. The Board of Directors may appoint other members of the congregation to serve on a Pastoral Search Committee with them.
a. The meetings and deliberations of the Pastoral Search Committee are confidential, as are the identities of all applicants for the position of Pastor. The Pastoral Search Committee shall use as a reference the UFMCC Pastoral Search Process as a guide in their deliberations and activities. The Pastoral Search Committee will report the progress being made on the selection of a Pastor as appropriate to keep the congregation informed. The Pastoral Search Committee will select a suitable candidate by majority vote. The candidate must be presented to the congregation for approval at a special congregational meeting called for that purpose.
7. The Board of Directors is responsible for the maintenance, preservation, and safety of all Church records. All Board of Directors meeting minutes and all congregational meeting minutes are to be posted, and made available to any member of BEMCC upon request.
8. All Board of Directors members may be asked by its membership to perform additional assignments and duties.
E. Officer’s Job Descriptions: Basic duties for each of the elected officers of the Board of Directors include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Moderator:
a. The Senior Pastor shall serve as official Moderator of the Board of Directors as long as he/she serves in the position of Senior Pastor.
b. The Pastor is responsible for creating all Board of Directors Meeting Agendas. This responsibility may be delegated. Board Meeting agendas shall be copied, distributed and posted one week prior to the next scheduled Board of Directors Meeting.
c. The Vice-Moderator, as delegated under the direction and supervision of the Moderator, is responsible for supervising the execution of all assigned Board Ministry tasks, and shall ensure that Board Ministry tasks are performed and executed in a timely and professional manner.
d. The Vice-Moderator, as delegated under the direction and supervision of the Moderator, is responsible for the creation and distribution of monthly Board of Directors meetings after approval by the moderator. Board meeting agendas shall be copied, distributed and posted one week prior to the next scheduled Board of Directors meeting.
2. Vice-Moderator:
a. The Vice-Moderator serves as acting Moderator in the absence of the Moderator at all Board meetings and congregational meetings. In the absence of the Moderator and the Vice-Moderator, the Board will choose a member to serve as acting Moderator.
b. The Vice-Moderator is responsible for maintaining all phone notifications and Board voting/poling between Board of Directors meetings.
3. Clerk:
a. The Clerk is responsible for recording and reporting the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and congregational meetings of BEMCC. Meeting minutes shall be copied, distributed and posted one week prior to the next scheduled Board of Directors Meeting.
b. The Clerk is responsible for maintaining the current membership list.
c. The Clerk will maintain all historical Church records, according to the Church Records policy of this Sop’s. This responsibility may be delegated.
d. The Clerk is responsible for official notification of congregational meetings, according to the UFMCC Bylaws. This responsibility may be delegated. The Clerk is responsible for determining if an official quorum is present for all congregational meetings.
e. The Clerk is responsible for the preparation of the information for the semi-annual membership status reviews by the members of the Board of Directors.
f. The Clerk is designated as the official person to accept petitions for a special congregational meeting for the purpose of termination of service of the Pastor.
4. Treasurer:
a. The Treasurer maintains all financial receipts, records, reports, and audits according to the Bylaws and Sop’s of BEMCC.
b. The Treasurer will maintain a copy of the approved annual budget of BEMCC, and will adhere to this budget in disbursements according to the direction of the Board of Directors and the congregation.
c. The Treasurer is responsible for providing a written monthly financial report at each Board of Directors meeting. Reports shall be copied, distributed and posted one week prior to the next scheduled Board of Directors Meeting.
d. The Treasurer will file all employment financial records and taxes for BEMCC to the appropriate governmental agencies.
e. The Treasurer, with the assistance of other Board members, will prepare and distribute biannual financial giving records in July and January of each year and distribute to every individual who has identified contributions to BEMCC.
f. The Treasurer will maintain a rotating schedule for members of the Board to assist with the counting and recording of weekly offerings.
g. Other duties, as assigned by the Board of Directors and accepted by the Treasurer.

XV. Communication Policy
A. Healthy Communication Guidelines.
Maintaining healthy communication in the Church is the responsibility of everyone.
· It requires respect. Respect for one’s self and for other people, equally distributed.
· It admits that people can be, and are different.
· It accepts personal responsibility. Each person is responsible for how they feel, what they say, what they don’t say, their attitude, their opinions, their actions, their behavior.
· It works to create an atmosphere of trust.
· It requires that we say what we mean, and mean what we say. We tell the truth, in love.
· It avoids shame and blame. It focuses on solutions, rather than problems.
· It puts aside preconceptions and judgments.
· It listens.
· It waits its turn to speak. It does not interrupt someone else.
· It expresses itself in “I” statements. Examples: “I feel…I want…I think…I need”.
· It never talks for someone else.
· It is direct.
· It does not avoid issues. It does not wait for problems to somehow go away.
· It does not gossip. It does not keep secrets. It does not play games. It has no hidden agenda. It does not make personal attacks on the person or performance of others. It avoids drama.
· It deals with one issue at a time.
· It checks to see if what you heard is actually what was said.
· It “hangs in there”, unless the person is being abused. It works towards compromised solutions, rather than trying to be right.
· It keeps the needs of others and the mission and purpose of the Church as its ultimate goal.
B. Steps Of Direct Dealing: (Based of the Gospel of Matthew 5: 23-24; 18:16-17)
Step #1: When a conflict arises in the Church, between myself and another person(s), I will take personal responsibility to make sure that I deal directly with the issue, in a prompt and timely manner. I will not gossip. I will not bring other innocent people into the conflict. I will strive to resolve the conflict, using the Healthy Communication Guidelines of the Church.

Step #2: I will go directly to the person(s), and attempt to resolve the conflict. I will not write a letter. I will not send an e-mail. I will not leave them a voice-mail message on their phone. I will talk to them directly.

Step #3: If we are unable to reconcile, we will request that the Board of Directors assist in mediating the conflict.

Whenever possible, the Board will appoint an outside impartial mediator to assist in resolving conflicts between people in the Church. The Board will make every attempt to approve and provide professional outside mediation when the unresolved conflict is expressed between the Pastor and an elected/appointed leader in the Church.

Step #4: If we are unable to reconcile the conflict, we will request the Clerk of the Board of Directors to put the unresolved conflict on the next regularly scheduled congregational meeting agenda. We understand that the decision of the congregation is final.

(Note: Issues brought before the congregation which have not been dealt with in the above manner will be called out of order at a congregational meeting).

XVI. Procedures For Decision Making:
A. All proposals put before the Board of Directors for its consideration must be in compliance with the Church's mission and purpose. Proposals will be viewed in light of their value to individual spiritual growth, congregational participation, and community involvement.
B. A member or congregant may only represent himself or herself, and the communication he or she wishes to convey. A member or congregant who is said to represent “many others” in the Church – or “they” – will be asked to identify by name these other individuals. If a member or congregant refuses to divulge the name(s) of said persons, the issue is to be considered a non-issue.
C. Should these individuals be identified, these individuals, as well as the person who originally attempted to represent them, shall be required to present the communication they wish to convey.

XVII. Conflicts Of Interest:
A. Any leader, officer or employee shall abstain from involvement, by voting or otherwise participating in the decision-making process, in those situations where that person is deemed to have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is deemed to exist where:
1. The person has a substantive interest, whether direct or indirect, in the matter at hand or with the parties involved.
2. The person is a director, officer or employee of the organization being dealt with; or
3. The person's spouse (significant other, and/or persons in a romantic or dating relationship), children, parent or siblings are in relationships 1. and 2. above to the organization or matters at hand.
B. Any Board member, officer or employee shall notify the Pastor of any such conflict of interest. The Pastor shall then notify the Board of Directors.

XVIII. Personal Versus Congregational Issues:
BEMCC accepts that the Church will not be able to meet every personal need of its individual members and congregants. The Board will work to do so, as long as the issue or request does not violate local and denomination Bylaws and Sop’s, does not violate the mission and purpose of the Church, and does not require unreasonable assurances of action that the leadership cannot accept responsibility for in light of the common good of the Church.
If the Board deems that an issue is personal, and it feels that the Church can assist the person in getting his or her needs met, the Board will refer the individual to the appropriate ministry or staff person for assistance.
Congregational issues will be dealt with in Board meetings until resolved to the satisfaction of the congregation.

XIX. Confidentiality:
A. It is the policy of BEMCC that all information regarding the organization and function of the Church is “open” information. Information regarding our Church, which is discussed with any member or congregant, is open to all members and congregants.
B. Members will not be bound to keep “secrets” regarding Church issues, and will discourage gossip in the Church by refusing to listen to unsubstantiated information about programs, people or leaders in the Church.
C. A member or congregant may not call another person into “confidentiality” regarding programs, people or leaders in the Church. If asked to do so, they shall inform them that such a request violates the UFMCC Code of Conduct.
D. However, some information is confidential, and it is essential that this information not be shared. The following are considered to be confidential:
1. Pastoral Care Sessions and Deacon Ministry Meetings. (Exceptions to this are listed below).
2. Board of Director’s Executive Sessions, which shall only include:
3. Personnel Issues. These include but are not limited to personnel employment issues, job descriptions, interviews, evaluations and discipline of all employees, lay ministry leaders and the Pastor.
4. Pastoral Search information.
5. Investigation and discussion of issues concerning the discipline of members and congregants. This includes charges of disloyalty, dereliction of duty, antagonistic behavior, and unbecoming conduct of a member or congregant.
6. Bequests and requests for financial assistance
7. Discussion of issues surrounding the critique, removal or resignation of a Pastor.
8. BEMCC membership information and mailing lists. Membership information can be provided only to those who are using it for official Church business. The list may not be sold or given to another organization or individual.
9. Financial giving records, pledge and tithing information, and bequests. This information may only be given to the IRS, the State Department of Internal Revenue, a court of law if the records are subpoenaed, the Board of Directors, and the Stewardship Committee.
E. The following situations will not be deemed confidential, even if they occur in a Pastoral Care Session. The person providing the Pastoral Care is free to share this information with the appropriate authorities or leadership of the Church:
1. Suicide threats or threat of bodily injury to ones’ self or another person;
2. Reports of child or elderly abuse including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse;
3. Sexual exploitation or harassment by a Therapist, Doctor, Clergy, employee, or leader of BEMCC;
4. Information regarding the physical or emotional health of a member or congregant of the Church which requires a broad ranged Pastoral Care program involving multiple staff or leaders;
5. A crisis of life threatening illness or the impending death of a member or congregant of the Church (unless the person has specifically requested this to remain confidential).
F. Any person who is removed or resigns from a leadership or staff position is bound to retain confidentiality for all information gained and discussions held during their tenure. Failure to retain confidentiality may be grounds for removal from the membership of the Church.

XX. BEMCC Code of Conduct:
The membership and Board of Directors of BEMCC shall reference the BEMCC Code of Conduct when considering discipline of its membership and other congregants, according to Article VII of the UFMCC Bylaws. This Code of Conduct has been adapted from the UFMCC Code of Conduct, accepted at General Conference XVII.
BEMCC CODE OF CONDUCT
Unbecoming Conduct:
1. Pattern of public drunkenness or substance abuse.
2. Misappropriation of Church funds or property.
3. Misuse of the powers of a Church leadership position for personal or sexual gain.
4. Any sexual relations with persons below the age of consent.
5. Non-consensual physical abuse or violence.
6. Sexual relations between supervisors and those they supervise or counselors and those who they counsel.
7. Pattern of deceit or dishonesty.
8. Creating a person-centered ministry rather than a Christ-centered ministry, i.e. creating an emotional dependency on the Pastor, a leader or person in the Church, abuse of authority, divisiveness.
9. Knowingly violating the sanctity of another person’s relationship covenant.
10. Inappropriate violation of confidentiality.
11. Sexual harassment, i.e. any sexually related behavior that is unwelcome, offensive, and which fails to respect the rights of others.
Disloyalty:
1. Patterns of deliberate or malicious acts which damage or bring harm to a person, a congregation, or other Church body within the U.F.M.C.C.
2. Initiating or performing a ministry which is unauthorized and unaccountable to the U.F.M.C.C.
3. Undermining the authority and ministry of the Pastor.
Dereliction of Duty:
1. A pattern for deliberate non-attendance of Delegates at the U.F.M.C.C. General or Regional Conferences (a minimum of one conference in two years is required).
2. A pattern of ministry that leaves Churches weakened rather than strengthened.
3. Negligent supervision.
4. Failure to report acts of misconduct.

Our proposed Bylaws for The Big Easy MCC

BIG EASY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
BYLAWS

DRAFT

Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to supersede UFMCC Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and other legal documents.

ARTICLE I -- NAME

A. The name of the Church, registered in the State of Louisiana as a non‑profit organization, is The Big Easy Metropolitan Community Church, hereinafter referred to as BEMCC.

BEMCC is a member congregation of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, hereafter referred to as UFMCC, and a member congregation of Region 2 of the UFMCC.


ARTICLE II - MISSION AND PURPOSE

The objectives of the BEMCC shall be:

A. To share in the worship of God in the Christian tradition, and to make God’s will dominant in the lives of all people, individually and collectively, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures.

B. To teach theology and allied subjects for the propagation of the teachings of the Christian faith, as accepted by the General Conference of the UFMCC.

C. To instruct and encourage those who offer themselves to the teaching and philosophy accepted by this body.

To do all things that are compatible with the work of a Christian Church.

The Mission and Purpose of BEMCC is ….


ARTICLE III
DOCTRINE, SACRAMENTS AND RITES

A. 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.

Founded in the interest of offering a church home to all who confess and believe, BEMCC, as a member congregation in the UFMCC, moves in the mainstream of Christianity.

Our faith is based upon the principles outlined in the historic creeds: Apostles and Nicene.

We believe:
1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Every person is justified by grace to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

6. 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.

7. 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.

SACRAMENTS: This Church embraces two holy Sacraments:

1. 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.

2. 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.

C. RITES: The Rites of the Church as performed by its duly authorized ministers shall consist of the following:

1. The RITE OF ORDINATION is the setting apart of duly qualified persons for the professional ministry of this Church. It is evidenced by the laying on of hands by authorized ordained clergy or UFMCC Elders, pursuant to the Bylaws of the UFMCC.

2. The RITE OF ATTAINING MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH shall be conducted by the Pastor or Interim Pastoral Leader before a local congregation at any regular worship service. In accordance with criteria established by the BEMCC, a baptized Christian may become a member in good standing of the BEMCC group through a letter of transfer from a recognized Christian body or through affirmation of faith.

3. The RITE OF HOLY UNION/RITE OF HOLY MATRIMONY is the spiritual joining of two persons in a manner fitting and proper by a duly authorized clergy, Interim Pastoral Leader of the church, or UFMCC Elders. After both persons have been counseled and apprised of their responsibilities one toward the other, this rite of conferring God’s blessing may be performed.

4. The RITE OF FUNERAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE is to be fittingly conducted by the ministers of the Church for the deceased.

5. The RITE OF LAYING ON OF HANDS or prayer for the healing of the sick in mind, body or spirit is to be conducted by the ministers of the Church, at their discretion, upon request.

6. The RITE OF BLESSING may be conducted by the ministers of the Church for persons, things and relationships, when deemed appropriate by the minister. This includes the dedication of a church building to the glory of God.


ARTICLE IV
MINISTRY

The BEMCC affirms the universal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-10). All members of the Church are called by God to a ministry of the Gospel of Christ in the Church and in the world.

BEMCC decrees that all people shall have equality of access and opportunity which is free from discrimination on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, physical challenge, HIV status, health status, gender identification, nationality, or economic status in terms of: (1) Employment and personnel procedures and (2) Service delivery -- all that we do.

MINISTRY OF THE LAITY
1. THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: Lay people are the People of God, called by God and authorized by Scripture to respond to the Word, serving as Christ served, to the end that the Church may be edified and the world transformed. BEMCC affirms that this is the ministry of every lay person in the BEMCC.

2. DEACONS: As outlined in the New Testament, their office is an historic ministry of service and aid within the Christian Church.

MINISTRY OF THE CLERGY:
1. CLERGY: Clergy are members of the People of God, called by God, authorized and legally recognized by the UFMCC to serve among the people as professional ministers of the Word and Sacraments.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES: In accordance with their call, clergy shall administer the Rites and Sacraments of the BEMCC and UFMCC and be teachers and preachers of the faith to the end that the world may believe and the Church might be renewed, equipped, and strengthened in its ministry.

3. QUALIFICATIONS: Clergy are those persons of professed and demonstrated call to be professional Christian ministers who meet the qualifications established by the UFMCC Board of Elders.

4. ORDINATION: Persons who have met the academic standards and qualifications as established by the UFMCC Board of Elders may then be ordained. A person who is ordained cannot function as a UFMCC clergy person until he/she is licensed.

5. DISCIPLINE: The BEMCC will not condone disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, or dereliction of duty. The BEMCC will follow procedures for discipline that have been developed by the UFMCC Board of Elders. These procedures are included as an addendum to these Bylaws (Addendum X).




ARTICLE V
GOVERNMENT, ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS

A. GOVERNMENT:
1. The BEMCC acknowledges the Holy Scriptures interpreted by the Holy Spirit in conscience and faith as its guide in faith, discipline, and government.

2. BEMCC is a congregation of the UFMCC which subscribes to the government and doctrine of the UFMCC, and has been authorized by the same.

3. The government of the BEMCC operates in accordance with UFMCC Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and other documents of legal organization and operation.


B. BEMCC:
1. INTRODUCTION: The government of BEMCC is vested in its Congregational Meeting which exerts the right to control all of its affairs, subject to the provisions of the UFMCC Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or documents of legal organization, and the General Conference. The Pastor and the BEMCC Board of Directors are authorized to provide spiritual and administrative leadership in the BEMCC. The officials elected by the Congregational Meeting are subject to the direction and discipline of the BEMCC and are responsible to carry out BEMCC policies.

2. PASTOR: The Pastor is a duly ordained clergy person who has been licensed to practice. Though there are a variety of pastoral roles, in a local congregation the Pastor is elected to be responsible for the duties of teacher, preacher, and spiritual leader. If no duly credentialed UFMCC clergy person is available, an Interim Pastoral Leader may be appointed annually by the Elder elected by the Region. All UFMCC churches are led by Pastors or Interim Pastoral Leaders.

a. QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES: Pastors must be credentialed clergy in the UFMCC. The specific duties of the Pastor will be defined in a Pastoral covenant/contract mutually negotiated by the Pastor and Board of Directors on an annual basis. The Pastor of the church shall have the authority for ordering all worship services of the church, which shall include worship content, scheduling, time, frequency, coordination of all aspects of the weekly worship, and the determination and scheduling of all speakers. The Pastor has a "free pulpit", and may therefore preach as led by the Holy Spirit. The Pastor is a voting member of the BEMCC Board of Directors. The Pastor of BEMCC shall serve as chief executive officer and official spokesperson for BEMCC in the community; moderate all Congregational Meetings; and, shall perform other functions as defined by the Pastor and Board of Directors.

b. Associate and/or Assistant Pastor(s) and other leadership personnel, uncompensated or compensated, shall be appointed by the Pastor subject to the approval of the local church administrative body. The Pastor shall act as personnel director of the local church staff, shall have the authority to delegate such responsibilities and duties as seem wise, and shall, with the approval of the local church administrative body, determine compensation, vacation periods, and titles of office of the staff.

c. CONFLICT RESOLUTION: When there are conflicts or difficulty within BEMCC, including apparent irreconcilable differences between the Pastor and congregation, the Elder elected by the Region shall have the authority to interface with the church, to take appropriate measures, to provide resources and support, and to attend and have voice at any meeting of the BEMCC Board of Directors or Congregational Meeting. The Elder elected by the Region shall be required to intervene when invited (1) by the Pastor/Interim Pastoral Leader, (2) by majority vote of the BEMCC Board of Directors, or (3) as a result of a petition signed by a minimum of one-third (33%) of the members of the church.

d. Within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving the request for intervention, the Elder elected by the Region must officially notify all parties mentioned above. Within ten (10) days of the request, the Elder elected by the Region or the person appointed by the Elder elected by the Region will establish the time-lines and process for the Ministry of Reconciliation, which must be implemented within thirty (30) days of the initial request.

3. REMOVING THE PASTOR FROM OFFICE: When irreconcilable differences exist between the Pastor and congregation, the Pastor and congregation may choose to terminate their relationship through mutual agreement. No petition for removal of the Pastor based on irreconcilable differences is valid unless preceded by the process of conflict resolution, as contained within the UFMCC Bylaws Article V.B.4.b. Unilateral failure to renew a pastoral contract does not constitute removal of the Pastor from office.

The process of removing the Pastor from office for disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, dereliction of duty or when irreconcilable differences arise between Pastor and congregation may be initiated by a petition submitted to the duly authorized church officer as designated by the local Bylaws/Standard Operating Procedures, or documents of legal organization, and signed by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the members in good standing; or by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the full Board of Directors. Within three (3) days, the Pastor and the Elder elected by the Region must be sent a copy of the completed petition or motion of the BEMCC Board of Directors by the designated church officer. After the Elder elected by the Region and designated BEMCC officer have validated the number of members who have signed the petition and the clarity of the petition or validated the votes of the members of the BEMCC Board of Directors and the clarity of the motion, the Elder elected by the Region may place the Pastor on inactive status, but the Pastor remains fully compensated until the final action of the congregation. Upon validating the petition, the Elder elected by the Region and the BEMCC Board of Directors will set the time and place of a special congregational meeting to determine whether the Pastor shall remain in office. The date of the meeting shall occur within thirty (30) days of the date the petition is submitted to the designated church officer or the date the motion of the BEMCC Board of Directors is received by the Elder elected by the Region.

The Pastor has the right to appear on his/her own behalf before the congregational meeting and may have an advocate of his/her own choice present. The action of the congregation is final. If a special meeting is called to remove a Pastor, the Elder elected by the Region must be given notice that such action is being taken. The Elder elected by the Region shall attend or send a representative as an impartial observer who shall moderate the meeting. If the Pastor is removed, the BEMCC Board of Directors will meet immediately after the meeting with the Elder elected by the Region or the representative to arrange for pastoral leadership until the pulpit is filled. The BEMCC Board of Directors may confer with the Elder elected by the Region as to available candidates for the office of Pastor.

6. PASTORAL VACANCY: In the event of a vacancy in the position of Pastor, a Pastoral Search Committee shall be responsible for selecting and presenting a qualified candidate for election at a Congregational Meeting called for that purpose. The Pastoral Search Committee shall develop and implement the pastoral search process, in consultation with the Regional Elder. The Pastoral Search Committee shall consist of all duly elected members of the Church’s Board of Directors and up to five others elected to the committee by a majority of the Board of Directors.

4. Election of Pastor: To be elected, the candidate presented by the Pastoral Search Committee must receive more than eighty percent (80%) of the ballots cast by Active Members in good standing who attend the Congregational Meeting.

a. Termination of Relationship: the Pastor and active members may choose at any time to terminate their relationship through mutual agreement. Unilateral failure to renew the Pastor’s contract shall not constitute removal of the Pastor from office. No petition for removal of the Pastor based on irreconcilable difference is valid unless preceded by the process of conflict resolution, as referred to in UFMCC Bylaws Article V, B, 4b.

C. BEMCC GOVERNANCE
1. BEMCC, in consultation with the Elder elected by the Region, shall determine an appropriate structure and systems for BEMCC governance that is appropriate for the size of church and cultural context. The BEMCC structure and systems shall include provision for (1) selection and discipline of the BEMCC Board of Directors, (2) a pastoral search process, and (3) congregational meetings. It is incumbent upon the BEMCC Board of Directors to provide that church with a set of Bylaws and standard operating procedures, subject to approval by the Elder elected by the Region.

2. ACCOUNTABILITY: The BEMCC Board of Directors shall be subject to the UFMCC Bylaws, and the BEMCC Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures, any other documents of legal organization, and to the approval or disapproval by action of their local congregation as provided for in any of the above.

3. BEMCC Government and Officers: The government of BEMCC is vested in its Active Members (members in good standing) meeting in Congregational Meetings who exert the control of all of its affairs, subject to the provisions of its Articles of Incorporation and its Bylaws, as well as UFMCC Bylaws. This Church is amenable only to its members, the UFMCC Bylaws, the Regional Conference of the UFMCC Region in which it is located and the Bylaws of BEMCC.

Board of Directors: Board of Directors consists of six persons elected from the Active Membership (members in good standing) of BEMCC in addition to the Pastor. The official officers of the Church are Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer. During the first meeting following elections to the Board, the Board of Directors shall elect from among its members persons to fill the positions of Vice-Moderator, and Clerk. The term of office for officers, except for Moderator, shall be two years. The Board of Directors will conduct routine business of the church on behalf of the congregation between congregational meetings, subject to the provisions of these bylaws and the standard operating procedures of the church. The duties are to provide services as necessary from time to time and to serve as Board liaisons to ministry teams, task forces or committees of BEMCC.


Moderator: The Senior Pastor shall serve as Moderator of all Board of Directors Meetings and Congregational Meetings, and shall serve the congregation as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and official spokesperson for BEMCC.

Vice Moderator: The Vice Moderator is elected from the Board of Directors by its members. The duties are to: moderate all Board/Congregational Meetings in the absence of or appointment by the Pastor; work with the Clerk to maintain current records of membership and attendance; and, as needed, serve as Board liaison to any ministry teams, task forces or committees formed within the Church.

Clerk: The Clerk is elected from the Board of Directors by its members. The duties are to: maintain current records of Church membership; take minutes at all Board meetings (regular, special, and executive) and all Congregational Meetings; file and dispense minutes as directed by the Board of Directors/congregation of BEMCC; participate in developing the agenda for Board/Congregational Meetings; prepare and present annual summaries of Board action for Congregational Meetings; provide at least two weeks’ notice of Congregational Meetings to all of the members; and, as needed, serve as Board liaison to ministry teams, task forces or committees of BEMCC. The Clerk of the Board of Directors shall be considered as the official recipient of all petitions.

Treasurer(s): The Treasurer(s) is (are) selected by the Board from the Active Members (members in good standing) of BEMCC. The Treasurer(s) may or may not be official member(s) of the Board of Directors but in all cases will be subject to the disciplinary provisions regarding Board members in UFMCC Bylaws. If not a duly elected Board member, the Treasurer shall have a voice, but not a vote, in all business conducted by the Board of Directors. The duties are to: be responsible for the receipt and safekeeping of all funds of BEMCC and all funds for which BEMCC is responsible; maintain accurate financial records and disburse funds in accordance with procedures developed by the Board of Directors; prepare and present a monthly financial statement for Board meetings and annual financial reports for Congregational Meetings; and serve as liaison to the finance team/committee of BEMCC.

Board Members‑at‑Large: Board Members-at-Large are members of the Board of Directors who have been duly elected to serve on the Board but have not been chosen by its membership to fill the positions of Vice-Moderator, Clerk or Treasurer.

Elections:

1. The terms for Board members of BEMCC will be for two years and will be staggered for continuity.

2. Board elections will be conducted at the Annual Congregational Meeting by a majority vote of Active Members (members in good standing) present.

General Qualifications:

1. Persons standing for election to the BEMCC Board of Directors shall be Active Members (members in good standing) of BEMCC.

2. Board members may hold only one Board position at a time.

3. Board members must be of legal majority in the State of Louisiana.

4. No two spouses, significant others, persons in a romantic or dating relationship, roommates, housemates, or those in an inequitable working relationship, may serve simultaneously on the Board of Directors, due to inherent conflict of interest. Should two members of the Board form such a relationship, one of said persons shall voluntarily and immediately resign from their position, or be removed by the Board.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Board may appoint a qualified Active Member to fill the vacancy until the next Annual Congregational Meeting, when an election shall be held to fill the unexpired term.

5. Board members may serve two consecutive terms. A one-year period of time shall be required before said person may run again for election to the Board of Directors. However, a person appointed or elected to a term of one year or less may be elected to the succeeding term.

The Board of Directors shall serve as the Board(s) of Trustees for any property acquired by BEMCC. The Board of Directors and members of BEMCC will have sole control of property except under the circumstances set forth in UFMCC Bylaws. BEMCC names the UFMCC as its 501(c)(3) successor corporation.

Whenever there is a vacancy (through resignation, removal, failure of the congregation to elect or other cause) on the Board of Directors, Lay delegate(s), alternate Lay delegate(s) or other elected office of the Church, the Board of Directors may appoint someone to serve in that position until the next Annual Congregational Meeting – at which time an election will be held to fill the remaining term of office.

Limits of Liability: No director or officer of the Church shall be liable for any act or failure to act by any other director or officer of the Church or by any employee of the Church. No director or officer of the Church shall be liable for any loss arising from any fault in the title to any property acquired by the Church. No director or officer of the Church shall be liable for any loss arising from any fault in any security in which the Church might invest, or from bankruptcy, insolvency, or wrongful act by any person to whom the Church might entrust any of its property. No director or officer of the Church shall be liable for any loss due to error of judgment or oversight on his/her part, or for any other loss whatsoever occurring in the carrying out of the duties of his/her office, unless this loss arises from the director’s or officer’s own willful neglect or fraudulent or criminal actions.

Indemnity: The Church shall provide every director and officer of the Church “Director’s Liability Insurance Coverage” to assist with costs arising in relation to his/her relations with the Church, unless they are occasioned by his/her own willful neglect or fraudulent or criminal actions.

m. Discipline: The church cannot condone disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, dereliction of duty, destructive or antagonistic behavior on the part of any member of the Board of Directors. Therefore, the Board of Directors may remove by a majority vote of the Board of Directors any of its members guilty of the above, with the exception of the Pastor who must be disciplined in accordance with the UFMCC Bylaws. A petition submitted to the Clerk and signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the Active Members in good standing of the congregation may also initiate such a procedure. The decision of the Board of Directors may be subject to appeal at the next congregational meeting.

6. LAY DELEGATE: The BEMCC shall have one (1) vote for every one hundred (100) members in good standing or portion thereof and shall elect one (1) Lay Delegate for each vote. Each Lay Delegate shall carry one (1) vote. Each Lay Delegate shall be a member in good standing of the congregation that he/she represents, should be elected at the first congregational meeting following each General Conference and shall serve a term of three (3) years. The duties of the Lay Delegate shall include, but not be limited to, representation of the congregation at General and Regional Conferences and to be informed of the UFMCC concerns and policies. Registration, transportation, housing, meal expenses incurred by the delegates(s) while representing BEMCC at Regional/General Conferences or Regional Retreats will be reimbursed or prepaid by BEMCC as per Standard Operating Procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.

Each voting church may, in accordance with that BEMCC's Bylaws or Standard Operating Procedures, elect at least one (1) Alternate Lay Delegate for each Lay Delegate elected. The Alternate Delegate(s) so elected shall, in accordance with procedures set forth in the BEMCC Bylaws or Standard Operating Procedures, be empowered to assume the duties of any Lay Delegate who is unable or unwilling to perform the duties of Lay Delegate, including but not limited to representation of the congregation at General and Regional Conferences. An Alternate Lay Delegate(s) for each Lay delegate(s) of BEMCC shall also be elected by separate ballot and will represent the congregation in cases where the Lay Delegate(s) is unable to do so. The Alternate Lay Delegate(s) will become the Lay Delegate(s) in case of a vacancy in that office due to resignation or removal.

a. Discipline: The Church cannot condone disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, dereliction of duty, destructive or antagonistic behavior on the part of any Lay Delegate(s) or Alternate Lay Delegate(s). Therefore, the Board of Directors may remove by a majority vote any Delegate guilty of the above. A petition submitted to the Clerk and signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the Active Members in good standing of the congregation may also initiate such a procedure. The decision of the Board of Directors may be subject to appeal at the next congregational meeting.

b. VACANCY: In the event of a vacancy in the Alternate Lay Delegate(s) position, the Board of Directors may appoint a qualified Active Member to fill the vacancy. In either case, the appointee shall serve until the next Annual Congregational Meeting, when an election shall be held to fill the unexpired term.


6. CHURCH PROPERTY: The BEMCC Board of Directors will name the fiduciary body for any property acquired by that church. The BEMCC Board of Directors and the members of each local congregation will have sole control of said property except under the following circumstances: (1) if the property is abandoned; (2) if the BEMCC is disbanded; or (3) if the BEMCC disaffiliates from UFMCC.

The BEMCC names the UFMCC as the successor 501(c)(3) corporation designated to receive the church’s property in the event of (1) the dissolution or abandonment of the congregation, or (2) failure to abide by the process for disaffiliation from the UFMCC by the congregation as contained in the UFMCC Bylaws.


7. DISAFFILIATION: According to UFMCC Bylaws, disaffiliated congregations may not continue to use the name Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) or in any manner hold themselves out as being associated with UFMCC or as being an MCC church. .

DISAFFILIATION BY A BEMCC: Should the BEMCC desire to disaffiliate from the UFMCC, a representative or representatives appointed by the Board of Elders must be allowed to meet with the congregation and shall have voice at the Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating. The decision to disaffiliate must receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members present at a duly called Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating.

NOTIFICATION TO UFMCC: At least sixty (60) calendar days prior to a Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating, the BEMCC shall notify the Elder elected by the Region in writing that such a Congregational Meeting will be held. The written notification to the Elder elected by the Region shall include (a) the date, time, and place of the Congregational Meeting; and (b) a copy of the BEMCC membership list. Except in the event of the death or resignation of a listed Member, no Members may thereafter be removed from membership in the BEMCC and no Members may be added to the membership in the BEMCC until after the Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating.

NOTIFICATION TO MEMBERS: At least thirty (30) calendar days prior to a Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating, all Members of the BEMCC must be notified in writing at their last known address on the membership list of the date, time, place, and purpose of the Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating. A copy of the notification to members shall be simultaneously submitted to the Elder elected by the Region.

VOTING PROCESS: Voting at the Congregational Meeting called for the purpose of disaffiliating shall be done by secret ballot.

CONTINUING AFFILIATION: In the event that a congregation votes to disaffiliate, those members of the congregation wishing to continue affiliation with UFMCC may be designated by the Elder elected by the Region as the continuing Metropolitan Community Church affiliated with the UFMCC.

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS: After existing financial obligations to the UFMCC are met, the disaffiliating BEMCC has the right to net assets.

NOTIFICATION TO AFFECTED THIRD PARTIES: In the event that a congregation votes to disaffiliate, the UFMCC shall notify affected third parties that the disaffiliated congregation is no longer associated with the UFMCC and that the disaffiliated congregation may not hold itself out as being an MCC church. Affected third parties include, but are not limited to, banks, creditors, and government agencies that issued corporation/registration status to the disaffiliated church.

10. CLOSURE: When a church disbands or ceases to operate, the net assets of the church will revert to the use of the General Conference of the UFMCC. The Board of Administration will decide the disposition of said property.

11. RESERVATION OF POWERS: Any specific matters of congregational approval not covered herein are left to BEMCC option.



ARTICLE VI
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

A. A. MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING: Any baptized Christian may become a member in good standing of the BEMCC. BEMCC has the authority to determine any additional criteria for gaining and retaining membership. Any additional criteria shall be in accordance with UFMCC Bylaws and be compatible with UFMCC core values.

Membership in BEMCC is considered a privilege, and is granted to those individuals who share and support our unique mission, purpose, values, objectives and ministry goals, Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures, Code of Conduct and Leadership Code of Ethics.

1. Active Membership Status:

a. A Christian, who has completed a current Membership Training Class, and has signed a Membership Covenant, may become an Active Member of BEMCC by participating in a Rite of Membership during a normally scheduled worship service.

b. Persons who have previously resigned membership with BEMCC must complete a current Membership Training Class and participate in a Rite of Membership to be returned to Active Membership status.

c. BEMCC reserves the right to contact the churches of the UFMCC to review and confirm previous Church membership records of persons requesting Active Membership Status.

c. Persons who have previously resigned membership due to discipline, or have been removed from Active Membership status for reasons of disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, dereliction of duty, destructive or antagonistic behavior shall be required to complete a probationary period not to exceed one year except in extraordinary circumstances, before appearing before the Board of Directors, for a decision of reinstatement of membership. As a demonstration of a desire to restore their active member status, said member should display evidence of fulfilling requirements of Active Membership Status. Should such persons become Active Members, they must sign a New Membership Covenant, and agree to follow the requirements of Active Membership.
d. In extraordinary circumstances, a return to active member status may not be possible.

2. Requirements of Active Membership Status:

a. Active Members are those individuals who:
i. Understand and agree to abide by the Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures, Communications Policy, and Membership Covenant of Ethics of BEMCC.
ii. Participate and register their attendance in weekly worship services at least three times per quarter.
v. Demonstrate regular financial and/or service contributions.

3. Active Membership Reviews:

a. At least annually the Board of Directors shall review the entire membership list of BEMCC, and determine those individuals who have not fulfilled the requirements of Active Membership Status, as listed above. Should the person be identified as not fulfilling the requirements of Active Membership within the preceding period of six (6) months, the Board of Directors may remove them from the list of Active Members in good standing, and place them on a list of Inactive Members.

b. The Board of Directors shall notify by letter all members placed on Inactive Membership status, and inform them that they are not eligible to vote at any business meeting of the Church..

c. If the inactive member has not returned to Church, and resumed fulfillment of the BEMCC requirements of Active Membership for a period of two (2) months immediately following the Clerk’s notification, the Board of Directors shall have the authority, at its discretion, to drop any such inactive member from the membership roll of BEMCC.


C. DISCIPLINE: The UFMCC cannot condone disloyalty or unbecoming conduct on the part of any of its members and friends; therefore, the BEMCC Board of Directors shall develop and implement a procedure for taking appropriate disciplinary action, as it deems necessary. The Church shall not condone disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, dereliction of duty, destructive or antagonistic behavior on the part of any member or congregant in the Church. The Board of Directors is empowered to discipline and/or remove by majority vote any member. In extreme situations, this may include barring individuals who are participating in destructive or antagonistic behavior from Church activities. The member or congregant who has been removed shall receive written notification of such action by the Clerk of the Board of Directors. The decision of the Board of Directors may be subject to appeal at the next congregational meeting.

ARTICLE VII
CHURCH SERVICES

The BEMCC shall hold services of public worship every week. Other worship services may be held as determined by the Pastor with the approval of the BEMCC Board of Directors. In regard to the worship services, the Sacrament of Holy Communion shall be offered at weekly worship, as well as at other worship services at the discretion of the Pastor. Holy Baptism may be administered at any appropriate service of the BEMCC or at any other time, at the Pastor’s discretion.


ARTICLE VIII
CHURCH MEETINGS


C. LOCAL: The BEMCC shall establish the percentage of members required for the transaction of business, the process for notifying members of the meeting, and the process for calling special meetings, unless otherwise indicated in UFMCC Bylaws.

1. Congregational Meetings:

All meetings, ministries and activities of BEMCC shall be officially approved by the Pastor and/or the Board of Directors and are accountable to the same.

a. A regular annual Congregational Meeting shall be held each year during the month of November, prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
i. Dates will be determined by the Pastor and Board of Directors.
ii. Fourteen days written notice will be provided to members prior to the Congregational Meeting.
iii. Voice and Voting rights are limited to Active Members (members in good standing). Voice rights are granted to congregants (non-members), as determined by the Moderator.
iv. A quorum for any Congregational Meeting consists of 20 percent of the Active Membership.
v. All votes for individual persons (e.g., elections to the Board of Directors) shall be conducted by secret ballot. The method of voting for all other actions shall be determined by the Moderator.

2. Special Congregational Meetings:

In addition to the Annual Congregational Meeting, special Congregational Meetings may also be held. Special Congregational Meetings are governed by the same rules as those pertaining to the Annual Congregational Meeting.

a. Calling a Special Congregational Meeting: A Special Congregational Meeting may be called either by (a) a majority vote of the Board of Directors, (b) the Pastor, or (c) a petition signed by at least twenty-five percent of the Active Members in good standing, and submitted to the Clerk. The nature and purpose of the special Congregational Meeting shall be stated in the petition and in notices and be written into the agenda.

3. Board of Directors Meetings:

The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a month no fewer than ten (10) times a year. Except for executive sessions, meetings shall be open to the congregation and to the public to attend as observers. Voice rights are limited to Active Members (members in good standing). Voice rights are granted to congregants (non-members), as determined by the Moderator.

a. Minutes: Minutes and financial reports shall be available to Active Members of the Church one week prior to the next scheduled Board of Directors meeting, Minutes shall include a report of those present and decisions made. A copy of the minutes shall become part of the permanent Church records.

b. Quorum: No less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including the moderator, must be present in order to transact business. If the Moderator is unable to attend, a meeting of the Board of Directors may be conducted with the consent of the Moderator; in such instance, no less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors must be present. if the Moderator is incapacitated or otherwise unable to consider granting consent, no less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including the Vice-Moderator, must be present.

D. PROXY VOTING: No proxy and/or absentee ballots shall be allowed in any business meeting of this Fellowship, except where specifically provided for in these Bylaws.



ARTICLE IX
CHURCH FINANCES

A. FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP: The UFMCC adopts and teaches tithing as the scripturally affirmed means of supporting the church and its ministries, and as the expression of good stewardship of time, skills, and money by individuals and church bodies. Therefore, it shall be the responsibility of both the clergy and the lay leadership of the BEMCC to plan and implement programs of stewardship both to help persons grow in the grace of giving and to fund the church's ministries. An offering shall be received at each service of public worship in the BEMCC.

B. REPORTING: As of January 1, 2003, the BEMCC Board of Directors shall report all Church receipts each month to the UFMCC and with that report shall remit fifteen percent (15%) of the funds reported. As of January 1, 2004, the amount to be remitted shall be fourteen and one-half percent (14-1/2%). Beginning in 2005, the amount to be remitted shall be fourteen percent (14%) and then decrease by one percent (1%) per biennium until the amount to be remitted is reduced to ten percent (10%), unless the reduction is delayed or accelerated by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the General Conference.

Funds bequeathed and money collected for the following purposes must be reported, but may be deducted from the total receipts before calculating the percentages due the UFMCC:
FUNDS TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF PERSONS IN DISTRESS: This money may only be used to cover direct services without which the recipient would be destitute or in personal danger.

BUILDING FUND: This is money set aside to construct or purchase a church facility which may include worship space, meeting space, office space, kitchen facilities, classroom space, non-revenue parking facilities, furniture and major equipment for these facilities. It may also be used for major renovation costs of purchased or leased/rented facilities and the payment of the principle on a building loan. Funds raised specifically to reduce the principle on a building loan are tithe exempt as part of the building fund. Rent, mortgage interest payments, utilities, minor equipment, and routine maintenance are not exempt.

3. DELEGATES FUND: Expenses of sending the church's delegate(s) and clergy to General Conference and Regional Conference.

Any money transferred permanently or for a long term from any of the above exempt funds into the General Fund must be added to the income figures for that month, and tithes paid on them. Report and remittance are due to the UFMCC on or before the tenth (10th) day of the month following the month being reported.




ARTICLE X
RESERVATION OF POWERS

All powers not delegated by these Bylaws are reserved to the BEMCC congregation.


ARTICLE XI
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS


D. Adoption: BEMCC Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon adoption by a two-thirds vote of the Active Members in good standing present at a Congregational Meeting, called for that purpose. Adoption of BEMCC Bylaws become binding on all members and officers of BEMCC, and is subject to approval by the appropriate UFMCC body.

E. Amendments: BEMCC Bylaws may be amended at a duly convened Congregational Meeting, called for that purpose, by a two-thirds vote of the Active Members in good standing present. Such amendments or revisions become effective immediately, unless otherwise specified, and are subject to approval by the appropriate UFMCC body.

Why Marriage?

I have been asked several times why it is that Gay Marriage has become such an important issue for our community. Firstly I would think there is an obvious response – marriage is an important issue for the straight community too, it’s just that they can and we can’t! But looking a bit deeper, I think it goes to the heart of the equality debate; it is primarily responsibilities that people are seeking, not just rights.
The religious right has stereotyped the entire LGBT community as feckless and immoral for decades, but has denied us the route to stability and faithfulness that has proved most effective in the wider community. The only authentic response to loving another is through self giving, and the institution of marriage – at its best – embodies self giving and mutuality in its foundation and its rituals.
From a religious point of view - theologically speaking, a lot of the debate around gay marriage is very ill informed, and comes from churches that should really know better! A minister does not ‘marry’ two people in the theological sense. It has been traditionally held, especially in Catholic circles, that the couple seeking marriage are the ‘agents of the sacrament’ not the priest or the minister. All the church does is give a blessing - in the same way as it seems keen to bless everything from armies to automobiles, but not apparently the love between two people. It has always been accepted that it is God who does the joining at the behest of the couple – there is no magic that the church performs that suddenly makes them married – all it is doing is recognizing their relationship and blessing it. Everything else is a civil agreement endorsed by the state, and strictly speaking a marriage performed by a judge should have no religious connotations at all - that is not the realm of government.
Furthermore, until Oliver Cromwell in England started the practice, government had no role in marriage – only the notables who actually got married in church were registered in the church books, but there was no central registry. For most ordinary people, marriage was by common declaration – which was then accepted and celebrated by their friends and family; indeed, by the whole community – but unless they were important or well off there was no religious or civil ceremony involved. This is the origin of ‘common law’ marriage which was carried over from England to America.
So, having examined all that, there seems no sensible reason why the civil authorities should not extend civil marriage to all as a matter of urgency and right, and no reason why I, as a Christian minister registered to perform heterosexual marriages in both Jefferson and Orleans parishes should not also be allowed to exercise MY moral conscience and perform same sex marriages legally as well!
Alas I suspect such reasoning will not cut much ice outside of New Orleans; we are probably going to end up relying on the federal government or more specifically some future Supreme Court decision to rescue us from the ignorance and poor choices of Baton Rouge law makers, pandering to the sensibilities of their electors.
We want, and ultimately must demand, the right to be responsible; the right to care for, and provide for those we love, and the right to basic human dignity beneath the law in the equitable provision of tax and social policy. When the Supreme Court ruled that mixed marriage was legal, nearly 80% of American opposed it, indeed, it did not achieve majority support until 1979! Sometimes it falls to leaders to actually LEAD and not just follow the ill-conceived prejudices of Mr. and Mrs. Average.

I am a Eunuch

Sermon notes for sermon entitled 'The African Eunuch'.

Acts 8:27-39
27So he got up and went. Now there was an African eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Nubians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ 31He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’ 34The eunuch asked Philip, ‘about whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.



Candace of Meroe was the queen of Nubia at the time of the conquests of Alexander the Great. According to legend, Alexander encountered her when he invaded Nubia. In fact, Alexander never attacked Nubia, and never attempted to move further south than the oasis of Siwa in Egypt.
The story is that when Alexander attempted to conquer her lands in 332 BC, she arranged her armies strategically to meet him and was present on a war elephant when he approached. Having assessed the strength of her armies, Alexander decided to withdraw from Nubia, heading to Egypt instead. Another story claims that Alexander and Candace had a romantic encounter.
These accounts originate from "The Alexander Romance" by an unknown writer called "Pseudo-Callisthenes", and the work is largely a fictionalized and grandiose account of Alexander's life. It is commonly quoted, but there seems to be no historical reference to this event from Alexander's time. The whole story of Alexander and Candace's encounter appears to be legendary.
References to this warrior queen are among the earliest made to the Nubian Kentakes. The name "Candace" is actually a form of the title "Kentake", and not the actual name of a person.

This is rendered in the Meroitic tounge, and ancestral root of Old Nubian and modern day Nobiin.

Roman law distinguished eunuchs between spadones and Castrati – those who could or would not procreate with women and those who had been castrated. More ancient sources seem to stress the root of the word – bedkeepers; those whom it is safe to leave with women!


Sheba was the kingdom that included modern day Yemen and modern day Ethiopia; Æthiops in Greek merely means ‘burnt face’ and does not relate to the modern nation. Indeed it does not sound altogether flattering. The real nation that our eunuch served was Kush or Nubia, in present day Egypt and Sudan.

· Not an incidental text but the wellspring of Christianity.



Test case – there is an undercurrent of disquiet running through acts; tension between this text and all it represents and the ‘Council of Jerusalem’ tendency to stick to the law and become effectively a Jewish sect.



The three notable gentiles in the gospel and acts were all sexual nonconformists – The Centurion and his ‘Pais’, the woman at the well who had umpteen men and the African Eunuch from Kush.


The Eunuch represented a ‘test case’ reading the suffering servant passage in Isaiah that embodied Jesus, while representing himself the perfect servant. ‘For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people’.


Isaiah himself contradicted the Levitical code to argue for inclusion, and in doing so prefigured Jesus. Isaiah 56 3Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people’;and do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tree.’ 4For thus says the Lord:To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters;I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.


A recurring feature of the old religion was the concept that eternal life was achieved through having offspring, not in a personal sense, and not through any personal relationship with God. Isaiah contradicts this and in doing so paves the way for Jesus.


Nancy Wilson says… The nameless eunuch, the patron saint of Ethiopian Christians, a black gay man, becomes the first African Christian, and the most clear and complete fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 56, that God's house would become a house of prayer for all people.


Black, queer (if not strictly gay) and powerful – the servant of a distant pagan queen who was by the law disallowed from entering the people of God. If he was welcomed with open arms we can find within his welcome all our welcomes.


There is another significant aspect to this story from Acts. In verse 36 we have the description of Philip and the eunuch "going along the road." They were journeying together and we now understand that journeying to be a journey into the way of Christ. Philip was encountering the eunuch as a fellow traveller in the faith. He learns from words of the prophet of Isaiah 53, that Jesus is like this eunuch and that the way of Christ is inclusive. The eunuch continues "on his way" (v. 39), as Philip is snatched away by the Spirit. In the way of Christ Jesus there are no marks of distinction. All people of faith are included in the "way". Those marks of distinction that are considered curses from God and cause people to be "cut-off" are removed or overcome. In fact, Jesus Himself bears those marks of distinction, as we remember on hearing the words from Isaiah 53: 7-8.

Why we need Jesus......

I watched a film on Tuesday that had me weeping aloud, shuddering with grief like no other movie since Brokeback mountain,. It was a French film called 'a love to hide' about a gay man who lived with his partner in occupied France, who took in a Jewish girl to save her from the Nazis. He is shopped by his own brother and sent to the camps - his partner is shot resisting arrest, and finally at the end of the war he arrives from Dachau, tortured, given hormone treatment and lobotomised; he died shortly after returning to his family. In total, 100,000 gay men were arrested by the Nazis, 12,00 died in concentration camps. Let nobody tell you there is no devil; - but let them neither tell you he is an external agency of evil that leads you astray because that lets us all of the hook and furthermore is a fond thing vainly invented - the devil is the undying worm that gnaws at the vitals of man - the devil is the beast inside all of us that lest we rail against it would devour us. The devil is the human urge to trample those we perceive as below - the Jew, the black, the homosexual, the gypsy - and between us and the damnation that we would build for ourselves stands the life and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our redemption and lest we cleave to him with every fibre of our being the jaws of hell await. Not a hell of medieval melodrama coming after death, but the true hell of our own reality divorced from God's lovingkindness. We have an animal inheritance that seems to fight against God's will, the will that calls and nurtures our humanness, but the tension between those two principles can raise up great character in humans; it can also bring us down when we listen to the voice of our animal selves - when we speak gently with it, sit down with it and coddle it; when we listen to it's blandishments. We have all heard them - 'She's out to get you', 'they hate us', they're not like me', 'he's different', 'they brought it on themselves', 'I hate them' and worst of all maybe, the point where we are offered a chance to give in to their urgings completely, and launch ourselves into rage, violence, murder. Be under no illusions, those whisperings are the voice of the beast - but the beast is called Clinton, it is called Trent, it is called Paris - it is not a scapegoat called Beelzebub. It is the lovingkindness creed that Jesus espoused that stands between humanity and the horrors of the holocaust. When I say Jesus I mean lovingkindness - in Jesus we glimpsed God's grace in flesh and bone. We saw what such grace looked like walking amongst us. The divine word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and that word was hesod! (loving kindness) Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis. - the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We can indeed be rescued from the mouth of the beast, and defeat the death it represents, and this rescue comes through the other voice - the other whispering, the one that tells us that we should risk it, risk love, risk kindness - the one that tells us we are loved, that we are the beloved. It is the vision and the creed, and the life and the death and the teaching and the fact of Jesus that can save us all from the brink - from the hell into which we have frequently plunged, and in which parts of humanity even today spend their miserable lives. We need Jesus because when we turn to all he was and is and was made to be we become fully human - which is, to our surprise, a glorious thing; when we turn away from all he was and is and was made to be our humanness vanishes like the morning mist - God, respectful and requiring our free will allows our free choice - whilst always waiting on our change of heart and grieving over our pain. God loves us even as we descend into the pit; God loves us in all our errors and foolishness, and God will and can and must mend us after our disasters, but those disasters play out in the real world, and have consequences on Earth that can paint paradise in the colors of hell. In scripture, Satan is an appointed post - the tempter who tests the human soul; not just to say no like Nancy Reagan, but often alas to pass through the refiner's fire like Job and come out more than the sum of our experiences. I have no problem with the sort of suffering that life sometimes sends us being compatible with a loving God - there is more to life than charting a course around discomfort, and my suffering has been among my greatest gifts. But the idea that God has a rival that causes anything I personally find unpleasant doesn't wash with me, God is transcends my likes and dislikes and works for my good at a level I frequently do not understand - if I don't like it now I must not ascribe it to the devil, I must merely wait until all is revealed! If I don't like what I have done, I must not blame it on the devil - I must change what I am doing or reconcile it with God.It is me and my God alone - and all that is done is between me and God, no excuses, no get out clauses, no cloven hoofed pagan Gods. Why do I preach like this? Why do I preach in concepts and underlying truths and not rely upon the easy old certainties of 'religion'? The 'learn this and be saved' school of things.. well, it is because I believe that Christianity can stand comfortably against reason, science, philosophy and all comers - but that 'religion', the doctrine that has accrued around the truths that stand immortal cannot, and unless we base our faith on the immortal truths of God, Jesus and the Spirit then we risk being exiled from our faith by reality, because we preferred a fond falsehood to facing truth. Our faith must be able to be a partner to all other things that point to the truth; including science and philosophy - in reality there is no conflict. The Catholic church lost millions of adherents after the second Vatican council, because for years it had sold convenient fantasies 'fond things vainly invented' as if they were incontrovertible religious truths. From Limbo to meatless Fridays, one day they were taught as gospel, and the next they were thrown out with barely an explanation. One Saturday millions of lay leaders and priests taught folk they would go to hell for something that by Sunday was a minor infraction. Millions said earnest prayers for the souls of those in Limbo, and the next day were informed that limbo didn't exist. Today, the Catholic Church still teaches that to use a single condom is a mortal sin - enough to consign you to everlasting torture, yet the vast majority of Catholics don't take a blind bit of notice of it, and Italy has the lowest birth rate in the European Union! If we are ever faced with a choice between Jesus and truth, we must always follow truth, because what we thought was Jesus will certainly turn out not to be.
Sebastian Moore O.P. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. Martin Luther King, Jr. .....They will - just as Jesus is the incarnate word of God, and God is truth.

Rick Warren and the inauguration

Taking the good with the bad.

I don’t think I am giving away any secrets when I say I was thrilled to bits when Barack Obama was elected. It reminded me of the feeling when Tony Blair was elected in 1997 – great optimism, and openness to change. The big difference is that Barack Obama has already changed a great deal just by being elected – he doesn’t have to lift a finger in order to transform the perception of America around the world; just being there does that. Tony Blair ushered in ten years of prosperity and law reform that changed Britain forever, and left LGBT people with equal rights after a long struggle – it is my prayer that Barack Obama has at least as good a run (well, eight years, not ten).
It therefore came as a nasty shock to many people when Mr Obama decided upon Rick Warren as the pastor to give the benediction at his inauguration. When I first heard this I rolled my eyes but figured that he had to include as wide a range of people as possible in ‘the project’. Indeed, I attended an HIV/AIDS conference at Rick Warren’s church a couple of years back, and was struck by his sincerity, and what I took to be a genuine wish to do the right thing. I put his homophobia down to ignorance and misinformation. I still do, but the difference is that when ignorance is faced with truth it should give way – I cannot believe that in the last few years nobody has ever gone to Rick Warren and told him the truth of our lives, and yet he appeared on national television and spouted embarrassing lunacy about ‘choosing’ homosexuality being no different to him having a desire for ten wives. Please Rick, I mean… please!!
If he, coming from a conservative tradition, had said that all homosexuals should restrict their sexual behaviour to within covenanted relationships (marriages) I could have at least respected his position and argued from a position of equality, but no, he has not applied any empathy, or indeed reason to the issue, and instead has draped the whole subject in an easy ‘one size fits all’ set of solutions he received mail-order from the Southern Baptist Convention. This is not good enough. Rick Warren is obviously a very bright man – he could never had built a vast church and outreach network without some serious smarts; it is however equally obvious that he has put his reason and intelligence to bed when it comes to human sexuality - evidently the answers his reason gave him were just too troubling for his black and white faith, and therefore they had to be silenced.
Many people of apparently good intelligence do the same thing; treating God as if God is some deluded old lady that has fallen on hard times, and the truth of her reduced circumstances must be hidden from her. This God is also very frail, and cannot stand loud noises or bright lights! It is as if the truth is something that she must be sheltered from or she will shatter into a million pieces like glass. Well, what they have is a fragile construction, it is a religion based upon fond inventions and comfortable certainties, not upon the God of Truth or The God of Love – it is instead a collection of traditions and social conventions that are treated as law. This is much the same as the code of the Pharisees that Jesus railed against; it is a religion, not Christianity – it is a set of rules that have become more important that either the intent of the heart or the example of Christ.
Rick Warren’s silliness could be laughed off if it didn’t result in increased hatred, bible abuse and prejudice – if it didn’t lead to beaten children and murdered LGBT teens. Rick Warren needs to wise up and understand that words have consequences and he is a man of some considerable power. If he has a personal conservatism all well and good – but that has nothing to do with sexual orientation! It may inform what he teaches about marriage, raising children or fidelity, but such teachings affect gay folk and straight equally. A conservative may argue that gay people need marriage, stability and the church, but it must be same-sex marriage (or it is meaningless and dishonest), it must be a church that celebrates them and it must be a stability that we have sought, not a prison cell of social convention.
Sexual orientation is morally neutral. We start, ethically, from the same point as straight people in that it is the free-will decisions in our lives that carry moral consequences, not the God-given traits that we are born with, things that we have no control over. It is no more sensible to say that being gay is immoral than it is to suggest that being left handed is immoral. It is no more sensible to suggest that gay sex is intrinsically immoral than to say that writing with your left hand is immoral – it is merely the natural outworking of the inborn trait. It is sensible to say that murdering someone with your left hand is immoral, just as it is sensible to say that raping someone of the same sex is immoral – but those are the only informed guidelines for making parallels.
Mr Warren, to suggest that falling in love with someone of the same sex - to whom you are by nature designed to be attracted, and then committing to them and devoting your life to them in mutual love and compassion is the same as choosing to have ten wives, or worse, that it somehow has parallels with pedophilia is deeply demeaning. It deprives you of the respect owing you as a major figure in the Christian sphere, and someone who has on occasion written with great wisdom. You can do better than that, and what is more, so can Barack Obama!