A group of folks from Jesus MCC attended our denomination’s triennial General Conference in Mexico the week of June 27–July 3. Our official delegation, sent by our church included Pastor Jeff and Lay Delegates Curt Pickard and Melissa Bruce. Three other folks funded their own trips: Carla Peck, and Julie and Brent Walsh.

Here’s a report on hightlights from the Conference.

• Restructuring. At the business meeting, delegates approved a reconfiguration of the governing structure of our denomination. The primary purpose was to consolidate various boards into a single Governing Board, to reduce expenses and create clarity in strategic decisionmaking.
• Progressive Evangelical Network. Pastor Jeff convened a meeting of 55 leaders from MCCs who share our church’s approach to ministry. The group decided to become an official network within MCC, and plans to meet and communicate regularly to share resources and to speak with a common voice on matters of denominational direction.
• Found Pearl Press. Our church’s publishing ministry, Found Pearl Press, was a featured sponsor of General Conference. From a booth in the Expo Hall, we offered a whole range of resources for other churches, including our newly-published Discipleship 101/102 workbooks. Our booth attracted strong interest and we sold about $1,600 of our resources to interested congregations. We want to express deepest thanks to those who volunteered countless hours at our booth: Curt, Melissa, Carla, Julie, and Brent. Pastor Jeff dialogued with renowned Christian singer and songwriter, Ray Boltz, about distributing his newest album via Found Pearl Press.
• Africa Meeting. Pastor Jeff convened a meeting of African leaders to discuss how to best share our church’s book on homosexuality and the Bible — The Children Are Free — in Africa, where the need for an affirming Gospel message is so critical. Leaders from Kenya and South Africa will be taking the lead in coordinating the printing and distribution of our book in Africa.
• Australia Meeting. Pastor Jeff met with the pastor of Crave MCC, Sydney, Australia, to discuss how we can support their growing ministry. Crave MCC is a congregation of about 60 young adults who minister in a style similar to our church and already use our Discipleship materials. Crave MCC is not only interested in broadening their use of our materials, but also contributing materials of their own to the work of Found Pearl Press.
• Partnership with The Fellowship. “The Fellowship” is a group of about 20 Christian churches that work together in coalition. Their congregations are predominantly African American and LGBT. MCC and The Fellowship are exploring forming an intentional partnership. Key leaders and many congregants from The Fellowship were present at Conference, so everyone could become better acquainted and explore what a partnership might look like. Discussions are going very well and will likely lead to some type of formal agreement in the near future.
• Award for our Church. Jesus MCC was given one of MCC’s two highest honors, the Excellence In Ministry Award, in recognition of our innovative work in creating Discipleship resources for MCC congregations.

MCC’s next General Conference will occur in Chicago in 2013.

Found Pearl Press, Jesus MCC’s publishing ministry, produces Christian resources for the LGBTQ community and beyond. Many people have found hope and spiritual nourishment through our products. Would you like to help spread the word? Here are a few ways you can help:

• Become a fan on Facebook: facebook.com/FoundPearlPress.
• Suggest Found Pearl Press to your Facebook friends. On our Facebook page, right under the logo, it says, “Suggest to friends.” When you click on that, you’ll see a list of your friends you can choose from to send a brief message. (It doesn’t spam-blast a message to all of your friends.)
• Write a review on Amazon.com for Quench!, To Have and to Hold, or The Children Are Free.
• Do you have a blog, website, LiveJournal, or other web presence? We’d appreciate a link to http://foundpearlpress.org. If you’d like a graphic to add to the link, you can use the logo with this post, the logo on our Facebook page, or email info@foundpearlpress.org for more options.

For several years, Jesus MCC’s Singles Ministry has had a Yahoo! group that helps keep us in touch. With the advance of technology, we are now making the shift to Facebook. Check out our new Singles Facebook page and become a fan. The Yahoo! group has been discontinued.

Also new: a Steering Committee for the Singles Ministry. For a long time, the Ministry has been led by one person, Les Prout, who is now taking a much-needed break. We are deeply grateful for his leadership. Now it’s time for others of us to step forward.

Those who serve on the Steering Committee will be responsible for planning monthly dinners or social outings that keep MCC Singles in fellowship. The Committee will also actively manage the Facebook page and be empowered to develop additional sources of support for our singles. If you would like to know more about the Steering Committee, please contact staff liaison, Melody Merida.

We’re going to make available (for free) a directory of the professionals who attend our church and wish to make known their areas of expertise. Basic listings are free; paid display advertisements are also available.

To be part of the professional directory, please download this form or pick up a copy from the info kiosk. For more info, email Sheryl Holko.

It’s been a long time coming — but it’s finally here! The hopes and dreams of many people are being realized with the grand opening of the Jesus MCC Church Library!

Much of the initial collection was donated by Dennis and Sammy Wellman, and many others have donated books, hard work, and many hours to make this worthy project happen.

We’ll be open for the first time on Sunday, May 18, between the morning services and after the 11:00 am service, and at 5:00 pm, before the evening service. Join us in celebration!

Watch your bulletin for opportunities for service in the library, and a list of needed books and resources.

Great news! Our sermon webcast is now up and running! Each Sunday’s sermon is now posted by Wednesday of that week.

Many thanks go to everyone who has contributed to make this happen, including our Media Team, which does incredible work each week! Please lift this endeavor in prayer — may it reach out to those who are seeking a message of God’s love.

Still to come:

• Television-style intro and exit segments.
• a software upgrade that will improve several functions.
• same-day access: soon, we’ll have a team in place that will make the video and audio sermons available on Sunday afternoon. If you’d like to be part of this technical, behind-the-scenes team, please email the web manager.

Check out the webcast here: JesusMCC.org/listen/

We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions — please email or call the office.

If you are a GLBT Christian, where do you turn to find spiritual books and resources to support your life journey? The truth is, you have very few options. At Jesus MCC, we’re determined to change that. We’re committed to a long-term goal of generating resources that can support GLBT Christians across the globe.

To that end, several years ago, we formed a publishing house known as Found Pearl Press that is staffed by volunteers from our congregation The first big project was publication of The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships, which has become one of the best-selling books on homosexuality and the Bible. In fact, demand is so high, we’re now in our fourth printing, and within a couple months the book will also be available in Spanish!

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We’re excited to announce that Jesus MCC now offers a new tool to help with your spiritual walk — Be Still and Know…, a daily “quiet time” resource on the church web site.

Be Still… provides a scripture selection and thoughtful, lively commentary written by members of Jesus MCC. We’ve assembled a team of 15 writers, who have some terrific things in store — this won’t be just another boring ol’ devotional.  Check it out and consider making it part of your daily routine.