Do you embrace female pastors and leaders in MCC churches?
Since its inception in 1968, MCC has aspired to be a place where all could be included. MCC’s current Core Values of Inclusion, Community, Spiritual Transformation, and Justice are bold and expansive ideals. As time progressed and the movement/denomination expanded throughout the United States and then globally, the call and pressure to become more expansive grew as well. Difficult conversations were held on including/inclusive language (the Divine need not always be referred to in male gendered terms of He and Father), recognition and acknowledgement that the differences that existed in people added to the character, strength, and possibilities of this growing denomination. Time also assisted leadership to commit to creating and providing opportunities for marginalized and oppressed people within a larger marginalized group of queer people.
It is vitally important for those in the community to use the gifts that God has uniquely equipped each person with. It is in that spirit that MCC encourages and accepts female leadership that are both lay and clergy.
Female leaders are among those in the MCC denomination and churches that are encouraged to realize their full potential. Leadership takes many forms, whether that is in the pulpit of a church preaching, being an activist on the street or in the halls of government, in the food kitchen or in the boardroom. People throughout the denomination are encouraged to explore and discover their authentic selves with the God of their understanding. It is vitally important for those in the community to use the gifts that God has uniquely equipped each person with. It is in that spirit that MCC encourages and accepts female leadership that are both lay and clergy. As with any aspiration, there are always areas that can be improved upon and grown, yet one bit of evidence that MCC as a body embraces female leaders is that the denomination’s last 2 elected Moderators (the top leadership position in MCC) have been female.
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BOUT THIS MCC AUTHOR: Reverend Cathy Alexander is responsible for supporting MCC lay pastoral leaders and clergy. She oversees the ordination, licensing, vocational ministry, and retirement processes. She also oversees the Thriving in Ministry programme which supports clergy mentoring opportunities.
