Would Jesus Discriminate?

[NathanATX]

http://www.wishtv.com/global/story.asp?s=5038576

MCC's new campaign is making the news!

www.mccchurch.org

www.jesusmcc.org

[Liberal Crozier]

Nathan -

Spouse here. Just finished changing bedclothing as Crozier always experiencing heaving bed sweats after chemotherapy.

We have studied MCC ever since it began in 1968. We first met Troy Perry in 1974 (year we met) and together as a couple again in 1976 (year we committed). I still have the first 78rpm record that he created.

I often said that Troy was the father of "convergence theology". A Pentacostal minister without graduate credentials ( he served in the USArmy as a chaplain's assistant), Troy surrounded himself with a group of former Roman Catholic and Episcopal priests, Lutheran pastors and others who established a seminary programme and provided liturgical Eucharistic centricity to worship, and created clerical dress. The theology was a combination of contextual sexual theology, Real Presence in an Anglican or Lutheran sense, local option on charismatic influences. From the Anglicans who joined him, Troy accepted the reality of different emphases of churchmanship in his denomination. This has always meant the emphasis on preaching and prayer service as opposed to the eucharistic centricity in the service....

The second proof of the Holy Spirit working within that Body of Christ is that from twelve persons sitting on a couch in prayer in Los Angeles in 1968,
is that the MCC Church of Canada, specifically Toronto, became in 2001, the reason for Dr. Brent Hawkes to risk life and limb (also our friends) in order to begin legal same-sex marriage in the world today.

If you choose to emigrate to Canada, and if I were your age with your vocation, and wished to become a pastor in either an MCC or a United Church of Canada parish church, you could go beyond being a "revolutionary seeking freedom" to an "evolutionary helping others integrate their lives equally with the entire faith community." You could finish seminary or divinity school in Canada. You and your spouse could marry in church before those whom you serve and know that the marriage licence and certificate is the very same that others receive and is recognised in province and federal government. You can surrogate or adopt children, and have grandchildren to share your older years.

This is not a dream for your life, Nathan....it takes courage to emigrate. It took your ancestors the same courage....and more, since they could never go back to visit....You have only one life to live, and you can choose to live your whole life in the USA waiting for a modicum of rights if any. If it takes 40 years to establish what Canada et al..have now, won't you be in your 60's......??????? Your ancestors emigrated to the USA in order to give themselves and their progeny a better life than they had in the "old country". Don't you want a real legal marriage, a family, children and grandchildren, a ministry devoid of disagreement on legal marriage in the nation?

All it takes is to work toward the process in order to cross the border. There are many programmes established to assist you in the process.

We said that we will help you link up with the individuals and organisations if you are truly serious. Pray about it.

[NathanATX]

I do believe that emigration is in our future... certainly before we attempt to adopt children.

My current plan is to...

• continue building my business here in Texas
• complete my undergraduate degree in a year ( maybe a year and a half)
• attend a seminary here in Texas so I can continue growing my current young adult ministry
• get married in Canada
• become ordained in the MCC denomination and then seek a position or plant a church in Canada
• Bulid/Buy a home in Canada and start adopting children

I agree with you...I don't believe I can have access to a completely safe & free life here in the states... and as I grow my family, safety is one of my utmost concerns. I like what you said about the different kind of ministry I could have in a place where I'm not fighting for my freedoms. Of course, I will want to create some powerful way to have a continued influence in the states. Having the safety of freedom in my "home country" will probably make having that kind of influence much easier...

All said, I'm probably about five years away... of course that may change if I decide to go to a seminary in Canada. I spent a lot of time looking at Emmanuel College's website at Victoria/University of Toronto. They are affiliated with MCC. It's definitely a possibility, but it's much more expensive since I'd be a visa student. The next few years will give me time to accumulate some assets through my business and also to continue to be mentored by my pastor.

... so much to think about...

I *really* appreciate your support & encouragement.
Nathan

[seifer_boy]

I wish I can have dreams like that Nathan. Those are great. Right now I'm in no position to be able to do anything right now because my life has been on hold since I turned 18. That was about 6-7 years now.