This image is iconic for me about how we are changing as an institution. MCC role is to amplify the reconciling work of local churches, individuals and denominations. Monday night of the Boston Marathon Bombing, front page of Boston.com. Links directly to the MCC’s Facebook page.
Earlier in the day, we asked churches to write in with their plans for ecumenical and interfaith prayer vigils. I had been tweeting out service locations under the hashtag #prayforboston. We were the trusted source for news. And when the news isn’t covering us, we become the news media. We are learning to be quick and flexible. We are learning a curious combination of digital ministry and incarnate experiences. We are learning to gather, curate and amplify the reconciling work of local churches and denominations, not necessarily to create the program ourselves. Deeply grateful for all who witness to the best of our tradition during this long, complex period. I am very proud of our ministry in these days.
In general, I’ve been leaning away from issuing statements. I wasn’t convinced it was a good use of staff time to write something that would just be read internally and never picked up from press. I was wrong about this one. Our Statement following the bombing had 8k views on FB, shared widely, adapted into a liturgy for a number of community services.With 24 hrs notice, we gathered a delegation of 15 pastors from 5 denominations to visit the mosque in roxbury to observe Friday prayers. Joel Anderle spoke to the 1000 Muslims present offering our support. We experimented with posting a video of Pres. Joel Anderle’s to Youtube and tweeting it out. I saw it retweeted from as near as the mosque in Allston and as far away as Jakarta.
Muchmuch more we did last year. Last year’s annual meeting was some of the best of what Duke Divinity calls “traditioned innovation” taking the best of our tradition and finding new expressions for it. We honor one of the founders of the Revised Common Lectionary at the same time we held panel & workshops on ecumenical possibilities of Social media. We symbolized our changing institution with the gifts for the office. Because of what we learned with last year’s program meeting about our social media ministry, I’ve lead a workshop on Digital Ministry for the UCC, UMC, TABCOM, Episc Diocese, Reading clergy association-
We are expanding who represents the Massachusetss Council of Churches. We aim to be a network of relationships, not just spokes to a wheel. So we brought ecumenical delegation to Lutheran bishop voting, to UMC Annual Conference, the UCC Annual Conference, to Greek Orthodox Parish dinner, Episcopal Diocese of Western MA election of new Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of MA diocesan convention. I want to thank all the board members who gave of their time to show up at other church’s gathering, incarnate proof we do not do the work of the Church alone
Enormous change in the institutional Church landscape in the past year: Voting in four different traditions: Dio WMA, UMC, UCC, ELCA & the pope Alarm.
Scrapped the old database, rebuilt a new, accurate database a 1/10 of previous size with both of our networks and donor records. And with twice a year paper & digital fundraising appeals, we’ve reduced costs, raised more money and double the number of individuals and churches gave financially to sustain the ministry of the MCC than in the previous year. We pray for our supporters by name. ! We reduced our physical space to more accurately reflect current staffing needs and saved $800 a month. Painted the walls “Happy Camper” green. Added art. Killed the desk. We created a space that allows the staff to gather for morning prayer every day. We pray for each board member and we pray for each financial donor by name. We are reclaiming our daily work as ministry.
Getting very serious on institutional adaptation: We began Monthly Executive Committee meetings so the leadership was coming from the elected leaders! We held our board retreat for implementation of 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, get real about financial resources to run the MCC and where they come from, recognizing that denominational giving dropped below 50% of total contributions in 2009. I said last year, Christ’s prayer for unity is eternal, our ecumenical structures are not.
Revises Exec job expectations. so on the road. Guest preaching at 24 churches in last 12 months. Prove that a statewide org with an office in Boston can go west of 128. Western MA, have we come visited you?
We experimented: Ecumenical Hymnal event with Boston University school of Theology, “Youngish Clergyish” Easter Brunch w/ 20 youngish pastors from 5 different denominations, Alden Besse at Advent Open House
One of biggest experiments was the Sikh Solidarity event, an experience of interfaith relations, not a statement about it. 1500 people, on a Thursday night in late August, in downtown Boston, with no parking, 1 week advanced warning, while the Red Sox were in town! Enormous experiment in how to respond to the shooting at a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI. Quickly build an interfaith relationship w/ a community we previously had very little relationship with
Pittsfield Ecumenical Ash Wednesday service 150 in attendance when 5 churches work together, with Bishop Jim Hazelwood preaching. Winchester Clergy association. Visit Reading clergy association
When we couldn’t get consensus as the MCC on the 3 contentious ballot questions, rather than walk away- we created resources and held an informational event. Resources that were downloaded and used in churches across MA.
In 2012- gathered our collective power to establish Ecumenical Advocacy Coalition, with partners: City Mission SocietyEpiscopal City MissionMassachusetts Council of ChurchesMassachusetts Interfaith Worker JusticeUnitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action. Common project of making visible the Church’s support for comprehensive immigration reform and expanding the sense of who thinks of themselves as an immigrant. Staffed by Life Together Intern Nicholas Skinas . Invite you to take your own photo after worship
For the 10thanniv of 9/11 or the interfaith response to the Boston Marathon Bombings, the MCC has done what no single congregation or denomination could do on their own.
Colleague said to me recently “seems like you all are actually having some fun with this ministry!” great reminder that the work we do is good news!
