Showing a Different Face of Christianity in Asia Since its founding, MCC has challenged, again and again, the false belief that judgment and exclusion are Christian teachings. This summer, MCCNY’s Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo continued MCC’s work by sharing the message of right relationship and inclusive love with thousands of people in Asia. Beginning in 2004, Rev. Boon has traveled to Asia every summer. Since 2009, through funding from the Global Justice Institute, he has steadily expanded the number of countries he visits. This year, Rev. Boon spent time in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and his home country, Malaysia.
by Frances Wood
break the dichotomy of dualism: us vs. them, gay vs. straight, whatever form of binary we come across,” says Rev. Boon. “This is the most important agenda of Christianity: to promote social justice and to promote love in every area.” “MCC can have a profound influence on the gay rights movement in Asia because the strongest anti-gay forces are religious, it doesn’t matter what religion,” he continued. “I think it is important for openly gay religious leaders to come out and do something.”
“Most Christians in Asia are anti-gay,” says Rev. Boon. “I think my job in Asia is to show a different face of Christianity.” As a gay Malaysian Christian and an academic who holds doctoral degrees, Rev. Boon challenges the notion these identities cannot coexist. He serves as an asset to LGBTQI communities in Asia whose most vehement condemnation comes from religious leaders. Rev. Boon emphasized the importance of his being Asian and openly gay, because it challenges the belief among many LGBTQI Asians that living openly is only possible for Westerners. This summer Rev. Boon participated in an interfaith dialogue with Buddhist leaders in Bankok about religion and sexuality (pictured top right); led retreats attended by over 100 leaders from the 11 LGBTQI religious groups he has helped establish in China; conducted six radio interviews in Taiwan, including one for the country’s official Department of Education radio station; attended Vietnam’s 4th Pride parade; and gave numerous talks at LGBTQI centers, including one in Tainan, Taiwan (pictured bottom right). Rev. Boon expects China to be his focus in the future, not only because he speaks the language, but because, as he says, “the people there are oppressed on so many levels.” The LGBTQI groups that he has nurtured over the last five years must meet in people’s homes, and those leaders who have received support to attend seminary cannot safely be out to their professors and fellow students. Despite this, Rev. Boon says, LGBTQI Christians in China are “doing their very best to disagree.” This promotion of Christianity as a vehicle for love rather than judgment has greater ramifications for right relationship in Asia and throughout the world. “My agenda is beyond gay; it is to
The Query Quarterly/Fall 2015
446 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018 Phone: (212) 629-7440 info@mccny.org www.mccny.org
MCCNY is a member of Metropolitan Community Churches, a global movement of faith with congregations in 28 nations. The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator
A Homecoming Message from Our Pastor: Dear friends ~ As we prepare to celebrate Homecoming Sunday and welcome back all of us who have been away during the summer months, I am reflecting on the 23rd Psalm — You, O God, are my shepherd, I shall not want You make me to lie down in green pastures You lead me beside still waters You restore my soul…. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life And I shall dwell in the house of God forever. A home — a forever safe space — a place where we feel welcome and secure and like who we are is valued and respected. All over the world right now, people are seeking that kind of home. Refugees fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and North Africa are converging on European nations, seeking a home, a safe space. 60 million people have been displaced by violence and terror — an overwhelming number, the likes of which our world has never before seen. Some countries welcome their fellow human beings, and some do not. When the government of Iceland agreed to take in only 50 refugees out of the thousands daily seeking a new homeland, 30,000 citizens of that tiny island nation were so incensed by the lack of openness that they banded together and came forward to offer their own homes as shelter to refugee families. Similar stories of openhearted kindness and compassion abound around
the world: people from Hungary and Austria stepping out to offer water and food to scores of people trying to find a new home. In Lincoln, Nebraska the Yezidi people have been welcomed in as they flee a homeland theirs for centuries but now marked by violence and bloodshed. Last week I read a story about this small tribe of humanity that some believe represents the spiritual ancestors of the Magi. Earlier in the year, ISIS militants chased them up a mountain without food or water, slaughtering and terrorizing many, leaving others simply to perish. According to the story, many of those who were able to escape Iraq sought refuge in the community of Lincoln, Nebraska and began life anew. “There is freedom here,” one Yezidi man said, “no one cares what religion you are.” They will try to negotiate sharing a graveyard with people of other faiths, since they can no longer transport their dead back to the land they once called home. That will be the ultimate sign of putting down roots, one commentator said. “Make your home in me,” Jesus will say to his disciples in John’s Gospel. Many people of faith interpret his words through a doctrinal lens, saying that Jesus was talking about believing in him as the way to heaven, the only way to secure an eternal home. But, as I read the Gospel, Jesus seems to more be saying in that 14th chapter that home-making and home-going is more about keeping his word or doing what he taught than plotting how to save ourselves. The question in John’s Gospel is ~ how do we get to the place
Letter from the Editor: Dear Friends, When I first came to MCCNY in 2009, I was terrified of the kiss of peace. I grew up in a Catholic church where the sign of peace was usually limited to a quick hug for immediate family members and a handshake for everyone else. I hadn’t mastered the ability to hug gracefully or kiss people on the cheek. Many of my kisses of peace landed on a neck or an ear, and I worried that I would push people away by touching them so awkwardly. I feared that you wouldn’t love me. But you did. What’s more, you challenged me to do a whole range of things that I first approached with trepidation, from being a reader at services, to finding a partner whom I have now been with for six years, to becoming a godparent, and even writing this letter. Alone, I hold on to my fear, but in this community I am pushed to be “out” in every sense of the word. This Homecoming, I think about all the ways in which I have seen so many people’s lives evolve within our community. And now, six years after I first walked through the doors of MCCNY, I am excited to see what comes next in my life and yours, my family in faith. Knowing that each of us is welcomed and loved despite our awkwardness, our eccentricities, our histories: that is what makes MCCNY home for me. I hope you too feel this abiding love this Homecoming.
Frances
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where Jesus is? And the answer is ~ by following in his footsteps; by living with open-hearted welcome and compassion and care and love — like the people of Iceland and those of Lincoln, Nebraska and so many around our world who with everyday kindnesses try to open the door to the fullness of life Jesus envisioned. John begins his 14th chapter with those words many of us have heard repeatedly ~ “Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God and trust in me.” Then he promises the disciples that there are many dwelling places in God’s house. And if we read closely, we will discover that those dwelling places are our hearts; that the focus is not booking a room in heaven, but building a relationship on earth, where we can abide in God and God in us. “I am the way, the truth and the life,” Jesus will say. The path is a person — it’s each of us every time we make a home in our hearts and in our world for the family of God. On September 20th, MCCNY will be celebrating the lives of everyone who has found a home here and the lives of all those who have found safe space and acceptance and love because of the witness of MCC globally. I hope you will join us as we open our hearts to God and to one another in joy and celebration — and in prayer that this world may soon become, through the relationships we are building, the promised Reign of God. In hope and with love,
Bp. Pat
The QUERY Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frances Wood Graphic Design and Layout Editor . . . . Les LaRue Staff Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dallas Phelps Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Easterling, The Rev. Dr. Edgard Francisco Danielsen-Morales, Joe Kennedy, Stan Kimer, Lucky Michaels, Jimmy Nemeth, The Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo, Jasmine Shovlin Metropolitan Community Church of New York 446 W. 36th St., New York, NY 10018 (212) 629-7440 • www.mccny.org Sunday Worship Services at 9 a.m. (traditional) 11 a.m. (celebration), and 7 p.m. (praise & worship) On TV in Manhattan: Sundays 1:30 p.m., Time Warner channel 57, RCN channel 85
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Focus on Youth Leadership at Arts in the Woods 2015
by Frances Wood
It’s a summer tradition for the residents of Sylvia’s Place: five days of art production in the woods of Easton Mountain. Arts in the Woods 2015 was co-directed by our own Kristen Lovell who placed a new emphasis on youth leadership during the camp. From the first day of Arts in the Woods, Kristen encouraged the 38 participants, who come from programs in Boston and New York, to interact with youth they didn’t know. This dissolving of cliques allowed for more creative collaboration as the youth shaped their Arts in Woods experience. “The young people mapped out what camp should look like,” said Kristen. “We had different tracks: music, video, culinary arts, dance. The youth used Easton Mountain’s sound mixing equipment to create their own camp song, which talked about taking off your mask, being free, and being yourself.”
Youth also guided discussions about their own experiences of trauma. “We got to touch on a lot of the sensitive issues that our youth deal with on a daily basis: grief, domestic violence, violence against the trans community, and police brutality.” Arts in the Woods ended with a dramatic ceremonial bonfire where each youth was acknowledged for their particular strengths. “When you share your strengths with the rest of the world,” Kristen told the campers, “you are being a leader.” The fluidity of the programming this year led to what Kristen called a “beautifully flawed” camp experience. Thanks to the entire Arts in the Woods crew for making camp a reality!
Credit & Debit Card Giving has never been easier!
Options abound!
• Sign up for one-time or recurring giving at www.easytithe.com/mccny • Donate with just one swipe at our new giving kiosk located at the sanctuary entrance • Donate by text message by sending any numerical amount to 646-681-7445 • Email Mike Easterling to have
credit giving setup for you
Stewardship Update
by Mike Easterling
No Better Time than Fall!
With summer comes time away and with time away comes the possibility of missing a Sunday offering. No worries, it’s not too late to give to MCCNY. There is no better time than now to catch up on giving for 2015! The best way to prevent this from being a concern in the future is to sign up for automatic giving. Automatic giving gives you peace of mind while giving your church family increased financial stability. Signing up is quick and easy, taking only a few minutes and featuring much flexibility in how you give. To sign up just visit www.easytithe.com/mccny and select “Scheduled Giving.”
Coming Soon: Stewardship Month 2015!
Beginning in November the focus of conversation will shift toward stewardship and our personal commitments to our community of faith. I will hold two sessions of religious education around stewardship and commitment and the month will conclude on November 15th as we celebrate Pledge Sunday.
Thank You!
MCCNY would like to thank the many volunteers who made Pride Month 2015 such an amazing and successful month of celebration and outreach. We couldn’t do it without you!
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Faces of MCCNY
Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner flashes a joyful smile at the Marriage Equality celebration outside Stonewall. Rev. Elder Pat was a featured speaker at the rally on June 26th, the day of the historic Supreme Court decision.
Lily Gibney Bumgardner August 26, 2007–July 5, 2015
On Thursday July 16th, MCCNYers gathered with other activists in Seward Park to send a message to Mayor Bill DeBlasio: more measures need to be taken in order to end homelessness in New York City.
A New Year of Programing, Featuring You!
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The church’s 2015–2016 programmatic year begins at Homecoming, and this year's focus is on what you can do to build the kind of programming you want to see at MCCNY. In addition to scheduled events and series you will see in the church calendar, MCCNY staff is drawing on the creativity and leadership of community members to bring to life new “affinity groups.” I sat down with Rev. Edgard Francisco Danielsen-Morales to discuss the exciting potential of new, community-led programming.
In addition to nurturing new groups, MCCNY will be offering a full calendar of programmatic events. A complete listing of events can be found in the Church Calendar distributed at Homecoming. Below are some highlights to look out for:
“This past programmatic year, we got a new group—the Young Adult Meetup—and we would like to explore other affinity groups that may come from within the community,” said Rev. Edgard Francisco. The potential scope of these groups is very broad. “What we really need is imagination,” Rev. Edgard Francisco added. Examples of groups that have formed in the past include Bible studies, softball teams, a group that met to read essays together, and one that coordinated social hour for specific holidays like Three Kings Day or Kwanzaa. Both First Sunday Brunch and Birthday Sundays were suggested and organized by congregants. Groups may focus, for example, on social activities, spiritual growth, or social justice and may choose to meet at the church or outside of it. Groups will be led by a core of participants, and will be able to meet without requiring the presence of a pastor.
– On Sunday, November 1st, the stewardship series with Fiscal Manager Mike Easterling will begin. Stay tuned for this year’s theme!
So, if there is programming you want that you don’t see, you can make it a reality! The first step is to meet with Rev. Edgard Francisco to explore the resources your group will need and those that MCCNY can provide. MCCNY staff will train the group leaders and provide advice about what has and has not worked for groups in the past. Then, the group will advertise within the community and schedule a time to meet!
MCCNY will also continue to offer the Spiritual Directions program, which provides one-on-one guidance for individuals exploring their spiritual life and path. Membership classes will also be held throughout the year for those wishing to formally join the church. If you have questions about these or any programs, please contact Rev Edgard at revdredgard@gmail.com.
If you have an idea for an affinity group that you would like to help lead, please contact Rev. Edgard at revdredgard@gmail.com.
– On Leather Sunday, October 18th, there will be a Sunday Conversation on the topic of shame and healing led by a therapist skilled in working with the LGBTQI community.
– For Advent, Rev. Reg Richburg will lead an Advent Journey series. We will walk a labyrinth as we reflect on the promise of the Advent season. The series will begin on Sunday, November 29th. – During the Lenten Series, starting Sunday, February 14th, we will delve into the existential questions of death and isolation as they are introduced in the Lenten readings. – The Sunday Conversation on Pentecost Sunday, May 15th will help participants identify their spiritual gifts and develop a plan to put those gifts to use.
This programmatic year promises to be surprising and diverse, with the potential for all of us to deepen our connections with our family of faith. We look forward to seeing what develops!
Join YAM—MCCNY’s Young Adult Meetup! by Jasmine Shovlin Young adulthood at MCCNY is self-identified and YAM looks for people seeking to enjoy good food and company, adventurous outings and other fun social events. We are a new and growing ministry here at MCC and look forward to welcoming and meeting all who are interested in joining us. Our mission is to create a safe spiritual home where we are all free to be ourselves within a supportive and loving community. We originally created YAM with the intentions of bringing together the younger crowd at MCC, but strongly encourage all who identify as a young adult to join us. We are looking to grow and expand this upcoming year, coordinating larger social events for the church. First of which will be launched in the late fall/early winter: MCC Coffee House—an event that will feature all the amazing artists here at MCC. Over the past few months, we dined at Skylight Diner, ate delicious handcrafted donuts from Doughnut Plant, bowled a few strikes at Frames (well, at least one of us did), enjoyed a relaxing picnic along the Hudson River and adventured to Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA)! We also volunteered at TEAZE—The NYC Pride Women’s
Party last June and raised $1,500 (plus some tips!) for the church. We would like to continue using our skills and talents to help make a difference for the church and the community. Most of our meetups and events are social, but we always welcome new ideas and interests! We meet the third Sunday of every month and hope to see you there!
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News from MCCNY/Charities Coming in From the Street...
MCCNY Charities, Inc.’s Sylvia’s Place is one of just a handful of shelters in New York City that accepts youth directly from the street without a referral. This means that LGBTQI youth arriving at Penn Station or Port Authority can walk a few blocks to Sylvia’s Place and find a hot meal and a safe place to sleep without having to navigate the red tape of the city shelter system. This fall, hundreds of LGBTQI youth will show up at our doors looking for a community of love and support. You can help us provide that support. A gift of $50 allows a youth to complete an intake for shelter tonight instead of spending the night on the street. To make a donation, visit MCCNY Charities, Inc.’s secure donation site at http:// bit.ly/1Be1EE4 Help us keep our youth safe by making a gift to MCCNY Charities, Inc. today. Consider giving online at the $100, $50, or $25 level, or designate any amount that works for you. Thank you for helping us to build a community where everyone is welcomed and cared for!
by Frances Wood, MCCNY Charities, Inc. Administrator
Food Pantry News: A Farewell and an Introduction In August, the Charities said goodbye to Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry Director Jaymes Grace. Jaymes, an MCCNYer and MCCNY board member, moved to Tucson, Arizona with his dog, Jasper, to pursue new opportunities. During his two-year tenure as pantry director, Jaymes was known for his warm laugh, generosity, and perfectly cooked potatoes. We will miss him. The Charities is pleased to welcome our new pantry director, Crys O’Neill. Raised in the Poconos of Pennsylvania where “kids go on dates in cornfields,” Crys (who uses they/them pronouns) moved to the city in 2013. A beauty school graduate, they play the ukulele and have a fondness for pop punk. Crys began attending MCCNY in March after searching for a support group for trans/non-binary people. Soon after, they began volunteering in the church office. Of their new role, Crys says: “I like the fact that I am literally being paid to give people food for free. It feels like the anti-capitalist job. There are people who come in to the pantry every week who I really like.” Crys is working on organizing the pantry space and ensuring that food is distributed at the advertised times. In the past, seasonal changes prompted adjustments in the times that food pantry distribution started, which led to confusion among pantry customers. By standardizing distribution times, Crys hopes to ensure that every pantry guest has access to the same variety and volume of food. Crys will also be in charge of coordinating food for special events and holidays during the church year and could use your assistance. If you are interested in helping out at Thanksgiving please contact Crys at crystal. danarae@gmail.com. They are especially looking to recruit volunteers who are interested in cooking turkeys. If that is your skill, please let Crys know!
Broadway Gives Sylvia’s Place a Hand If you’ve seen a Broadway show in the past few years, you may have heard actors appeal for donations to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS during curtain call. One of the nation’s leading industry-based non-profits, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the American theater community’s way of giving back to organizations who work with HIV+ individuals and other vulnerable groups. In August, the Charities received a grant of $5,000 from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. We will use the grant to provide food and metrocards for the youth of Sylvia’s Place. Funded under Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS “survival grant” program, this support fills in gaps in funding for the everyday needs of our youth. MCCNY Charities, Inc. is proud to be a multi-year recipient of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS funding.
GJI Partnership Creates Safe Space in Kenya by Stan Kimer Over the past year the Global Justice Institute has become involved in a partnership to build a meeting space for open and affirming ministries in Kenya. The vision of MCCer Stan Kimer, the first open-air building of the Kimer-Kamba Cultural Center was completed in July 2015 through a partnership with Rev. Michael Kimindu, Director of African Affairs for the Global Justice Institute. Below is an excerpt from Stan Kimer’s latest update on the genesis of this project, which began in 2010. After a number of false starts and being frustrated with local corruption, I needed to put the work with my initial partner on hold. While considering how to re-engage in the creation of the center, I was having a growing relationship with Rev. Michael Kimindu: pastor of Neema Metropolitan Community Church in Nairobi, Director of African Affairs for the Global Justice Institute, and leader of Other Sheep–Africa. Since Rev. Kimindu is originally from the area near Mtito Andei and speaks the native Kamba tribal language of that area, I felt he could be an ideal partner to help this work progress.
Graham-Ward of North Carolina, two acres of strategically placed land near a new university was purchased and building began. And now the building is complete for the first activities starting this month! Multiple ministries and organizations will now share the space, including: • The Kimer-Kamba Cultural Center which will focus on vocational and cultural education and economic empowerment • Other Sheep Africa/Kenya, providing a positive accepting ministry to sexual minorities • Neema Metropolitan Community Church, part of the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches • Global Justice Institute, focusing on increasing global justice and equality for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people in all areas of the world To learn more about the Kimer-Kamba Cultural Center, visit their website at http://bit.ly/1KHNYFD
Rev. Kimindu visited me last May while in the USA and we further discussed teaming on this project. I ended up moving my church membership from my local MCC Church in North Carolina to Neema MCC so I could provide my church tithe support, and discussed the idea of Neema MCC and Other Sheep Africa teaming with me to make the Kimer-Kamba Cultural Center a reality. Sometimes multiple groups with a similar vision and mission need to combine efforts and resources to progress the hard work. When Rev. Kimindu visited with me in my home in 2014, we started the discussion of him becoming the lead partner in my vision for the Kimer-Kamba Community Center in Mtito Andei. Rev. Kimindu agreed and at the beginning of the year he and his wife Robai moved themselves and Neema MCC from Nairobi to Mtito Andei so he could start this ministry and oversee this work. Using some existing funds and with additional generous donations from Bobbi and Kathy
Longtime MCCNYer Andy Buck Departs by Joe Kennedy Andy Buck, an MCCNYer for close to a quarter of a century, and his spouse Dan Bacalzo bade us farewell on Sunday July 5th (photo at left: Dan, me, Andy) and moved to Ft. Myers, FL where Dan is now a Theater Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. Andy and Dan were married here three years ago on July 7, 2012 by our Pastor, now-Bishop Pat Bumgardner. For decades Andy has been known as a choir singer and special musician at church and as a social justice activist in NYC’s LGBT community. On a personal note, I thank Andy for taking the 1996 photo of my godson Dion and me in P-town that is now framed above my living room couch! -7-
Homecoming Sunday is September 20, 2015.
Reach out to your family and friends for a wonderful day of celebration, feasting, and festivity. The 11am Choir returns! Gala receptions after each service! Ministry Fair following the 11am, featuring opportunities to learn, grow spiritually, and serve.
9am Traditional Mass ✛ 11am Celebration Service ✛ 7pm Let Your Light Shine Praise & Worship Service The Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner, preaching