March 1972 - In Unity by MCC Churches

MARCH

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A PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCHES INC. VOLUME III

NUMBER 1

FEBRUARY 1972

IN NITY

REVEREND TROY D. PERRY, FOUNDER

CONNIE VAUGHN. Publisher PAT RARDIN, Editor MILTON BREEDLOVE. Assistant Editor LOU LOvr~ES9 Treasurer RUSTY CARLSON. CirculatIon

PSAIM 133:1

BEHOLD ~ how good and hoo pleasant it is for brethren to duel.l: together IN UNITYI

STAFF WRITERS

sHMIN FARRELL

RUSTY CARLSON SHARON CORNEILSON PAT RARDIN ARTS AND GRAPHICS

BOB QUINN JOAN JOHNSON TOM~1Y THOMPSON ADVERTISING

DoN HUGHES SHARON CORNEIlSON CONTRIBUTORS

HAt yoUNG

C. L. LUCAS CHUCK HAYNES CHAIRMAN BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP

DoN HUGHES BOARD OF ELDERS OF UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES

REVtREND TROV D. PERRY

REVEREND JOHN H. HOSE REVEREND RICHARD A. PLOEN REVEREND LOUIS LOYNES The Cover The cover is a picture of Rev. Troy D. Perry and Deacon Fred Sferrazza with the cornerstone of the Mother Church. This cornerstone shows the date of the first service of any Metropolitan Community Church and it is only since this date that the Fellowship has grown. This cornerstone was presented to Rev. Perry at M C C-LAs Third Anniversary Dinner by the Beach Parish and some other members of the church. Be sure to read the article on Deacons in this issue. page two

ester

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TEN YEARS

NO LV ] CELEBRATING ~

DENVER

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In April 1971, a concerned member of the Mother Church donated to the Publications Department a Chief #15 Offset Printing Press and a Champ Plate Maker. This was the beginning of our own printing shop in the mother church. Connie Vaughn, who was the editor of the MCC-NEWS and Co-Editor of In Unity with her other half, Pat Rardin, purchased from a printing shop, a manuel on how to operate a Chief #15 and Plate Maker. Through trial and error she spent many hours learning the operation of the press. Today, she is a qualified operator of not only the Chief #15, but other models of printing presses through her self-study and many hours of actual operation of the press. Various people asked Connie if she could print pamplets, flyers t leaflets, stationery, etc, and Connie checked into the outside printing aspects and found out that this could be a profit making department. So the Publications Department begin to do outside printing and soon the church saw the monitary value of the department. In October of 1971, Milton Breedlove came to the Mother Church and volunteered his services to the Publications Department. At that time, he was introduced to Mr. Don Hughes, the head of the Publications Department and because of his efforts Don asked Milton to become the Assistant Editor of In Unity which Milton graciOUSly accepted.

E page five

Connie Vaughn, Publisher of In Unity and Head of Chapel Press cleaning the Chief #22 Printing Press after making money for the Lord

THE ART ROOM, with staff, Tonunyat table, Milt, Joan,

Don

Editor, Pat Rardin, confering vJith staff Milton, Sharon, & Rusty

Staff MembersTommy,Sharon & Spider at Chapel Press

Soon thereafter, a memberof the mother church told of an auction of a printing shop and that we should go there to bid on the presses, etc. Wethen went to the Board of Directors and soon thereafter a plea for pledges was confinned from the congregation. vle then went to the auction, but everything was over our head in the bidding. So, Connie Vaughnbegan to search Los Angeles and surrounding areas for presses, plate makers, etc. Wefound what we were looking for at a local companyand at a price we could afford. Wepurchased from them a Chief #22 Offset Printing Press and a Nu-Arc Plate Maker. Soon, we found a processing camera and an Elliott Folder and also a Challange Paper Cutter at prices that we could afford. So after buying all of the above, we then secured a building near the church. Wemovedin on November14th and set up the shop. Today, after manyhours of work we now have a printing shop where we can do almost any type of printing. vIe nowhave manyaccounts throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding counties. All of the money made returns to the church and we are one of the only departments that really makes money for the church. \"Jenowprint the weekly MCC-NUIS and the Monthly HJ UNI'IY on the Chief #22. In fact, here you have the first IN UNI'IYprinted on the new press. \/Je hope you enjoy this issue and we welcomeyour commentsand opinions.

Quinn at the light table pasting up this issue of In Unity (always clowning)

page st.x

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Dear Editor:

vJhy do He receive our copies of "In Unity" so late each morrth? \'le could probably double our sales if we received theJ11 earlier in the nonth.

I liked the picture on the cover of Unity on the December-J anuarv issue. this available as just a pict~?

In Is

Jay Phillips Los Angeles, Calif.

Jack .Iohnson Hiami, Florida Dear Mr. Phi Hips:

]

f/e have a deadl ine for' ar-t-i.el.ee , uhi.ch. mORt everyone seems to ignore. We~ on the staf'f", can't or-i te eveY'],dhing and have it st?: l.L be YDUR maoaei.ne , Fe ,just 1100)eto isai t: until someone, eorieuhere decides to Rend in somebhi.na, l"any months 1,'e receive or-ti cl.ee during the ueek l;'e ore supposed to go to print. Then, becauee of' an al.L uol.unt.eer staffJ it 1,[3 not alioaue poeeibl.e to get al.L of the typing, proof reading, etc done in a day or tiua, l/ost: of us uork. at a regular job during the day and then try to ioork. at night for "In Unity". Pecei. ving articles iooul.d be a help and receiving them before the tenth of the month would also be a big help.

Dear Editor: Hould you please place r:le on your active mailing list for your church publications. Since I am in a U.S. Penitentiary, I am not able, financially, to pay for a subscription. 'I do expect to be released a year from now and would be happy to do so then. I woul.d appreciate receivinr, these and shall, I feel sure, derive much cor:lfort and pleasure from them. Gene Laurel Dear Hr. Laurel: It is the policy of our church to give complimentary subscriptions to those '/:le ~eel are reallu interested and are not financially abl~ to afford them. Your name has been entered on our maiZing list. page seven

Because of some technical difficulties l"ith the original cover" u)e did a last minute change of covers. Since this was done after the negatives l;)ere already done on the rest of' the magazine, there Mas no 'U)ay of putting in an explanation of the picture. This cover iaae taken from a paste land pencil draiainq of Bi L ~!hite, of the Los Angeles congregation, as he appeared in costume and make up for the movie "Greatest Story Ever Told", L)hich l;'a.'=t made in 1965. This movie hae nOI,'been so cut doun that you see veY'1,flittle of him in it. In the orioinal over four hour version he had quite a'"lot of sce~es. Dear Editor: I woul.d like, and I am sure manyother of your readers would also, like to see pictures of the staff of "In Unity" and other pictures and illustrations. pictures, such as, of the various ministers of the Universal Fellowship, of the authors of the articles or pictures of the person the article is vlritten about. Jerry Williams Chicago, Illinois Dear Nr. Fi L l7:0J!?S : There has been a scarcity of pictures in the past because of the cost of prepori~g them for an off-set press. Now, as you can see [ror:! this issue, ui. th ChapeL Press and an off-set camera, there l;JiL L be more pictures. f.!e hope to have a story and picture of one of the Universal Fel.l.oioelrip ministers each mont.h., as uel.l. as other pictures to illustrate our stories and articles.

Dear Editor: L'rnwr-it ing to brine up a point I consider extremely relevant to the harmony of Hetropoli tan C~JTlmuni ty Church: Denial of voting privileges to those of t~e :on~r:ation officially des i.gnat'ed as Fr-i.ends ", .. , At this ~':rritine Friends constitute roughly 10% of the Hotht;r Churc~ roll. Friends donate their servaces , t irre and rnonev, They do not have a voice, wh.ich is another \,.lay of sav.ing "Taxation vIi thout PeDresentation". ·If there is one thing that has been harrrmeredhome at H C C it is the importance of the ballot. The denial of a vote to anv sep,nent of a political or religious bodv ~reates second-class citizenshil? no natter how v7ell-intentioned the r-easoru.ng , In short, we are all equal at H C C, but Pembers are more equal than Friends. There is the argument that when one completes the reauired classes prior to acc~Dtance as either Vernber or Friend, one autoi:aticallv accepts the votinp; linitation and should live pith it. If this Here true He must, as C'-aliforniacitizens, l~ve vIi th the injustice of Laws that restrJct personal freedom. People becone Friends for varied reasons just as some become Ferrbers .rather than Friends solely for the added lnducement of the vote. It is true that at one time or another a question of theolo~J may come up. In that case , it is reasonabl; that Friends should not vote. But nost or the votinp; Mcttters are out-and-out bread and butter issues and Friends are systematically discriminated against Hhen such issues surface. I don't pres~e to speak for all Friends, but I believe I sp~ak fo:: t;nough to suggest the natter of votlnp; p::lvlle7es for Friends be open to full dlscusslon prior to the next Gene;ral Conference. The essential ro.irrt is this: If we are a f'arri Ly , and I b~lieve we are, then let's 11e a f'ami.Ly , for it is not Friends who refuse nembership in M C C; it is t1 C C that refuses nerrbership to them. T. Kelly Dear T.

KeUy:

Pi rei: of al/l , u)hy ape you not .a member? MCC does not pefuse membepsh1..p to any Christian. If you ape a member of anotiher Christian chupch fine" but you can also be

a member of M C C. To be a member you must have attended the reqicired classes" lJhich you appapentZy have. H01;)evep"that is only a small part: of it. . As -fop votina matteI'S not concePn~ng the; logy, Me U v;ting fop Deacons and the BoaI'd of Dipectops ceptainly is as the~e people set the Christian policy of th~s church, And as fop Exhor-tere ; b'eI.l.h01;)can a non-Christian vote on 1;)hethep a peps on can cappu on Christian Semrice b) hen that per-eon a;esn't even knoia iohat: Christian Seroice is? The only office a Fpiend may hold is the only office that does not odipectly set Christian policy and that t.e of Social Dipectop. Membeps do not vote on money matteI's; they may vote to suggest to the Roapd of Dipectops, but it's still the BoaI'd that does the actual deciding as the contpolleps of the chupch. Actuallu to be a membep you must be a Christian ~ u)hich means you must be lieve ; You must believe that ChPistianitYJis the pevelation of God in Jesus ChPist. You must believe in one God, omnipotent" omnipreeent., the Creator of life. That the Bible is the Lnepi-red vlopd of God. That Jeeus is God's most Divine Son and proof that all men ape likewise childpen of C~d. That the Holy SpiPit is the u)opking aT'!11 of God and the manifestation of God's love and intepest in all, men. You must fupthep helieve that alZ men ape justified to God thpough faith. And ~hat you ape sav~d fpom lone l.inese, deepai» and deqradat.ion by God's ai ft 0 f apace. That such qrace is not ea~~d.$ but is a pupe gift of a C~d of pupe love. You must also believe in the Sacpaments. The sacpament of baptism by ~atep and the Spipit. That this baptism must be a sign of the dedication of that life to God and to His sepvice. The sacpament of 0., • ) Holy Communion (01' t hLe Mass., tam.en ,~s the pariialcinao~+"bread and un.ne symbohzina the bpoken bodu and the spilt blood 0/ Jesus Christ. As part: of this oormurii~n~ uou must also believe that you must confes~ and pepent and actively seek the love of God, after> examining yOUI' oion conecience; You must believe in the pituals of Ordinat-ion, Holy Matrimony, a fitting eemrice 1'"01'the dead" the coneecrat ion b ut07'xnd/or dedication of a cnurcn icn.nq to the etiernal: aZopy of~ God, the encoupxaement: of the ,.healing of the mind and ,~. iihrouah prayer 7 Jody an d..aupp 7'&1 ca t·~on ana, 'f coupse,membepship in the chupch thpough • t-i'ton 0.. .r r:' 't' con).co.'i.rmat.ion ana..3/ or a;.col'. ]1,rma. r rai. n; "1

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page eight

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Help me to be the kind of man That loyal friends believe I am. Help me to be as true and fine As they believe--these friends of mine.

EA what

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Did you knowthat the first martyr of the early Christian Churchwas a Deacon9 or that a Deaconwas one of the first missionaries of the Christian faith? Hell, it is the truth. The office of Deaconcame page eZeven

into being at the request of the ThIel ve disciples whenit becameapparent that the Mother Church in Jerusalen ""as running into problems because of its rapid grovrrh. According to the scriptures, "there was disar,reement between those of them who spoke Greek and those who spoke the language of the Jews, The former- party complained that their wi.dows Here being overlooked in the daily distribution, so the twelve called the whole body of disciples together and said, 9 it woul.d be a gr-eat mistake for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. Therefore friends look out seven menof good reputations from your number~ men full of the spirit and of wisdomand we will appoint them to deal "lith these matters while we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.' This proposal proved acceptable to the who.Le body. Hith that, the office of Deaconstarted in the Early Church. The office VIasnot confined just to the men folk. In Romans16:1 we read where Phoebe""as a Deaconessat the church in Cenchrae, and was conmandedby St. Paul to be accepted as such. The Order of Deaconsstarted in the Metropolitan Community Church for almost the samereason it started in the early church ""ith the disciples. Hith the gTOhrth of the Mother Church in Los Angeles, it becameevident that the pastors VJouldhave to have individuals whocould becometheir eyes and ears, and help them in their wor-k of caring for the membershipof that congregation. After the church was in existence for one year~ the local congregation voted, at the request of the Board of Directors, to appoint a Board of Deaconsto help in the work of the church. This same Board was later incorporated into the Bylaws of our Fe.Ll.cwsh'ip , The By-Lawsstate this about Deacons: "Deaconsshall be chosen persons of spiritual mind, exemplary life, friendly spirit and sound judgement. The requirenents of Deacons shall be the sameas those recorded in I Timothy 3:8-16. " The By-laws of our Fellowship went further and stated~ "Deaconsshall minister to those in need. The sick, the friendless and those persons whomaybe in distress in accordance \-lith the spiritUal duties of the office. These duties shall include administering the sacraments~ \'vith the consent of their superiors." Deaconsof course, as we have pointed out, are servants of the church, they are notslaves.

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Somemembers of our congregations feel that Deacons should be super=human individuals who should be able to stay up all night and all day caring for the whole corranuni ty and never need rest, or have any time to themselves. Of course, we know that that is not the truth. As you know, your Deacons are busy people t and in this article we want to introduce a typical Deacon to you, one that will remind you of someone in your own local congregation. If you have ever attended Metropolitan Corranuni ty Church in Los Angeles, you have met TomPurcell. A warm, friendly smile and a hearty hand shake is waiting for everyone who walks through the doors of the Mother Church. Tomis truly a marvelous, magical, person who exemplifies the true love pouring out of MCC.Tomt and his equally affectionate lover of 19 years, Don Hughes, first became active with MCC Twoand a half years ago. Since that time,

Deacon Tom Purcell and Chairn1~ Board of Deacons BiZZ Thome. Discussing. Planning.

Tomhas become a vi tal link in working for the grc:wth of the Mother Church. Tomworked in Publications and with Crisis Intervention Corrrni ttee, before being ordained as a Deacon by that local congregation. Whenhe was elected to his local church to serve as Deacon, he was appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as Deacon for the Northeast Parish of the Los Angeles Congregation. This parish area cont'7ins the cities of Pasadena, Alhambra, Highland Park and five other towns that have the combined population equal to that of the State of Nevada. Tomis responsible for the welfare of. all HCCmembers living in that area. He 1S full of energy and enthusiasm in seeing his parish grow and help strengthen the work of MCC- LA. As with rrost; Deacons in any MCCcongregation, Tomis certainly more than a Sunday Horning Christian. Not only does Tomserve the Mother Church, he t "rote n

Deacon Tom Purcell with his other half. Don Hughes. rela.:dng at home is the new Horship Co-ordinator, serving as Missionary Minister to our brothers and sisters in the Fresno, California Mission. Tomdrives up every Sunday to spread the Gospel of God and the work of HCC. In a recent chat with Tom, he confided that he can't take a verse from scripture and expound on it for 20 minutes. He said, "Sometimes it takes me up to two weeks to write one sermon." Of course, you can be certain that there is a lot of punch in those sermons. The serious side of Deacons like Tom Purcell is not always exposed. They can camp and carry on with most of us. This is what makes up an individual and it is what makes Deacons so loved by all who know them. Yes, TomPurcell, as all of our Deacons in all of our churches are truly beautiful persons and in a nut shell, '!HAT'S\-lliAT DEACONS AREALLABOUI'!!!

Deacon Tom Purcell

America's

leading

Homophile

Newspaper

congratulates the MCC Fellowship's II/NUN/TY"

on their

NEW LOOK

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DllSSIOn:

OT impossible!!

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] So you would like to see a Mission of sively start establishing more churches the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan across America. Community Churches started in your city. Long Beach, California had been designMISSION IMPOSSIBLE? No, not if you follow ated a Parish of the Mother Church in Los the simple formula laid down by the UniAngeles by the Board of Directors of that versal Fellowship's Committee on Evancongregation in 1969. A Deacon, Karen gelism or, so says the attendees and InGregg had been appointed from the Board of terim Board of Directors of Metropolitan Deacons to work with the people and memCommunity Church Mission of Long Beach, bers of the Mother Church who lived in California. . that area. On December 12, 1971 the first service For two years, Karen worked to see the of this, the newest Mission of our FellowParish grow into a vigorous group of ship was held with 76 people in attendance. Christians. After the Second Annual GenA Hiracle? l-Jell,yes, a miracle that came eral Conference held in Los Angeles, Karen to pass because of a lot of hard work. Acwith a group of MCC Members living in the tually the Long Beach, California l-1ission Long Beach area, approached Reverend Troy started at the Second Annual General ConPerry and the Board of Directors of the ference of our F~llowship. On September 4, Mother Church as to the feasibility of 1971 the Committee on Evangelism of the starting a Mission in their area. Reverend Conference made several recommendations to Perry visited the group on September 29, the Fellowship concerning the starting of 1971 and explained to them the new policy new missions. Before the Second General of the Universal Fellowship of MetropoliConference the establishing of Mission tan Corrmunity Churches and he made suggesChurches lay with the Board of Directors tions as to the best Hay to get started. of all of the local congregations within The next week the group Has visited by our fellowship. In the report whi.ch was Reverend Lee Spangenberg, the Minister of accepted by our delegates and ministers at Visitation of the Los Angeles Church, who General Conference, the establishing of further familiarized the Long Beach group new mission churches was placed in the with the Fellowship By-Laws. At that time hands of newly created District Board of three committees were set up ••••Publicity, Fund Raising and Financial. Long Beach was Missions, in the case of locations within all ready to go! All they needed was perdefined districts, and in the hands of the National Board of Home Missions when the mission from the District Board of Misnew mission is going to be founded in an sions, an appointed Interim Pastor and a area where no district exists. This report location. recommended that the Fe.Llowsh.ip aggrespage fifteen

Metropolitan Community Church - Long Be~ch

Ezhorter Lynn HalZett~ Pastor Jon Bullock and Acolyte C. Shawn F~Zl

On November20, 1971. Reverend Perry at the First Quarterly District Conference of the Southern California - Arizona District of the Universal Fellowship of Metropoli tan cormnuni ty Churches, petitioned the ;District Board of Missions . to allow the .Long Beach Parish of the Mother Church to officialiy become the Long Beach, California Mission of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Cormnuni ty Churches. Reverend Perry, in his letter to the Board listed pertinent infonnation concerning his request. He discussed the weekly budget, monies on hand, average Parish attendance and the availability of a building which to hold services in. Reverend Perry also discussed the availability or an Interim Pastor. Reverend Bullock is an ordained minister in our Fellowship who was serving on the staff of the Mother Church as a minister in charge of our 9: 00 AMSacramental Service. Reverend Bullock said he would accept the appointment if the District Board of Missions extended a call. 'This the Board did.

'Thenews was Passed back to the people in Long Beach and on December2, 1971, their organizational meeting was held between the group and the new Interim Pastor, Reverend Bullock. Reverend Bullock appointed an Interim Clerk and Interim Treasurer as required by the comnittee on Evangelism report. Enthusiasm ran high. It seemed as though everyone wanted to be involved in the miracle â&#x20AC;˘ Reverend Jon Bullock announced to the group that just that day he had met with the owners of a small church building and had leased the property for one year. As a result, the Mission could hold its first service in less than two weeks. Everyone at the meeting was asked to pl~dge their support in helping to get the building ready and letting people know about the start of the newwork. In ten days 76 interested individuals arrived to worship the Lord. ~':MISSION: NOTIMPOSSIBLE! ! *(Note) This truct.

mission

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not self desaÂˇe sixteen

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In the Gospel of John. Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" And three times Peter replies, "Lord, you know I do." To which Jesus responds, "Feed my sheep." The above is a very loose, rough translation of John 21:15-17, but it is sufficient to call to mind the passage to be discussed.

There is a misconception that has arisen among same of our members regarding the meaning of this passage. Some of this arises from a sermon preached during the General Conference in September of this year, but it also comes from a spurious exegesis of this passage that has been circulated within the gay community. Exegesis means to "draw out" from a scriptural passage, particularly where there may be several meanings attached to an English word or several different words in the original laueuage may be translated by a single English word. . There are three words in the ancient Greek that may be translated by the single English word love. Commonly the Greek word eros , philos and agape are all translated by the single word love. Eros corresponds to the idea of cOnjUgal love; !hilOS, brotherly love; and ~~ape, spiritua love. Hence, the Greeks ha a way of expressing the way a man loved - his spouse, his friend and his God. The faulty exegesis mentioned claims that the first time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, the Greek word used was a verb form of eros, the second, a form of philos and the third, a form of agape. If this were indeed true, gays would have the text so greatly desired, that would not only prove that Jesus recognized homosexual love, but that He approved. "'"M, unfortunabely this is not the case. In the Greek text, when Jesus asks Peter, "Ib you love Me?" both the first and second times the Greek is "agapas me", and Peter responds, "philo se". But'"the third time Jesus ask~, "tihiI'eis me" and Peter's response rema1ns t e same. This text has frequently exegeted as meaning that Peter could not achieve the higher level of love Jesus asks of him. But. there is an opinion among many, in fact most, outstanding Biblical scholars that the two words phileo and agapao were in actuality intercnangeahle. A wealth of beauty and inspiration can be drawn from this passage when it is interpreted properly, but it cannot be used to say that Jesus accepted homosexual love. Also, this does not say He did not. It simply is not relevant to the issue and it must be taken that way. _page eighteen

I â&#x20AC;˘ ,(

The San Francisco police officer draws his pistol and shouts, "Stop! Or I'll shoot!" The suicide about to plunge off the Golden Gate Bridge stops. Why? He'd prograrrmed himself to die by leaping. He couldn't cope with death by a bullet. This is one means that illustrates how suicides fix upon one way only,in attempting to control their own deaths. They must die by that method, and the time and place of their own choosing. Anything else breaks the pattern. We die as we live. More and JIDre evidence shCMS that each of us chooses the way, the time and the place of his death. This is true of disease, of provoking homicide, or of precipitating an accident. It is especially obvious in suicide. The suicide has several things working against him. He has shut off all methods of corrmunication. He has isolated himself And he has finally been overwhelmed by a terrible sense of being alone. He is not able to stand the tyranny of 10neliness.In our COJTDTIuni ty he is often not able to cope with the tyranny of a homosexual love. Gradually, alternatives vanish. There seems to be only one course open to h.im.He makes a difficult decision that relieves his tension somewhat. That is the decision to die. Even with that decision so strong in his mind, he has mixed feelings. He would like to live, but he sees no valid reason for doing so. He dreams about the heroic suicides of history; he is fascinated by the bizarre suicides he has heard of. He rejects the idea of suicide as being madness or illness. After all t he feels fine. He is walking about t not taking medicine, probably not seeing a doctor. And he is leading his normal routine life. He may still have enough mixed feelings about homself to make a last minute cry for help. He will be lucky if it is in time, and if it is made to saneone who has been trained to pick up on the subtle language of suicide. For suicide always communicate itself. It is the telegraphed punch. Learn to see it coming. At M C C-ws Angeles, and elsewhere in the Fellowship, Crisis Intervention Committees have been formed. They deal with many types of crisis, only one of which is 0

?age nineteen

the suicide crlSlS. The C I C groups are an integral part of Personal Services. Any crisis can prompt a suicide. A crisis is a stress that is unbearable because of its intensity. It may range fran the loss of a job, housing, money, friends, pets and family through marriage breakups, legal difficulties, arrests and convictions, and severe health problems. Anything can be the trigger. How is the stress relieved? Sanetimes talk is enough. Often the person and his problem must be transferred to other arms of the church, or to resources within the corrununi ty â&#x20AC;˘ Personal Services has an intensive program in counseling, housing, food problems which is coordinated with the Deacons activities. The Beulahland Coffee House, soon to open, is another means of getting at the source of the crisis. Counseling services have been undertaken by a corps of trained counselors fran within the membership. These were trained in Los Angeles by Dr. Martin Fields, chief of Admissions and Diagnostics at UCLA's Neuro Psychiatric Institut~ A pilot program was initiated in September to study the art of survival by those who have either attempted suicide or who feel that they are set up for it. The group had a certain analogy to Alcoholics Anonymous. Suicides banded together to help each other. How to proceed? There were really no guidlines that served. Suicide has been such a taboo subject that no one wanted to think or talk about it. Survivors Anonymous felt that one first step was to start discussing freely and openly how people had tried to kill themselves. In one meeting individuals tried to persuade a suicide to give up his usual method and try a different one. This reduced the whole method to an absurdity. Later sessions have delt with how one has kept going, and kept away fran the fatal fascination. One way is to talk out depression, and to uncover the underlying rage, anger, hostillity, or whatever it is that's underneath. In November an art exhibition was presented in M C C - Los Angeles. This was assembled and hung by Dr. Fred Cutter, a clinical psychologist with the Veterans' Administration. Fred Cutter is the consultant and guiding sponsor of Survivors Anonymous. He originated the idea. His work in the past delt with sex crimes, narcotics and suicides. His approach to

each has oeen anti-establishment. He was tossed out of such places as Atascadero and several narcotics rehab facilities. But the Suicide Prevention Center trklcaned him, His research work is widely published, and carmands the Nspectful attention of his colleagues. Cutter's art exhibit was entitled "Suicdde In Art". A subtitle could well have been: Suicide as seen through the hunaneeyes of the artists. II The exhibit, up for two weeks, closed with an illustrated lecture and discussion. Attendance was embarassingly poor. Suicide is still the taboo it always was, especially in the gay carmunity â&#x20AC;˘ '!tie risk is higher aJIl)nggays and emongalcoholics or other types of addicts than in other ethnic groups. It is generally higher aJOOngold people than am::>ngyounger ones. It is highest in drug deaths anong the middle-classed-middle-aged. Of prime concern to us is the high rise of suicide among teenagers. and aJIl)ngyoung adults. It is the ntmlberthree cause of death in these groups. In the Jewish Nligion it is about half what it is in the Christian religions. On a percentage basis it is about the same aroongCatholics, all Pr0testant sects e and the Oriental sects where statistics are available. Traditionally Christianity has regarded suicide as a sin. Eventoday religious I leaders ~ remarkably. inept, when it comesto. dealing w~th suicides. What as needed as :research. .And what we need throughout MCC is tnUning in recognizing the signs and the language of suicide, and of effectively dealing with it. This means opening up other alternatives 'to the potential suicide. It meaJ)Sbring.â&#x20AC;˘.. ing an inmadiate programof resources flXJ'Il the gay camumity, and fn:m the society to bear so that the suicide can utilize these approaches to reassess his situation. Why? Becausemost-survivors go on to lead very productive lives <t That is, if they su:rvive the first three mnths after an attempt. Survivors AnonytOOus has as its .imroodiate goal the creation of teams to go to rescue the threatening or potential suicide $) as well as to one that mav be in progress. Its parallel is in Alcoholics Anonymousthat sends teams to rescue the threat of an alcoholic lapse. 'me requirements to be a mamherof such a Survivors Anonymous team are simple. You need have only survived either the attempt or the fear that you might, and your need to be rescued instinctively 8 A little

training can set you on the wayto picking up on the language of crisis and suicide, and of converting the behavior frum a destructive urge to a will to live. Wean! toying with several notrtoes, One is that we want "To eliminate those accidental deaths that take place, whensuicides are being attempted. if Another is, ''To survive and live in luxury is the sweetest revenge." Try them on for size. Andget with SUI'vivors Anonynous.

page twenty

THE VOICES

OF OUR CONGREGATIONS

As each mission of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan CommunityChurches gIUWsand prepares for its becominga full chartered Church of the Fellowship, they begin to realize that a very important part of their growth is in the communication between each of the different groups within the church. They realize that there is a need for something that will make it easy for anyone new to the church and also for someonewho is an "oldtimer" , so to speak, to find out what is happening in the church; where it is happening and why it is happening. It is very difficult, at times, for those of the congregatrion who are active in the church affairs to keep up with all the activities of the church, the social activities as well as the religious services and on occasion, carmunity or political affairs which are important to the church and the ccmnunity â&#x20AC;˘ There are times also that the only way someof us can get our ideas heard is to write an article for our "Voice", which will be seen by far rnore people than we could ever reach by word of motrth, So this then is why each mission as it reaches out to people, they start what has become knownin the Fellowship as a church newsletter. The Shephards Staff of Chicago, Ill., The Scarab of San Jose, Calif., Ka leo ola o Hawaii of Honolulu, Hawaii, The Prodigal of San Diego, Calif. and the MCC-NEWS of Los Angeles, Calif. just to mention a few. These are very active newsletters in their ownchurches and also have a very large and often needed voice in their community. All of these newsletters, and those I have namedare only just a few of the many that are in the Fellowship, are staffed by volunteers. This means that they are written, complied and put together by people fDam each of the local churches who find enough spare time to do it each week or s~ ust say, at this time, that not all r.ewsletters are on a weekly schedule; several are issued bi-mOnthly. But what ever their schedule is, all of -::: staffs are volunteers. I cannot stress -:.lis enough as most of these people have 2ad .ttle or no professional training ,but have learned by the best teacher that e twentyone

can be found,experience. Manyof the newsletters started out as simple one page mimeographedsheets - and same of these have grown to where they are now multi -paged and very professional looking. But that someof them have grown and some have not, as yet, doesn't make any of them more or less important than the others. For no matter their size, it is their reason for being that is inportant. They serve the people and so big or small, fancy or plain, they all serve in helping Godt S \-lOrkto go on and help in reaching out to each other with the help of the Lord. At the Second Annual General Conference of the Universal Fellowship of Metropoli tan Ccmrnuni ty Churches in Los Angeles,Don Hughes, Chairmanof the Publications Committee, presented awards to four Fellowship newsletters. These were the first awards ever given to newsletters. For your information the four newsletters so honored wer Ka Leo Ola 0 Hawaii of Honolulu received honorable mention, MCC News of Los Angeles received third place, Harmony Digest of Sacramento, second place and first place went to The Prodigal of San Diego. Weare all pleased and happy for these four publications, they were chosen from eleven entries in the competition and the judging was done by people outside of MC C so that it would be completely unbiased. Weare all looking forward to next year, the conference and the publication awards with the hope that each and every church and mission will be able, by that time, to sul:::mitan entry. We\-X)uldlike to take this opportunity to say a few words about the articles which appear in these publications and also a few words about Editorial Policy of a newsletter. The majority of articles are church related, giving the congregation news on the events which have happened during the past week or two. Events such as parish meetings, choir rehearsals, play casting, brunches, special dinners, guest speakers at the church and a calendar of future events. Also encluded may be a summary of the past Sunday's Sermon, an article about the Board Meeting and so on. Letting you knowwhat is happening and why it is happening. In someof the publications there is nowappearing a treasurers report for the week or month of the monies received and spent and left over (if any). The newsletter should be an open clean cut, cross section of the congregation. A

mirror image. if you will, of each member, friend or visitor. Something of which each can be proud. It should in no way degrade or belittle any part of the church or the Fellowship or in any way put down any individual of the congregation. There can be such a fine line between something being thought provoking or tacky or cutting, that it is JIOst important that we first study each article and editorial to make sure that we don't cross this line and offend. Many times I am sure you will find it hard to know just where this division occurs, but if you can remember these important steps, there should never again be any doubt about whether an article is constructive or destructive. First and of primary importance is the fact that the newsletter is a Christian publication, written and issued by Christians for a Christian Church. In fact, this is the only real rule to follow in the issuing of a newsletter because all other rules are included in this statement. How many times have we started to say something nasty or cutting about someone and stopped and thought, "Thats not the Christian thing to say". Well the same must hold true for a newsletter. It is and must remain truly Christian in its policy or it will fail to fulfill its promise to the churches and their congregations. Christian construction not un-Christian destruction is the formula for making friends and keeping them. Remember that each person who reads your publication may not be closely involved with your church, they may be first timers to the church or, as in the case of some people I know, they may receive their copies in the mail as they may not even live in your town, but are still interested in one or more of the churches in the Fellowship. It is people like these who don't understand some of the tackyness which others may consider thought provoking or humorous. So we must at all times be so very careful about what we say and how we say it in order not to fall in to a very belittling position. And then again, it is the staffs obligation to consider and reconsider each article submitted to them to make sure that they are not going to be plainly trapped into making a mistake and end up printing an obvious slam or putdown. Occasionally sorfleone will sneak something by. It will be written in such a way that it will be overlooked, get printed and that is pure trouble. When an article such as

that is read, very, very suddenly people turn cold towards the church; they feel that the newsletter is the voice of the congregation. The newsletter cuts and chops at people in print, the congregation will be like that in person. vIe have to remember that many people see our news Letrter- before they see or get to know us and they therefore judge us by what is printed on those important pages. Sometimes reading a small newsletter doesnot mean that the paper is little, but that the understanding and respect for our brothers and sisters is small and very narrow. So a narrow minded news.Ietrter- is the voice of a small, nar'rowminded congregation. That would not be meeting the needs of the people, nor is that God's Hay. And that is why we at In Unity must take our hats off to the Voices of the congregations. The newsletters are trying to overcome this kind of destructive writing. They have been blessed with the Lords help in putting together their publications and each can be proud, whether- they are of one page or twenty. They reach into the hearts and minds of their congregation and share themselves with each other. They are also reaching out to those who have yet to come to M C C and even to those who may never come to M C C. It makes no difference to the staff whether a person who reads their paper comes from a M C C or not. The important thing is that they have shared themselves with others, have let more people know about our churches and its congregations and its small but important part in helping to further the work of the church by letting them know about our work with and for God. There is no way that we can really thank these people, for their thanks is their work. But we will say this to you and to all the staff members of all the newsletters in the Fellowship: Keep up the good work for you are the only voice of the churches that can reach into people's homes, wherever they are. You do not embarrass, you don't fight and you do not hate; yours is a job of pure love and very needed. Ministers can not always reach many, but the newsletter can reach a multitude as they are passed from hand to hand. We pray that the Good Lord will bless each and everyone of you as you continue your work and for those churches and missions who don't yet have a newsletter. with God's help it is just around the corner. May the Lord always smile on you. page tnaen ty tL)O

ATLJl.NfA MISSION STARTS

(

The first meeting of the Atlanta, Georgia Mission was held at the First Unitarian Church, January 16th" They expect great things to happen in Atlantae The. Mother Churchis with them.in prayer. We. have just heard from MCC-Tampa and they told us that they took up a collection and sent it to Atlanta to help them.get started.

â&#x20AC;˘

NEW ORLEANS MISSION IS NOW A CHURCH Great news! NewOrleans is l10W a church, The Board of Elders of the Fellowship has granted them a charter and they are the first newchurch of the newyear. There were 16 chartered memberspresent and the church is nowcalled The Metropolitan Community Churchof Greater NewOrleans. Rev. David Soloman is their pastor and we all expect great and exciting things to happen downthere in NewOrleans.

MCC-LOS ANGELES Great things are taking place at the Mother Church. Back in November-, the Publications Departmentmoved into their own building t called "Chapel Press". In this Marchissue is an article telling howthis cameabout, so don't miss reading that. Along about this time the church also started "Beulahland" in Hollywood.Great and exciting things have been happening at this coffeehouse. They already have counseled quite a few youngpeople from the streets of Hollywood. A TVBenefit Ball was held on Dec. 17th at the Biltmore Bowl, "the grandest rote I in Los Angeles, with the largest t most elegant bal.Lroom";This was for Rev. Perry to raise money for a TV talk show. The Benefit was put on by Richard Martin Productions. Richard, a memberof the Mother Church, is a prominent Television promoter in Los Angeles. The Benefit didn't go over too great with only approximatly 350 in attendance, but it is a start and we will succeed Irt getting this program. Christmas at the Mother Church was a wonderful spiritual event. Christmas Eve Services started with a Pot-Luck Dinner and then a Organand Choir Concert. Then, at midnight, Masswas served. The weekbefore Rev. Perty and leaders from other gay organizations fasted and demonstrated by the Los Angeles Police Department. They were joined by church members and outside supporters of the gay corrrnuni ty e Theywere demonstrating against the Chief of Police, whorefuses to meet with the gay corrrnuni ty and calls us criminals, and asking for his resignation. Also to let society knowthat we are still here and that we are human beings and wish to be treated as such.

PHILADELPHIA MISSIONSTARTS The Board of Elders has sent Exhorter Glen ~~ller to Philadelphia to become this missions new Interim Pastor. The Fellowship sends Glen and his other half, Gary Wilson their best wishes as they begin this journey for the Fellowship and is with them in prayer.

NEW YORK MISSIONSTARTS The NewYork'Mission held its first organizational meeting in December with 13 ; in attendance. The main discussion was about beginning services in late January or early February. They are still looking for a place to ~et.

MCCOAKlAND East Bay Metropolitan Corrmuni ty Church of Oakland, California nav has a new Pastor. The Board of Elders has sent Rev. Rick tA.o!"r'ell along with his other half, Jerry Bumgardner~ to become their Pastor. The Fellowship wishes them the best arid ill be with them in prayer.

MCC-SAN FRANCISCO "Its amazing," conrnented their Pastor to Richard Barber and Jim Halliday as they surveyed the crowded rooms and tables covered with food at The Bridge on Christmas day. This was the first annual MCCChristmas Dinner and was the result of a combined effort by a united gay community working through the church. The Bridge is the name of MCC-SanFrancisco's Corrammi ty Center. Over 550 people were fed a beautiful Christmas dinner and there were many types of people from all walks of life there that day. The Bridge has served over 5,000 meals since October, 1971. The m:>ney to enable them to do this has come from the congregation and a few other loving persons. This year. 1972, will be even greater in service to our brothers and sisters in need. MayGod bless MCCSan Francisco in their effort to be good Christians and do His will.

MCC-TAMPA The largest gay Christmas party ever held in Tampat Florida's history was at the First Metronolitan (',ommunity Church of Tampa. During this party t the congregation presented to their pastor, Rev. Lee Carlton, a brand new automobile as a Christmas present.

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Metropolitan Community Church of Denver is fortunate in having one of the finest and most qualified ministers in the Universal Fe.l.Lowsh.ip of t'~etropoli tan COr:1ITlunity Churches. Reverend Carnes is a vibrant individual, a very attractive man, and a devoted Christian. An only child, he was in his early teens when he first felt a call to the ministry through the Evangelical Hethodist Church in his home town, Altoona, Pennsylvania. Feeling that Christian education and evangelism wer-e the greatest needs in the world, he began his training at an interdenominational Christian high school and originally warrted to do T'lissionary work in Afr-Lca, His change of plans is Denver's gain; this wan is an inspirational pastor who considers himself a Neo-Evangelical. He has brought the meaning- of a living, Christian church to life in Denver and has spiritually lifted everyone who has net him. Ron earned his Hay through college by working in public relations, by helping political candidates and by tutoring. He received his first degree, in theology, at the age of tvJenty-oneand went on to later receive a second degree in education. He did further graduate vlorkat U.S •C • The first avlareness of his gay sexuality came in his teens. Ron admits that he was troubled and had difficulty accept-

Christian and open church within the great~ ing this aspect of his life due to religerconmuni ty â&#x20AC;˘ ious hangups caused by a puritanical, Concerned for all members of the homostrait-laced heritage. Hhen he asked one phile minority in Denver, Ron has only of his ministers for help, he was told just begun to scratch the surface of the "You can be cured. God will cure you .\.Jhat potential growth which Denver can expect. you are doing is sinful." Trying to fight Under his capable guidance, MCC in the his desires, Ron lived a sexually celibate "Queen City of the Plains" has already but extremely frustrating life for some became the fastest growing and best suptime until understanding came to him while ported church in the fellovlShip. working at U.S.C. Then he was finally able Denver can be proud that Ron has turned to accept gayness and gained anacad~c down offers to become pastor of two MCC understanding of his personal orientation. congregations in larger cities and has Ron served in churches in Pennsylvania, been appointed Interim district coordinaOhio and California, usually as the Hinister of Youth, and taught school for,the .tor for the entire Mid-American triangle of Colorado, Texas and Louisiana. Light and Life Christian School System in MCC is very well accepted in Denver in Los Angeles. During this period of his general. The church is only six months old life, he was troubled by an inability to and Rev. Carnes has not felt a great need' integrate his religious feelings and backfor'any direct contacts with the police or ground with the academic understanding of political leaders in Denver. The consenthis gayness until, like thousands of our ing adult bill was passed in Denver last brothers and sisters, he happened to visit It is not the MCC in Los Angeles and met Rev. Troy Perry, year for sexual freedom. best but it certainly similar to the one the founder of our Fellowship. Brown introduced in California. The conMany uneasy months were spent in introsensus of opinion has been that Denverites spective evaluation after he met Rev. are not going to make a big splash conPerry, and we can be thankful for,Ron"s cerning the consenting adult bill because decision to leave his former ministry and the legislature is definatelly controlled. join MCC. To quote Rev. Carnes during this So there hasn't been much of a public time of searching, "I saw what MCC Califsplash and MCC-Denver and other homophile ornia was doing for our community and I groups have quietly been working behind wanted to be a part of a living church the scenes, Ron tells that there have been one that was truly Christian and not just some vice squad harrassment in some bars ecumenical." It was also at this time in Los Angeles and in some cases, very frankly, that he that Ron met his lover, Todd, the adorable personally knew of, he feels both the and cherubic munchkin who served as Denoffender or the vice squad certainly Here ver's altar boy. They met in the church in within their rights. Los Angeles while the building was underThe size of the congregation of MCCgoing renovation. Their love is deeply enDenver is an average of 80 in Sunday atriched by their shared concern for the tendance. The membership of MCC-Denver is, work of the church. at the present time, at 70 members. Some The very day after Ron made his decisSundays there are over 100 in attendance, ion, he received a letter from the bishop which shows that MCC-Denver is known. inviting him to be the head of all youth Rev. Carnes is also proud of the treactivities for the entire denomination, mendous working relationship with the varbut thankfully, he felt the need inour ious institutional ch~hes in Denver. community to be the greater. Pastor Carnes Especially the Lutheran Church 'of America was invited by the Board of Elders of the and the Unitarians. Fellowship to be the first "missionary" to The Universal Fellowship of Metropolbe sent out, and Denver became his new itan Community Churches have made a good home. choice when they picked Rev. Ron Carnes He is proud of the members of the Dento go to Denver. In Unity is proud to salver community who have rallied so successute him as Hinister of the Month. fully to become the growing and vital congregation in Denver. An outspoken and openly avowed representative of the community , Ron expects the continued growth of the church" full civil and religious rites for all. minorities, and a truly page twenty six

THE RUNAWAY BESTSELLER THE SYMPTOMS OF FUTURE SHOCK ARE WITH US NOW. THIS BOOK CAN HELP US SURVIVE OUR COLLISION WITH TOMORROW.

â&#x20AC;˘

This book by Alvin Toffler has been called a book of prophecy. However , I agree VJith the author, this is a book about today. The material things, the technology, the communications systems are all here now, The fast pace, the constant change is here right now, People are living wi, th and suffering from these thinf,s right now, In the past the majority of people were born, grev,7up , lived and vor'ked all their lives in the same 'tcwn or at Most in the sarne section of the country. This was permanence, security, for them. Today the only permanence is transience. Change! People are still born in only one place, but grow up in several and chance their jobs frequently. The technology of today creates jobs very quickly and then ~akes them obsolete almost before the Horkers really learn what; they are doing. There has always been and there a.lways Hill be change, but today there is an accelerative transience as never before and it is still getting faster and faster. Today we live Hi th transient material things. Paper clothes, paper napkins and plates, plastic cups and glasses, pre-fab buildings, portable schools and playgrounds and many, many more 'throvs-away items are here today and gone 'tomor-row, In many cases it is cheaper to get something new, than to have the old one repaired. 1\ hundred years ago, who wou.Ld have believed it? And with today's communications and transportation systems, everything goes even faster. In 1914 people traveled approximately 88,560 miles during their life time (of which almost 65,000 miles was in everyday walking). Today the average car o~ner drives 10,000 miles or more in one year. The pony express Has used for fast mail delivery, but doesn't compare to picking up the telephone of today. It took almost a century to narket the threshing machine after it was invented. It took over a century to market the typev~iter and before commercial canneries wer-e formed. Today such delays between inventions .and marketing just doesn't happen. It not only takes less time today to market an invention, but less time for it to sweep through society and even less time for it to be changed or become obsolete. And in the human factor, what about transient organs? There have been heart, kidney, liver, ovary and pancreas transplants. In the United States alone, there are over 13,000 patients alive because

they carry a "pacemaker" in their chests and over 10,000 patients who have artificial heart valves. There are implantable hearing aids, arteries, hip joints, eye sockets and lungs: All made by man. There are even robots that can think, make decisions and learn. Is there any permanence in marriage today with our divorce rate almost even with the marriage rate? Having children doesn't seem to help. Now they can implant in one woman a fertilized ovum from another woman, so a man is not always needed. There are more children for adoption today than there are families that want them. In several states single people can adopt them and soon homosexual "married" couples should also be able to adopt them. Hany people today are so sure that computers and automation is going to make everything and everyone the same. They, however, know nothing about how far our technology has really gone. We have a bigger variety of alIrost everything. endless variations of almost all products. Even our educational systems are slowly destandardizing, serving up a broader and better variety of courses. In San Francisco you can lunch in a restaurant and be served by bere-breasteo waitresses. In New York a girl cellist is arrested for performing in a topless dress. In St. Louis scientists hire people to copulate before a camera, but in Columbus civic controversy erupts over the sale of "Little Brother" dolls complete with male genitalia. In Kansas City a group of homosexual organizations announces a campaign to lift the armed forces ban on homosexuals, yet American jails are full of men arrested on homosexual charges. The diversity of life styles is great even within this one country. What is all this fast changing of jobs, towns t even neighbors doing to human beings? How is this accelerative transience effecting you and me? Physicallt it can bring on illness. There have been actual tests made of very large groups of people in the United Stat:s,and in Jap~ and they have found a def1n1te correlat10n between illness and change. The physical body can not take so many fast changes. The more changes in a person's life, the more illness and more severe the illnesses are. Although they as yet don't know why, it seems the body spends itself adjusting to change and this then leaves it weaker and unable to defend itself against . disease.

And mentally it effects us too. The battle fatigue of a combat soldier is due to the constant change of his environment (bullets flying, shells bursting, flares, shouts, groans are all part of this environment. After a disaster (flood, fire, or tornado) have you ever noticed the blank expressions on people's faces? The blankness is due to their inability to adjust to the fast happening of the disaster. Some Peace Corps personnel have had cultural shock. They just could not adjust to a strange new society. Being told about it just wasn't enough. The change was too sudden and just too much all at once. What do we do? We need new strategies for shaping, deflecting, accelerating or deceleratirig change selectively. \ve need to educate people to be able to pace and plan their lives and to be able to increase their adapti vity. This means further change, but of a type designed to harness the accelerative thrust, to steer it and to pace it. Without this planning, change will just get faster and faster. This is a great book and this short review cannot really do it justice. Since we, of our corrununi ty, are part of society, this future shock will effect us too. Homosexuality is mentioned in the book ~long with heterosexuality, some other rm.norities and other life styles. It is treated no different than any other life style. On February 6, 1972 the ABC network is having a special as taken from this book. Part of that special will show a wedding performed at H C C ,- L A by Rev. Troy D. Perry. We don't know how long this segment will be but they filmed part of an actual wedding and part of the congregation who were guests at the wedding. The name of the program will also be "Future Shock." Here in Los Angeles it will be on at 7:00 PM. Whether the time will be the same all across the country, I don't know. Be sure to look for it on Sunday evening, February 6, 1972.

page t~entyeight

DIRECI'ORY OF THE UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY' CHURCHES CONFERENCES AND LOCAL CONGREGATIONS BOARD OF ELDERS REVEREND REVEREND REVEREND REVEREND

TROY D. PERRY JOHN H. HOSE RICHARD A. PLOEN LOUIS LOYNES

ALABAMA-FLORIDA-GEORGIA DISTRICT CONFERENCE. REVEREND BRAD WILSON t DISTRICT COORDINATOR

2201 So. Union Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 90007 Phone: 213/748-0123

lfng Beach Mission etro~li tan COrrrnuni ty Church 1105 yrnond Avenue Long Beach, Calif 9'0804 Phone: 213/434-1944 0

Atlanta Mission Metropol~ity Church P. a.Box 54763 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Phone: 404/636-5101 Metropolitan Comrmmi ty Church of Mial1ii, Mailing :.p ~ O. Box 5077 Miami, Florida 3313l Services: 920 Alton Road Miami, Florida Phone: 305/854-5992 First Metropolitan Community Church of ~ Mailing:-3~an Luis DrIve Tampa, Florida 33609 Services: 2904 Ooncordia Street Tampa, Florida Phone: 813/839-5939 ARIZONE-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT CONFERENCE. REVEREND HOWARD WILLIAMS t DISTRICT COORDINATOR Christ Chahi1 Metropolitan community urch of Costa Mesa' Hailing: 584 Hamilton Stre~ Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 Services: 1259 Victoria Street .Costa Mesa, Calif. Phone: 714/584-6868 Metropolitan Community Church of LOs An~eles Mailing: 201 South Union Avenue Los Angeles, Calif. 90007 Services: Same Phone: 213/748-0123

Metropolitan OorrrnunityChurch of Phoenix Railing: 1426 East Maricopa Freeway Phoenix t Arizona 85002 . Services: Same Phone: 602/934-3008 Metropolitan Community Church of San Diffio Mailing: â&#x20AC;˘ o. Box 8205 San Diego, Calif. 91202 Services: 906 North 47th Street San Diego, Calif. Phone: 714/264-7351 Tulsa Mission Aetropoli tan. Convm..1rii ty Church COntact: MCC-Phoenix. Arizona COLORAOO-LOUISIANA-TEXAS DISTRICT CONFERENCE. REVEREND RON CARNES t DISTRICT COORDINATOR Me~olitan Community Church of las Mailing: P.O. Box 1344 Dallas, Texas 75221 Services: 4015 Normandy Dallas, Texas Phone: 214/946-4354 Metropolitan Community Church of Denver Mailing: P. o. Box 11303 Denver, Colorado 80211 Services: 1400 La Fayette Denver, Colorado Phone: 303/355-7079

Metropolitan Corrmunity Church of Greater New Orleans Mailing: Box 50081 New Orleans, La. 70105 Services: 604 Iberville Street New Orleans, La.

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DISTRICT OF COliJMBIADISTRICl' CONFERENCE.REVERENDPAUL BRETON DISTRICT COORDINATOR MetI'01fili tan Corrmunity Church of Was ~on, C. Mailing:OS street S.E. Washington, D. C. Services: Same Phone: 202/547-3881

HAWAIIANDISTRICT CONFERENCE REVERENDRONALDHAA'SON,DISTRICT COORDINATOR MetI'O{'Oli tan Comnunity Church ~ Hawai~ Mailing: P. o. Box 1116 Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 Services: 2500 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii Phone: 808/247-2738 ILLINOIS-WISCONSIN DISTRICT CONFERENCE.REVERENDARl'HURGREEN, DISTRICT COORDINATOR

~ ShE7i'hard Parish Metn:pol~ tan Corranuni~ Church Hai1mg: P. O. BOx 2 Chicago, Illioois 60690 Services: 3342 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois Phone 312/248-1525 Prince of Peace Parish MetrotTeITtan Conmunity Church 2024 \est Highland Avenue Milwaukee, \olisconsin Phone: 414/964-4733 NORTHERNCALIFORNIADISTRICT CONFERENCE.REVERENDJAMES SfI.NI:t1IF.E,DISTRICT COORDINATOR

Fresoo Mission Metropolitan Conmuni ty Church Hailing: 11300 E. Siera Cloves, Calif. 93612 Services: 1326 "N" Street Fresno, Calif. 93721 Phone: 209/299-5312

~ Bc:y Metropolitan Corranumty Ch'Urel1 Mailing: 4'l"'4~0 -'san-ta Clara Oakland, Calif. Services: Same Phone: 415/832-2581

Harmony

Avenue 94610

Metr<?£.2!i tan

C01iiIiiiillty ChtireIi

riMa""~""'l""ing"""""': ~9~O 2:o:-1'1"""'J"''' Street Sacramento, Calif. Services: Same Phone: 916/443-5575

94610

Me~li tan Corrmunity Church of Francisco Hll1ing: Church Center 150 6th S'treet San Francisco, Calif. Services: Gold Mine Drive and Diazoond Blvd. San Francisco, Calif. Phone: 415/836-3576 San Jose Mission Metro-poritan Conmuni ~ Church Hailing: P. O. BOx 2426 San Jose, Calif. 95154 Phone: 408/266-7872 NATIONALBOARDOF HOME MISSIONS CONFERENCE Detroit Mission He~n:poIItcmComnuni Church Ma~l~: P. O. BOx 1 7 Northland Street Southfield, Michigan

Philade1£hia Mission . Metropoil. tan Carmuni ty Church Mailing: P. o. Box 1921 Philadelphia, Pa. 18150 Phone: 215/561-3881 Portland Hission Metropolitan ccmnuni ty Church Mailing: P. o. Box 42232 Portland, Oregon 97242

QCongratulation, from

OX & HOUNDS MOTEL OIEGQCALIF

WESTSIDE MOTEL ' RENQNEVADA