Metropolitan Community Churches: International Growth

Our celebration of 44 years of Metropolitan Community Churches during the month of October continues. The third selection of MCC's early history...international growth.

MCC's mission as a church for all people has led to the founding of MCC congregations around the world and to the development of an increasingly global vision throughout our Fellowship.

In 1972 -- just four years after the first MCC worship service -- the Board of Evangelism and World Mission (renamed World Church Extension in 1975) was founded with Rev Lee Carlton as its first executive secre­tary. Its earliest mission was "the implementing of new churches, conservation of existing missions, encouragement of spiritual renewal in congregations, and establishing special ministries to prisoners and other particular groups."

MCC welcomed its first churches from outside the United States in 1973. That year marked the founding of the first Canadian congregation, MCC Toronto, and the first British church, MCC London.

MCC's international growth is the story of "firsts." The first elder from outside the United States, Rev Elder Jean White, was elected in 1979. The 1983 General Conference in Toronto was the first held outside the United States. The 1985 conference was the first with equipment to translate sessions into Spanish.

International growth and ministry continue to be at the forefront of MCC's vision. According to Rev Dr. Nancy Wilson, moderator of MCC, "Today, we're engaging the vital question of what structures and systems will best support MCC's growing and emerging international ministries for the coming decades....We need a world vision that honors cultural differences, with mutual accountability, autonomy and connection at its core."