Ufmcc Policy on Concurrent Affiliation of Mcc Churches

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

UFMCC POLICY ON CONCURRENT AFFILIATION OF MCC CHURCHES

Reflects input received from Clergy and Lay Delegates after First Reading

1. WHAT DOES “CONCURRENT AFFILIATION” MEAN?The term “concurrent affiliation” refers to a church that belongs to and/or is accountable to two or more denominations at the same time.

2. WHAT IS AN ALIGNED ORGANIZATION? General Conference 2013 modified the Bylaws to establish Aligned Organization as a recognized status (see UFMCC Bylaws Article V.D). An Aligned Organization is anyreligious or secular non-governmental organization or any denomination that supports the mission of UFMCC, is aligned with the work of UFMCC, completes a one-year period of discernment, and has been approved by the Council of Elders to be recognized as an Aligned Organization. As of August 2014, the four recognized Aligned Organizations are The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries/TFAM (United States), St. Augustine United Reformed Church (Scotland), City United Reformed Church (Wales), and Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ (United States).

3. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BECOMING AN ALIGNED ORGANIZATION? The process for becoming an Aligned Organization can be found at The process begins with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and the potential Aligned Organization entering into an intentional one-year process of discernment. At the end of that year, the Council of Elders considers whether to recognize the organization as an Aligned Organization.

4. CAN AN MCC CHURCH BE A MEMBER CONGREGATION OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF AFFIRMING MINISTRIES (TFAM)? Yes. Because The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) is an Aligned Organization, an MCC church can be a Member Congregation of TFAM.

5. HAS THERE EVER BEEN AN MCC CHURCH THAT HELD CONCURRENT AFFILIATION WITH ANOTHER DENOMINATION? Yes. In addition to MCC churches that are part of TFAM, three MCC churches have held concurrent affiliation with MCC and another denomination (the United Church of Christ).

6. DO ANY MCC CHURCHES NOW HOLD CONCURRENT AFFILIATION WITH ANOTHER DENOMINATION? Yes.One church currently holds concurrent affiliation with the United Church of Christ.

7. WILL AN MCC CHURCH BE ABLE TO CONTINUE BEING AN MCC WHILE THE CHURCH IS IN THE PROCESS BUT HAS NOT YET FULLY AFFILIATED WITH OR JOINED ANOTHER DENOMINATION THAT IS NOT AN ALIGNED ORGANIZATION? Under such circumstances, the Council of Elders wouldconsider the most appropriate action to be taken.

8. CAN AN MCC CHURCH BELONG TO AN ECUMENICAL OR INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT A DENOMINATION AND/OR IS NOT AN ALIGNED ORGANIZATION? Yes. An MCC church can certainly belong to ecumenical, interfaith, and other kinds of organizations that are not recognized by MCC as being Aligned Organizations; however, an MCC church cannot belong to another denomination unless the other denomination is an Aligned Organization.

9. WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF OUR MCC CHURCH HAS ALREADY JOINED OR ENTERED INTO A RELATIONSHIP OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE FELLOWSHIP OF AFFIRMING MINISTRIES (TFAM)? An MCC church that is already part of TFAM merely needs to inform the Office of the Moderator by sending an email notification to .

10. WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF OUR MCC CHURCH IS THINKING ABOUT, IS IN PROCESS WITH, OR HAS ALREADY JOINED, AFFILIATED WITH, OR IS ACCOUNTABLE TOANOTHER DENOMINATION THAT IS NOT AN ALIGNED ORGANIZATION? The Pastor and Lay Delegate(s) of an MCC church that is considering the possibility or has already joined, affiliated with, or gained recognition by another denomination that is not an Aligned Organization need to inform the Moderator by sending an email notification to . The notice is to include the following information:

Name and contact information for the appropriate judicatory officer of the other denomination.
Names and contact information for the Lay Delegate(s) and Board members of the MCC congregation.
A statement of understanding from the Board of Directors that the church would continue to be accountable to MCC Bylaws and Criteria for Affiliation, participate in MCC-sponsored events and activities, and meet its full commitment to contribute financially to support the ministry of MCC.
An explanation of the anticipated benefit(s) to the church of being concurrently affiliated with the other denomination and of the potential harm to the church if consent is withheld.
An explanation of the anticipated benefit(s) to MCC of the church being concurrently affiliated with the other denomination and of the potential harm to MCC if consent is withheld.

The Moderator, in consultation with the church, the other denomination, and/or the Council of Elders, will then determine on a case-by-case basis whether any further action would need to be taken and, if so, what that action would be.

11. WHAT RATE OF ASSESSMENTS IS TO BE PAID TO MCC BY AN MCC CHURCH THAT HOLDS CONCURRENT AFFILIATION? The assessment rate to be paid by an MCC church that holds concurrent affiliation is the same as the rate that is paid by an MCC church that does not hold concurrent affiliation. The assessment rate is established by General Conference.

12. HOW DOES PASTORAL SEARCH HAPPEN WHEN AN MCC CHURCH HOLDS CONCURRENT AFFILIATION? An MCC church that holds concurrent affiliation would contact the MCC Office of Church Life and Health (OCLH) whenever there is a pastoral vacancy. The OCLH, church Board, and the appropriate judicatory officer of the other denomination will work together to create the church’s pastoral search process.

13. DOES THE PASTOR OF AN MCC CHURCH THAT HOLDS CONCURRENT AFFILIATION NEED TO HOLD CLERGY CREDENTIALS IN MCC? No. As happens in any MCC church that calls to the position of Pastor someone who does not hold clergy credentials in MCC, the MCC Office of Formation and Leadership Development may grant Standing by Call to clergy who are ordained by another denomination and called to serve as Pastor of an MCC church. All clergy who serve in an MCC ministry setting, including those who are ordained by another denomination, are held accountable to the MCC Statement of Ethics, as contained in the MCC Clergy Manual.