In order to define what the Metropolitan Community Churches believe, we will study a slightly reworded version of Articles II through IV of its Bylaws. The Bylaws of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) were approved in the General Conference in Calgary, Canada, in 2005. The following adaptation was made by Rev. Gelson Piber for the purposes of this lesson.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The objectives of the UFMCC shall be:

1. To share the worship of God in the Christian tradition with everyone, and to make God’s will manifest in the lives of all people, individually and collectively, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures.
2. To testify to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to propagate of the teachings of the Christian faith, as they are presented in the Gospels.
3. To instruct and encourage those who wish to receive the teachings of these Gospels.
4. To do all things that are compatible with the work of a Christian Church.

ARTICLE III -- DOCTRINE, SACRAMENTS AND RITES

1. DOCTRINE: Christianity is the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and is the religion set forth in the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is foretold in the Old Testament, presented in the New Testament, and proclaimed by the Christian Church in every age and in every land.

   Founded in the interest of offering a church home to all who confess and believe, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches moves in the mainstream of Christianity.

   Our faith is based upon the principles outlined in the historic creeds: Apostles and Nicene.

   In other words, we believe:

   1. In one triune God, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, of one substance and of three persons: God, our Father-Mother Creator; Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, God in flesh, human; and the Holy Spirit, God as our Sustainer and Comforter.
   2. That the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, showing forth God to every person through the law and the prophets, and finally, completely and ultimately on earth in the being of Jesus Christ.
   3. That Jesus...the Christ...historically recorded as living some 2,000 years before this writing, is God incarnate, of human birth, fully God and fully human, and that by being one with God, Jesus has demonstrated once and forever that all people are likewise Children of God, being spiritually made in God’s image.
   4. That the Holy Spirit is God making known God’s love and interest to all people. The Holy Spirit is God, available to and working through all who are willing to place their welfare in God’s keeping.
   5. Every person is justified by grace to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
   6. We are saved from loneliness, despair and degradation through God’s gift of grace, as was declared by our Savior. Such grace is not earned, but is a pure gift from a God of pure love. We further commend the community of the faithful to a life of prayer; to seek genuine forgiveness for unkind, thoughtless and unloving acts; and to a committed life of Christian service.
   7. The Church serves to bring all people to God through Christ. To this end, it shall arrange for regular services of worship, prayer, interpretation of the Scriptures, and edification through the teaching and preaching of the Word.



2. SACRAMENTS:

   This Church embraces two Holy Sacraments:

   1. BAPTISM by water and the Spirit, as recorded in the Scriptures, shall be a sign of the dedication of each life to God and God’s service. Through the words and acts of this sacrament, the recipient is identified as God’s own Child.
   2. HOLY COMMUNION is the partaking of blessed bread and fruit of the vine in accordance with the words of Jesus, our Sovereign: This is my body...this is my blood. (Matthew 26:26-28). All who believe, confess and repent and seek God’s love through Christ, after examining their consciences, may freely participate in the communal meal, signifying their desire to be saved by Jesus Christ's sacrifice, to participate in Jesus Christ's resurrection, and to commit their lives anew to the service of Jesus Christ.



3. RITES:

   The Rites of the Church as performed by its duly authorized ministers shall consist of the following:

   1. The RITE OF ORDINATION is the setting apart of duly qualified persons for the professional ministry of this Church. It is evidenced by the laying on of hands by authorized ordained clergy or UFMCC Elders.
   2. The RITE OF ATTAINING MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH shall be conducted by the Pastoral Leader before a local congregation at any regular worship service. In accordance with criteria established by the local church, a baptized Christian may become a member in good standing of the local church group through a letter of transfer from a recognized Christian body or through affirmation of faith.
   3. The RITE OF HOLY UNION/RITE OF HOLY MATRIMONY is the spiritual joining of two persons in a manner fitting and proper by a duly authorized clergy of the Church.
   4. The RITE OF FUNERAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE is to be fittingly conducted by the ministers of the Church for the deceased.
   5. The RITE OF LAYING ON OF HANDS or prayer for the healing of the sick in mind, body or spirit is to be conducted by the ministers of the Church, at their discretion, upon request.
   6. The RITE OF BLESSING may be conducted by the ministers of the Church for persons, things and relationships, when deemed appropriate by the minister. This includes the dedication of a church building to the glory of God.

ARTICLE IV -- MINISTRY

The UFMCC affirms the universal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-10). All members of the Church are called by God to a ministry of the Gospel of Christ in the Church and in the world.

UFMCC decrees that all people shall have equality of access and opportunity which is free from discrimination on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, physical challenge, HIV status, health status, gender identification, nationality, or economic status in all the duties and ministries of the church. Everything we do, we do for all the people.

1. MINISTRY OF THE LAITY

   1. THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: Lay people are the People of God, called by God and authorized by Scripture to respond to the Word, serving as Christ served, to the end that the Church may be edified and the world transformed. UFMCC affirms that this is the ministry of every layperson in the UFMCC.
   2. DEACONS: As outlined in the New Testament, their office is an historic ministry of service and aid within the Christian Church.



2. MINISTRY OF THE CLERGY:

   1. CLERGY: Clergy are members of the People of God, called by God, authorized and legally recognized by the UFMCC to serve among the people as professional ministers of the Word and Sacraments.

      1. RESPONSIBILITIES: In accordance with their call, clergy shall administer the Rites and Sacraments of the UFMCC and be teachers and preachers of the faith to the end that the world may believe and the Church might be renewed, equipped, and strengthened in its ministry.
      2. QUALIFICATIONS: Clergy are those persons of professed and demonstrated call to be professional Christian ministers who meet the qualifications established by the Board of Elders.
      3. ORDINATION: Persons who have met the academic standards and qualifications as established by the Board of Elders may then be ordained.
      4. DISCIPLINE: The UFMCC will not condone disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, or dereliction of duty. The clergy shall be subject to the UFMCC Code of Conduct.

ARTICLE V – GOVERNMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OFFICERS

1. GOVERNMENT:

   1. The UFMCC acknowledges the Holy Scriptures interpreted by the Holy Spirit in conscience and faith as its guide in faith, discipline and government.
   2. The government of the UFMCC is vested in the General Conference and its Regional Conferences, subject to the provisions of the UFMCC Articles of Incorporation and its Bylaws, or documents of legal organization.

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   5. The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches exists to gather people for the purposes of Christian fellowship, worship, witness, and service, cooperating in program development and implementation of their Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures, and Policies.
   6. A local church of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is that church which subscribes to the government and doctrine of the UFMCC, and has been authorized by the same.

To read the entire UFMCC Bylaws (mccchurch.org/2005_Bylaws.pdf)