N E W S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: May 1,
2003
Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
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The World's Largest Organization With a Primary, Affirming
Ministry To Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender
Persons
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Gay Cleric Rev. Troy Perry to Receive Honorary
Doctor of Divinity Degree from Episcopal Divinity School
Perry is the Founder of Metropolitan Community Churches,
the World's Largest Church Group Serving GLBT Communities
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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA --
Rev.
Troy D. Perry, human rights activist and Founder of the
predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from
Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, during graduation
ceremonies on May 22, 2003. Metropolitan Community Churches
is a Christian denomination with a positive outreach to the
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.
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"Episcopal Divinity School is proud to recognize the Rev.
Elder Troy Perry as one of the landmark leaders of the
contemporary church," The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, EDS
President, said. "We are a community that stands for
justice, compassion and reconciliation for all God's
people. Troy Perry Stands with us."
Episcopal Divinity School is an academic community of
biblical, historical and theological inquiry that educates
lay and ordained leaders of the Episcopalian Church. Their
mission is to instill students with a valuable learning
experience, support spiritual and ministerial formation,
and provide them with tools for lifelong work of social and
personal transformation.
Last year's recipient of the EDS award was Nobel Peace
Prize honoree Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
"I am deeply humbled by this recognition by Episcopal
Divinity School. This award not only honors me, but honors
the entire Metropolitan Community Churches movement and
MCC's contributions to Christendom," Rev. Perry said. "By
honoring me with this degree, EDS has honored our movement
and its legacy to the Christian Church."
Charleston said Perry's openly gay witness to the love of
Christ for every person is a message of hope that Episcopal
Divinity School shares in common with Perry and the MCC
movement.
"By bestowing the Doctor of Divinity degree on Elder Perry,
we celebrate a man of vision, integrity and gospel
courage," Charleston said.
Metropolitan Community Churches and the Episcopal Church
share a long and proud history. MCC member Ellen Barrett
was the first open lesbian ordained to the ministry of the
Episcopal Church in an ordination service conducted by the
late Bishop of New York, Rev. Paul Moore. This event
sparked an ongoing debate about the role of gay people in
the ministry of that denomination. Episcopal Bishop John
Shelby Spong is a frequent speaker at MCC churches and
meetings, and many MCC congregations meet or have met in
worship space provided by Episcopal churches. Episcopal
Divinity School faculty member and openly lesbian Carter
Heyward’s theological writings have been highly influential
in the training of MCC clergy, and during 2004 the EDS
campus will be the site of several MCC educational
programs.
Perry, a longtime human rights activist, founded
Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968. The international
movement has grown from 12 original members, to more than
46,000 members and adherents in 23 countries. Perry was a
member of the first gay and lesbian delegation to be hosted
by the U.S. White House during the Carter Administration,
the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human
Relations Commission, and a delegate to the White House
Conference on Hate Crimes during the Clinton
Administration.
Additional information on the MCC movement can be found at
www.MCCchurch.org
and a
free newsletter is available by writing to
info@MCCchurch.org.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Jim Birkitt, Director of Communications
Roman Cardenas, Assoc. Director of Communications
MCC Communications Department
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel. (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226 or 228
E-Mail:
info@MCCchurch.org
Website:
www.MCCchurch.org