July 2015

METROPOLITAN CHURCH

A MULTI-SITE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY

This year’s Youth 4 the DC Cause participants are: Holly Adams Chloe Bautista Max Breton Will Burks Caleb Grim David McConnell Andy McFarland Andy O’Daniel Sander Rodman Katelyn Rommel Ashley Rommel Christopher Smith

July 13, 2015 Volume XXV, No. 7 Nationalchurch.org

The Messenger Youth in Mission

Our high school students have participated in the Appalachia Service Project for 41 years (see page 4 regarding our 2015 trip to Sullivan County, TN), but it was only a few years ago that our middle school students also took a week out of their summer for missions. Started by Ohemaa Nyanin in the summer of 2012, Youth 4 the DC Cause is an opportunity for our middle school youth to engage in mission throughout our city.

This week long mission camp centers around our St. Luke’s Mission Center. The youth and adult leaders will stay at the mission center overnight in our Shalom Place youth hostel. We arrive Sunday evening, July 26th and stay through Friday afternoon July 31st. For many of our youth, this is their first time to experience a week-long trip focused on mission.

A typical day on Y4DCC begins with a work project in the morning followed by an educational field trip in the afternoon. The evenings have games and other fun activities. Each night there is a Bible study that encourages youth to reflect on the events of the day and see how they can apply their study to their daily life after Y4DCC. In the past, our projects have included visiting the elderly, cooking meals for Campus Kitchen, assisting Brighter Day, and various environmental projects.

This year, our focus is on environmental stewardship with a particular emphasis on the work of the Anacostia Watershed Society. We will be learning about the effects our actions have on the surrounding environment and what efforts are being taken by people to help clean up our rivers in the DC metro area. Other projects around hunger and homelessness are still being finalized. If you’re interested in the Youth 4 the DC Cause or our youth ministries, please contact Patrick Landau, Director of Youth Ministries, plandau@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 112.

Check Out Our Youth Blog

Discover more about our youth and what they are doing! Follow their adventures at youthmetropolitan. wordpress.com.

On our 2014 Youth 4 the DC Cause trip, we joined up with the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) on their storm drain painting project.

July Film and Sermon Series - Celluloid Redemption

Come and explore the theological theme of redemption in the movies: what it means and how we experience it. Each week, we show the film on Friday evening, with a sermon drawing on that film the following Sunday. Missed the sermons Frozen and Groundhog Day that began the series? Listen to them online at nationalchurch.org/Praising/Sermons_Podcasts.

“Akeelah and the Bee” Film: July 17, 7 pm, Youth Room (206) I Sermon: July 19 - Scriptures: Judges 6:11-16; I Corinthians 15:9-11 The story of a gifted eleven year old girl, Akeelah resists claiming her gift until a mentor challenges her. As she receives the support of her struggling community, she finds that her gift transforms them as well.

“The King’s Speech” Film: July 24, 7 pm, Youth Room (206) I Sermon: July 26 - Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 34:1-3; 29-32; 2 Timothy 1:5-7 “The King’s Speech” explores the struggle of King George VI, a man with every conceivable privilege, as he seeks to fill a role that he feels inadequate for, as he prepares to lead his country into WWII.

Life at the Metropolitan Church Report on Annual Conference of the BWCUMC

by Phil Potter The Annual Conference of the Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC) was held in Baltimore May 28-30. Members from The Metropolitan Church were: Phil Potter, Julian Blair, Ellen Bachman, Patrick Landau, Princess Bethea, Charlie Parker, Dottie Yunger, Janet Craswell, and Kate Payton. The principal accomplishment of the Annual Conference was the selection of Lay Bishop Marcus Mat- and Clergy Delegates to the General thews preaches at the Conference of the UMC to be held in opening worship of the Portland, OR on May 10-20, 2016.

231st Session of the The General Conference is held evBaltimore-Washington ery four years with delegates from all Conference. the UMC conferences world-wide.

Delegates and alternates to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference were also selected.

As last year, the Annual Conference adopted an innovative process for discussing controversial resolutions called “Circles of Grace.” The lay and clergy members of the Annual Conference are broken down into groups of approximately 10 members each and discussions and votes are held on the designated resolutions within the groups. No amendments may be considered to the resolutions being discussed and voted on. There was significant support for the general procedure since it allows a much more comprehensive and nuanced discussion of the issues and differences. It allows for more comity and less heated debate. However, there was also a concern expressed in many groups that there needed to be a process to consider amendments. The current procedure was contested and a compromise was reached between the Rules Committee and the opponents, to develop a process to consider amendments in the Circle of Grace procedure rather than just an up and down vote. There was broad consensus support for this agreement and new rules are to be proposed by January 2016.

The 6 Lay Delegates to General Conference 2016 selected in order were: Delores Martin, Good Hope Union UMC, Silver Spring; Jen Ihlo, Dumbarton UMC, Georgetown, DC; Charles Moore, Community UMC, Crofton; Cynthia Taylor, Epworth UM Chapel, Baltimore; Tom Price, Mill Creek Parish UMC, Rockville; Ken Ow, North Bethesda UMC. All are or have recently been active lay leaders in BWC affairs.

The Budget for 2016 was adopted as recommended by the Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) which proposed a budget of $17,160,466 of which $14,330,827 was to be supported by apportionments from the individual churches in the BWC. The apportionment revenues are based on two principal criteria: (1) an apportionment rate of 17.75%, the same as in 2015; and (2) a collection rate assumption of 92.0%. This means that overall the churches would pay 92% of their apportionment on average. Metropolitan has always paid 100% of its apportionments.

The 6 Clergy Delegates selected in order were: The Rev. Terri Rae Chattin, pastor, Sykesville Parish; The Rev. Dr. Joe Daniels, Greater Washington District Superintendent, pastor, Emory Fellowship, Washington, DC; The Rev. Dr. Charlie Parker, pastor Metropolitan Memorial UMC, Washington, DC; The Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Baltimore Metropolitan District Superintendent; The Rev. JW Park, Central Maryland District Superintendent; The Rev. Ginger GainesCirelli, pastor, Foundry UMC, Washington, DC. The General Conference makes changes in the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions, which contain all of the beliefs and polity of the denomination. Of much interest to The Metropolitan Church will be the debate and voting on whether to make changes in the Church’s stance on LGBTQ people. The need for these changes has been heightened by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. Since 1984, there have been repeated efforts to change the core statements in the Discipline that oppose homosexuality and bar UMC Clergy from performing same-sex marriages. Once again this year, the Annual Conference of the BWC petitioned the General Conference to strike these provisions from the Discipline. There will be many variations in petitions to address this proposed change, which will be merged together in legislative committee to be voted on by the whole General Conference.

If a compromise cannot be agreed between proponents and opponents, an alternative approach is being discussed.

There are proposals before the General Conference to reorganize the denomination in a way that would provide more regional autonomy, which would allow variations with regard to some provisions, such as the stance on homosexuality.

During the two Pre-Conference sessions the collection rate assumption was questioned since that rate has not been achieved for the last 10 years. The best rate was in 2014 at 90.8%. If the same rate is achieved in 2015 and 2016 the deficit in the budget would be approximately $150,000 and up to $300,000 if only the average rate for the last few years is the result. The Cabinet and District Superintendents have pledged greater efforts to increase the collection rate in 2015, and the CFA has agreed to review the collection rate for 2015 specifically this Fall and consider changes to the 2016 budget taking into consideration the actual collection rate for 2015.

The CFA has established a reserve to cover such deficits, and there should be sufficient funds to cover potential deficits for 2015 and 2016. However, this fund is not being replenished sufficiently to continue this form of “deficit financing” in future years. Rev. Parker and Phil Potter, a member of Metropolitan and a new member of CFA, have made a point of this and are seeking a more realistic assumption on the collection rate so the BWC can present more balanced budgets and live within its means without resorting to dwindling reserves and without raising the apportionment rate.

This understanding of the Cabinet and CFA will be reported in the Conference Journal on the Pre-Conference Reports, and the decision was made not to contest this on the floor since the result would be the same.

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Life at the Metropolitan Church Giving Thanks and Communion on the Steps of the Supreme Court

Friday morning I woke up to texts from Ellen Bachman, Facebook posts from Chet Pritchett, and a quick check on the SCOTUS blog showed that 5 boxes had been delivered. Sure enough, as I rushed out the door, the opinions on same sex marriage were rolling in—and WE WON! After a quick trip to the office to share the good news and invite anyone to come with me, I headed down to the Methodist building where Ellen, Chet, and Mary Kay Totty from Dumbarton UMC were already gathered. At 11am, Mary Kay and I shared the Great Thanksgiving Liturgy, celebrating the victory love had won. As we remembered the dark night on which Christ was betrayed, we also asked those gathered to remember the dark nights that preceded this victory and the dark night in Charleston—the funeral for Rev. Clementa Pinckney being held at same time as our celebration.

After we served communion to the crowd initially gathered, some students from Wesley seminary started singing hymns, and folks came by—many thanking us for being there, some Revs. Mary Kay Totty and Kate receiving communion in tears, some giving a Shabbat shaPayton served communion lom! as they passed on taking communion. We were asked to on the steps of the Supreme give interviews, Ian Urriola and myself doing some in SpanCourt. ish, and the celebration of the freedom and right to love was one of the best kingdom moments I’ve yet experienced.

The part that was hard was when, in the excitement, some of those gathered asked if this meant that we as Methodists could begin marrying same-gender loving couples legally. I so wish that was the case! But only General Conference can change our Book of Discipline.

So we started talking about the resolution our conference is sending to remove the lan- Revs. Kate Payton and Mary guage calling homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching” and delegates—Charlie Kay Toddy being interviewed on the steps of the Supreme Court.

Parker!—who will be voting on that resolution among many others.

This victory was incredible, but there is still kingdom work to be done within our own institution and within workplaces that are still discriminating based on sexual orientation and gender identity. So may this win for love flow into the battles ahead and bring the transformation we pray for as disciples of Christ. I do pray with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength that love will find a win next May in Portland, just as love won on Friday, June 26th at the Supreme Court.

Blessings, Rev. Kate Payton

Neighborhood Movie Night Friday, August 21, 8pm Woods-Brown Amphitheatre*

Jazz@Wesley A Tribute to B.B. King and Ben E. King Saturday, July 25, 6:30pm, Wesley*

Returning to Jazz@Wesley, Jimmy Burrell and Friends will perform Jazz standards and a Blues Tribute in remembrance of BB King and Ben E. King. Tickets available at the door and at instantseats.com. $10 entry │$5 seniors │12 & under free. Bring a nonperishable food item or lightly used coat to jazz up someone else’s life. Jazz@Wesley information line 202-966-5144, ext. 325. Check out the 5th season jazz promo at youtube.com/watch?v=N8FhXoQZmSk&featu re=youtu.be.

The Metropolitan Church is joining with American University to sponsor a Neighborhood Movie Night on the AU campus. Bring your family and a picnic and enjoy a free screening of “Monsters University!” Free popcorn.

Rain location is Mary Graydon Center. *4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

October 24, 2015

Metropolitan Book Club Monday, September 21, 7:30pm, Parlor

We will not be meeting in July or August. Join us on September 21 as we discuss the newly released biography by David McCullough, The Wright Brothers. Contacts: Joan Topalian, topajoan62045@gmail.com or Suzanne Clewell, reader1021@aol.com.

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Life at the Metropolitan Church STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Begins Tuesday, July 14, 11:30am, Brighter Day*

Join us for an exciting serving opportunity as we partner with our Brighter Day Ministry team to bring STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) curriculum to the Brighter Day Summer Academic Camp! Cynthia Pugh is planning the curriculum and will be present for each lesson; however, volunteers are needed to help the kids with the hands-on activities. An interest or background in science is not necessary (but of course is a plus). Dates are: July 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30. Supplies provided by a grant from NASA. Contacts: Rev. Kate Payton, kpayton@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 110 or Cynthia Pugh, cynthia.pugh1@ verizon.net. *421 Alabama Ave., SE.

Nelson Mandela Day Yoga for Bokamoso Youth Foundation Saturday, July 18, 8:30am – Noon, Great Hall

Celebrate Nelson Mandela’s Birthday with yoga and help the Bokamoso Youth Centre in Winterveld, South Africa. The day begins with registration from 8:30-9:30am and Yoga (Slow Vinyasa Style: All levels welcome) from 9:30-11am.

Following our yoga practice, we’ll enjoy a Mandela Day Celebration at 11am. $35 for class and celebration. Sign up online: http://goo.gl/QxHt3n.

Our prayers go out to...

• to the family and friends of Shelley Preslar, a long time member, who died on May 16.

• to the family and friends of Nancy Kelly McBride, a long time member, who died on July 4. A Memorial Service will take place at Metropolitan Memorial on July 18 at 3:30pm.

Summer Sundays of Service Sundays, 10:10am, Vestry

Summertime means time for service! Our children’s Sunday school takes a break during the summer months, to teach how to live out our Christian faith through service. We need adults to lead Summer Sundays of Service. If you can volunteer any Sunday in July, sign up at nationalchurch.org/children_service or contact Rev. Janet Craswell, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org.

We had a wonderfully successful ASP trip to Sullivan County, TN. Our 34 youth and 14 adults worked on seven different projects on four different homes participating in ASP’s work of making homes warmer, safer, and drier for families in need. In addition to our work projects, our team in partnership with the other four churches at ASP raised over $9,000 to fund the home repair projects in Sullivan County. As a reward, the youth took the opportunity to cut my hair!

Thank you to all of the church members and the wider community that made this trip possible through donations at our spring Youth in Mission auction and to the wonderful people who joined us at the send off breakfast. This was a life changing week for many of our teens and we appreciate your support. For more pictures, including the results of my youth haircut, see our ASP 2015 album on our facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Metropolitan-Memorial-United-MethodistChurch/54918596098?fref=ts.

- Patrick Landau, Director of Youth Ministries

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Serving Ministries

What is Happening at WIN?

by Linda Davenport

Thanks to all of you who support our Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) work. Since that VERY cold night in January when the newly-elected Mayor Muriel Bowser spent time during her first week in office with WIN at our 900 person+ rally at St. Augustine’s, I wanted to bring you up to date and celebrate the change in direction our city is taking on the important issues of affordable housing and homelessness.

Throughout the budget season, WIN representatives attended meetings and showed up at budget hearings. Happily, at the end of May the City Council voted in favor of a budget that makes great investments in services to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring and preserve the stock of affordable housing in the District. WIN was part of a coalition of organizations pushing for these critically needed funding increases. These important increases include: $146 million, or 30% more, on services to house and feed the homeless — and try to connect homeless individuals and families with jobs, apartments and counseling; $178 million, a 35% increase, to affordable-housing programs; and $40 million to build a new network of smaller homeless shelters to replace DC General. [See the Washington Post story: washingtonpost.com/ local/dc-politics/dc-council-passes-13-billion-budget-focusing-on-schools-homelessness/2015/05/27/2631002e-03e5-11e5 -a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html] Parkway Overlook. On behalf of The Metropolitan Church, I have also been part of a WIN sub-group that met with the new head of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Polly Donaldson, who assured us that DHCD would spend the $173 million that Mayor Gray committed but had not yet spent, as well as carrying out the Mayor’s annual pledge of $100 million for affordable housing. Any day, Ms. Donaldson expects a “strikeforce” plan to be announced that will make the process easier to identify and preserve existing affordable rental housing that is at risk of conversion to market rate apartments. She also specifically mentioned Parkway Overlook, noting that planning funds were included for the project, which is now owned by the DC Housing Authority, which plans to redevelop it by 2016.

Preserving and Creating Affordable Housing. In addition, WIN celebrated preserving and creating 140 affordable apartment homes at The Brightwood in Ward 4, and we were critical in supporting the Emory United Methodist Church, home church of our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Joseph Daniels, at their hearings with the DC Preservation committee – and securing approval for the church to move forward with its plan to build 99 units of affordable housing adjacent to their church.

That project will include 18 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless persons.

We are by no means done. But the tragic death of Joel Johnson spurs us on to continue this fight until no one has to sleep on the streets of Washington DC.

Grate Patrol Sunday, August 2, 6pm St. Luke’s Mission Center*

Help assemble and deliver meals (provided by our Campus Kitchen Program) to those in need! You can volunteer to put together meals, serve meals by going out in the Salvation Army van, or both. No experience necessary. For more information, contact Rev. Dottie Yunger, dyunger@nationalchurch.org. *3655 Calvert St., NW.

Campus Kitchen: Summer Volunteers Needed

Campus Kitchen offers several shift days and times to choose from. Come and help out at one or all three options: Wednesdays: 3:30pm - 7pm; Fridays: 2pm - 6pm; and Saturdays: 11:30am - 3:30pm. Volunteer at nationalchurch.org/ volunteerhub.

Mission Opportunity: Building a Stronger Baltimore

2015 Capital Pride Parade

Reconciling United Methodists from the Baltimore-Washington Conference and Northern Virginia, including about a dozen members of The Metropolitan Church, celebrated their unity and advocacy for the LGBTQ community by marching in the 40th Annual Capitol Pride Parade. The group picture was taken at our staging location, where delays in the parade gave participants ample time to connect and share stories.

Your help is needed to create systemic changes that deliver justice, dignity and wholeness to all people. In response to the unrest affecting the residents of Baltimore, the Baltimore-Washington Conference is transforming five churches in and around the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood into faith-based community centers. If you want to join our team of volunteers at one of these mission sites, contact Rev. Dottie Yunger, dyunger@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 111.

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The United Methodist Women United Methodist Women’s Bazaar Volunteer Now!

Work toward the UMW's fall bazaar has begun! Join the sorting and pricing team on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Parlor or nearby. It's a great way to get connected with folks you may not know very well, and.... many hands make light work! Just stop by. The more the merrier!

CU @ Mission U! July 31 – August 2

Mission U is open to members and non-members of the United Methodist Women. At Mission U: Learning Together for Transformation of the World, we grow in understanding of the mission of the church in the current world context.

Each year three studies (spiritual growth, geographic and social issue) are presented, giving particular attention to the responsibilities of women in the fulfillment of the mission work of the church. This year’s studies include: Spiritual Growth: Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God - The early Methodist tradition used the language of happiness often. Not only did John Wesley preach and teach about happiness but his brother Charles wrote hymns about happiness that the early Methodists sang. The happiness they sought was happiness in God. This study examines the understanding of happiness.

Geographic: Latin America: People and Faith - An overview of the richness of Latin America and its people for readers on the North America continent. The study examines the history of the region pre-Columbian times until colonization and the struggle for independence. It also explores the current challenges of the nations, along with their rich art, culture and the ongoing contributions of women.

Social Issue: The Church and People with Disabilities - Unlike other categories of human experience, disability crosses all lines of gender, orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, age, and culture. People with typical bodies can be thought of as temporarily able-bodied because it can happen at any time to anyone. The intent of this mission study is to promote awareness, inclusion, accessibility and advocacy for people with disabilities – including youth and children.

Have items to donate? Drop off your gently-used items at any time beside the UMW closet. We take kitchen things, china and other collectibles, puzzles and games, "attic treasures," Christmas decorations, unused nicer items for the Gifts boutique, and women's accessories such as scarves and belts and handbags. (No books. Please save them for the spring book sale since our storage space is limited.)

Questions? Contact Barbara Gaskill: BETQGaskill@gmail. com or 202-244-3512.

Jewelry donations should always be delivered to the church office for safe keeping. The jewelry team checks there weekly before their work sessions. Want to help with the jewelry? Contact Alison Daifuku (adaifuku@verizon.net or 202-363-4885) for days and times.

Boutique-quality women's wear for the "Fashion Mania" section is the only clothing sold at the bazaar -- no shoes, no men's or children's clothing. For now, please do not drop your boutique-quality women's wear at the UMW closet. We want to keep it in excellent condition. Details regarding donation of these items coming soon. Thank you!

What don't we take? As noted above, no shoes, no men's or children's clothing; no furniture (we don't have space); no used electronics (the outdated stuff doesn't sell): no magazines or textbooks (these don't sell well); and no crutches (people don't buy these at a bazaar -- they receive them at the hospital when the broken leg is treated). Thanks!

When is the Bazaar? Saturday, November 7 -- first Saturday in November, as always. Mark your calendar now!

Questions, thoughts, suggestions? Contact Bazaar Coordinator Barbara Gaskill: BETQGaskill@gmail.com or 202244-3512.

A singing fish, a rock collection and an umbrella hat are among the many fun things our Tuesday volunteers find as they sort and price items for this year’s bazaar!

Mission U, July 31 – August 2; The Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814. Download brochure at nationalchurch.org/Serving/United_Methodist_Women or email MetroUMW@gmail.com or call Jeanie Mah 202-3636885. Some partial scholarships available.

Mission U for Youth July 31 – August 2

Mission U for Youth is open to all youth, grades 6-12, and will be offered at the same time and venue as the adult Mission U. Studies include Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God and Latin America: People and Faith, especially geared toward youth. Full scholarships may be available for youth. Download brochure at nationalchurch.org/ Serving/United_Methodist_Women or email MetroUMW@ gmail.com or call Jeanie Mah 202-363-6885.

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Caring Ministries Weekly Meditation Practice Wednesdays, 8:30am, Sanctuary

Nurture a sense of inner peace, calm and balance with guided and walking meditation. All are welcome. Contact: Betty Rogers, betty.rogers24@verizon.net.

Gentle Yoga for Well-Being Thursdays, 4pm, Great Hall

Join us for Gentle Yoga this summer. Class meets every Thursday and is open to all who are interested. We will do basic yoga poses and movements to stretch, strengthen, improve balance, and lift our spirits. We will practice yogic breathing and meditation/relaxation as well. Chairs are available for those who may need some help getting on/ off the floor. Bring your mat, wear comfortable clothing for exercise. Sign on for the 10-week series, or drop in when you’re in town! To register or for more information, contact Cathryn Gunnerson, Cathryn@yogawell-being.com or 301642-3889.

Grief Support Group Wednesdays, September 9 - October 21, 7pm

“After the loss of a loved one, there is comfort in the close press of friends, in shared tears and hugs, and remembering. But then relatives and friends go home, and we are left to enter a new and strange land.” Martha Whitmore Hickman Our Life Transitions Ministry will offer a grief support group this fall for those experiencing the death of a loved one within the last year. The meeting dates are Wednesdays, September 9 - October 21 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Location and more details will come later. For more information contact Drema McAllster-Wilson, Metropolitan contact person, dwilson@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900 or Janet Burkhart, Wesley contact person, janetburk@hotmail.com or 330-904-2101.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Sunday, July 19, 12:30pm

Enjoy a time of knitting, crocheting, fellowship, ministry and fun in the Parlor! If you are interested in joining, contact Barbara Tate, Bdtate@ verizon.net.

Learn More About Our Ministries for Life Transitions nationalchurch.org/caring/ministries_for_life_transitions

Club Memory Volunteers Needed

Club Memory, a support and social club for those persons in our community experiencing mild dementia and cognitive issues, needs volunteers to greet participants and their family members; to be present at activity tables and lead singing and games; or to help set up activities or to assist at the food table.

They meet at Metropolitan Memorial on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Great Hall. Times needed are: Greeters: 11:30pm – 1:30pm; Great Hall Activities: 1pm – 3pm. Commitment is for one year.

If interested, please contact Drema McAllister-Wilson, dwilson@nationalchurch.org or 202.363.4900 ext. 104.

Make a Financial Gift to Support Our Ministries

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Our Mission: Building an inclusive, caring Christian community that invites all into a deepening relationship with God and challenges all of us to grow as disciples, seeking justice and joy for the transformation of the world.

Our Vision: Extending radical hospitality, transforming lives, and pursuing justice.

Reconciling Statement: Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church affirms that all individuals are of sacred worth with-

out regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, education, marital circumstances, economic status, physical and mental condition, or criminal history. We declare ourselves in support of the reconciling movement and welcome the full participation in the church of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered persons and their families, as a reflection of God’s unconditional love. At the same time, we recognize differences of opinion on issues of sexuality and seek to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect.

Pastoral and Administrative Staff - 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, DC - 202.363.4900 www.nationalchurch.org - Pastoral Emergency Number - 202.510.8555 Rev. Dr. Charles Parker –– Senior Pastor, ext. 108, cparker@nationalchurch.org Rev. Kate Payton — Associate Pastor, Sharing, Lead Pastor at Wesley UMC, ext. 110, kpayton@nationalchurch.org Rev. Dottie Yunger –– Associate Pastor, Service/Advocacy, ext. 111, dyunger@nationalchurch.org Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson — Minister of Congregational Care, ext. 104, dwilson@nationalchurch.org Rev. Janet Craswell—Director of Christian Education, ext. 115, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org Rev. Barbara Green – Minister of Life Transitions, bgreen@nationalchurch.org, ext. 105 David Hosey - Campus Ministry Coordinator, dhosey@nationalchurch.org Princess Bethea — Office Coordinator, ext. 102, pbethea@nationalchurch.org Bruce Caviness — 11a.m. Organist-Choirmaster, ext. 152, bcaviness@nationalchurch.org Jeff Clouser — Director of IT and Communications, ext. 113, jclouser@nationalchurch.org Dona Collary — Pastoral Care Assistant/Wedding and Funeral Coordinator, ext. 106, dcollary@nationalchurch.org Casey Campbell — Dayspring Choir Director/9am Worship Leader/Youth Choir Director, ext. 151, celliott@nationalchurch.org Patrisha House — Director of Worship, Music and Arts, ext. 114, phouse@nationalchurch.org Patrick Landau — Director of Youth Ministries, ext. 112, plandau@nationalchurch.org Bill Potts –– Executive Director of Operations, ext. 101, wpotts@nationalchurch.org Rafael Reyes — Director of Building and Grounds, ext. 116, rreyes@nationalchurch.org Helen Simon — Executive Assistant to Dr. Parker, ext. 109, hsimon@nationalchurch.org Linda Smith — Director of Nursery School, 202.362.8746, lsmith@nationalchurch.org

The Messenger is published by The Metropolitan Church - A Multi-site United Methodist Community Metropolitan Memorial - 3401 Nebraska Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20016 Tel: 202.363.4900 St. Luke’s Mission Center (3655 Calvert St., NW)/Wesley UMC (5312 Conn. Ave., NW) Fax: 202.686.2056 E-Mail: jclouser@nationalchurch.org website: nationalchurch.org

NEXT ISSUE: August 10, 2015

NEXT DEADLINE: Noon on August 4, 2015