Cornerstone MCC ....The Church that Love is Building!

A congregation of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC): Cornerstone MCC Church is a Ecumenical, Evangelical and Eucharistic Christian Church which seeks to provide a House of Prayer for All Peoples, especially those who have been made to feel excluded and marginalized by religion and society. In faith we offer hope, healing and reconciliation through God's transforming grace by communicating Jesus Christ's Gospel message of Divine Inclusive Love for all.

Here at Cornerstone we teach that God has a plan and purpose for each life and we encourage each individual in their life journey toward discovery, wholeness and fulfillment in their Divine destiny. We desire to worship God our Creator, make disciples for Christ, do justice, love mercy, care for creation and celebrate Life in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit!

MCC Core Values

Inclusion: Love is our greatest moral value and resisting exclusion is a primary focus of our ministry. We want to continue to be the conduits of a faith where everyone is included in the family of God, and where all parts of our being are welcomed at God’s table.

Community: Offering a safe and open community for people to worship, learn and grow in their faith is our deep desire. We are committed to equipping ourselves and each other to do the work that God has called us to do in the world.

Spiritual Transformation: Providing a message of liberation from the oppressive religious environment of our day or to those experiencing God for the first time is what guides our ministry. We believe that when people are invited to experience God through the life and ministry of Christ, lives will be transformed.

Social Action: Working to talk less and do more, we are committed to resisting the structures that oppress people and standing with to those who suffer under the weight of oppressive systems, being guided always by our commitment to Global Human Rights.

Cornerstone MCC Core Values (Scriptural Basis for our core values)

Priesthood of All Believers: CMCC is committed to mutual collaboration between laity and clergy in ministry. 1 Peter 2:5-10

The Lost Coin, Sheep and Child: CMCC recognizes the inherent value and dignity of each person. Luke 15

Love One Another: CMCC is committed to expressing love for one another by encouraging each individual to develop high self esteem, being a servant to one another, and showing respect to each person. John 13:34-35

Run The Race: CMCC ministers with persistent and enduring faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

House of Prayer for All People: CMCC ministry in every arena reflects a commitment to justice and inclusiveness, non-discrimination, and equal access by and opportunity for all. Isaiah 56:7

Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: CMCC is committed to boldness in proclamation and excellence in ministry. Romans 1:16-17

Created in God's Image: CMCC is committed to each person's growth toward wholeness in body, mind, and spirit, and full integration of spirituality and sexuality. Genesis 1:2

Go Into All The World: CMCC is passionately committed to reaching all people with the Good News. Matthew 28:19-20

Being Good Stewards: CMCC wisely utilizes the gifts God has given us. 1 Peter 4:10

UFMCC's Statement of Faith... Doctrine, Sacraments and Rites

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.

We believe:

1. In one triune God, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, of one substance and of three persons: God, our Parent-Creator; Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, God in flesh, human; and the Holy Spirit, God as our Sustainer.
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.

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 received into community with Jesus Christ, 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.

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, pursuant to these Bylaws.
2. The RITE OF ATTAINING MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH shall be conducted by the Pastor or Interim 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 or Interim Pastoral Leader of the church. After both persons have been counseled and apprised of their responsibilities one toward the other, this rite of conferring God’s blessing may be performed.
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.