Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville, Tennessee Pastoral Candidate Information. Who Are We? MCCK MISSION STATEMENT MCCK PURPOSE.

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1 Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville, Tennessee Pastoral Candidate Information Who Are We? For almost 40 years, the Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville (MCCK) has been a beacon of light for the people of East Tennessee. With a rich history of service, MCC Knoxville has changed lives, brought hope, shared joy, and fostered spiritual growth throughout East Tennessee. Rooted in progressive Christianity, we welcome people of many beliefs and backgrounds to our faith community. As we share our stories, we create a space of openness and acceptance, and strive to make MCCK a place where every single person feels connected. Our burning passion is service. For over 30 years, we have provided food to the hungry through our Michael T. Irwin Food Pantry, providing about 6000 meals per year. We also serve food and provide necessities to people through our ministry, A Place at the Table, offering about 500 meals per month to people living under the bridges in downtown Knoxville. MCCK PURPOSE To celebrate God manifested in every single person. To model Christ and share God s immutable love. To be God s hands, feet, and voice sharing the story of Love. MCCK MISSION STATEMENT With God s help, the Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville strives to be a wellspring of acceptance, hope and reconciliation for the diverse people of East Tennessee, with a special outreach to LGBTQ&I communities. Anchored in Christ s teachings, we actively promote, nurture and sustain spiritual growth, peace, compassion, and economic, ecological and social justice. We provide a safe place of worship for all persons seeking a spiritual home, accepting one another just as we are. Some Facts We are a congregation of approximately 165 members Our service is at 11 on Sunday mornings Our average attendance is about 80 people Website: (sign up to receive weekly ) Facebook: Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville We own our building and owe less than $50,000 on the mortgage Knoxville Population City: 178,874 County: 432,226 1

2 We Believe Our Tenants We believe in a loving Creator God. We believe that we are the beloved children of God. We believe in a God who accepts us as we are including all of our emotions, our doubts, our fears, our joys, and our sexuality. We believe in Jesus, son of God, the example of love in action and our model to follow. We believe in the Holy Spirit who is that Holy force within us and who gives us strength. We believe in prayer. We believe that the Bible is the story of God s people during a specific period of time. We believe that the Bible is a living, breathing Story for our journeys today. (We do not believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible). We believe in God s grace that is unconditional and unearned and that we are to demonstrate that example of grace in the way we respect and treat one another. MCCK Ministries Music Ministry Led by Loneka Battiste, our music ministry includes the choir and the pianist and provides musical leadership for worship and also presents special performances in support of our overall spiritual development. In addition, we have many talented soloists and musicians. Michael T. Irwin Food Pantry For over 30 years, MCCK has provided food baskets to the hungry. Each basket, lovingly prepared, provides food for a family of 4 for one week. We receive external support for this ministry from FEMA and a number of civic organizations. We deliver food baskets to those who are unable to pick them up at the church A Place at the Table - Each Monday night and one Saturday a month, A Place at the Table shares food and necessities with homeless people who live under the bridges in downtown Knoxville. Through this ministry, we serve approximately 500 people a month. Acceptance, Compassion, and Tolerance (ACT) - The ACT Team has provided over 200 prayer blankets to those in the community facing health or other personal challenges. These prayer blankets are lovingly embroidered, and the congregation offers prayers for each blanket before it is given to someone in need. The ACT team has also provided over 300 blankets to babies in the neonatal unit at a local hospital. Babies who are in this unit (particularly as a result of addiction issues) often outgrow the hospital provided blankets before they are ready to leave the NICU. The ACT team also provides hats and scarves for the homeless. In the past two years, as part of our Christmas drive, we have provided more than 300 pairs of socks to the homeless. Deacons There are currently 13 active Deacons who are focused on service. The Deacons provide support to the Pastor in worship organization and in congregational and community care. Children s Ministry The children s ministry provides Sunday school and social events for the children in our community. Friday Night Social Club Monthly social evening encourages relationship building through games and personal interaction. 2

3 Visitors and New Member s Support We have a monthly meeting of visitors and new members to help them connect with other people and to ministries within the church. The goal of this ministry is to engage new people in the life of our church. Poised for Greatness (PFG) Poised for Greatness is dedicated to paying extra money on the principal of our mortgage so that MCCK can become debt free. So far, $43,000 has been donated and applied directly to the principal on our mortgage, leaving us with a current principal balance of less than $50,000 on an original $200,000 loan. Administration Our Office Manager, Denise White, manages the church office, supports the pastor, and assists with MCCK ministries. MCCK Short Term Goals We are open to where God calls us in the future, but in the short-term, and as a result of the intentional interim process, we have determined that we would like to: provide more opportunities outside of worship for spiritual growth pay off our mortgage as we model financial responsibility provide more opportunities for people to engage in our ministries, recognizing that about 68% of us drive more than 10 miles each way to church. engage more in the community and connect more with other churches extend our outreach to include international ministries MCCK Congregationally Approved Budget for 2016 The congregation has approved a 2016 basic operational budget of $167,795. Additional giving supports our ministries. We have approximately $23,000 in an emergency fund. Congregational Survey This Wordle reflects self-descriptions of our congregation as a community of faith Over 100 people completed our recent congregational survey. Highlights of some key findings follow. 3

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7 Living in East Tennessee Knoxville is known as "The Valley, and is nestled between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains. Knoxville is located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most visited park in the nation with over 10 million visitors annually. The Tennessee River runs through the middle of downtown Knoxville. Knoxville is beautiful! Surrounded by lakes, rivers, and mountains, Knoxville is a nature lover s dream known for mild winters and summers. The Knoxville Urban Wilderness encompasses recreational, cultural and historic preservation sites within 1,000 acres of a forested area along downtown s south waterfront. This urban playground incorporates 10 city parks, two quarries (one for swimming and the other for boating or kayaking), and some 44 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails. Downtown Knoxville has been revitalized and offers a walking friendly environment with lots of shops, parks, and restaurants. Eat Local has become very popular, and you can find locally grown produce at Farmer s Markets most every day of the week. Culturally, Knoxville offers the Knoxville Symphony, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Historical Society, and a host of cultural activities through the University of Tennessee. There is something going on in Knoxville just about every weekend from the Dogwood Arts Festival, to the Rossini Festival, to PRIDE. The Knoxville Gay s Men s Chorus is the newest addition to the cultural resources available in Knoxville. Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee. The main campus of the University of Tennessee is home to nationallyacclaimed schools of engineering, business, and law. If you like college sports, the Vol Nation is pure fun, and orange and Rocky Top are visible everywhere in the community. 7

8 One of the country's five national labs sites is close by in Oak Ridge. Between the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge, there is a great deal more diversity than one would expect in a southern city. We have a terrific cost of living, and there is no state income tax. Based on a cost of living index of 100, Knoxville s index is 80 overall and the housing market index is 64. Our average home price is about $116,000. Knoxville has a progressive mayor, Madeline Rogero, who in her recent inauguration invited the Knoxville Gay s Men s Chorus to perform. 8