wfn.org | UFMCC Minister Named to Latin American Council of Churches

[UfmccHq@aol.com]

A Statement by
Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord
Chief Officer of Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

Nicaraguan  UFMCC Pastor Appointed To
Latin American Council of Churches Position
UFMCC Receives "Fraternal Membership" Status in Latin American Council

On behalf of Metropolitan Community Churches, I am pleased to announce that
Rev. Dr. Armando Sanchez, UFMCC Ecumenical Officer for Central America and
senior pastor of Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana Paz y Alegrma in
Managua, Nicaragua, has been appointed Executive Secretary of the National
(Nicaraguan) Committee of the Latin American Council of Churches (LACC). The
LACC is composed of more than 70 member denominations, including the primary
historic churches, as well as Pentecostal and evangelical denominations.

In addition to UFMCC representation on the Nicaraguan National Committee, the
Committee includes representation by Church of the Nazarene, Lutheran,
Moravian, Baptist International Convention, Church of Christ and
Inter-Eccesiastic Theological and Social Studies Center members. The National
Committee is responsible for coordinating communication among member churches
and denominations and facilitating the process of strategic planning.

Earlier this year, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches was granted Fraternal Membership status with the Latin American
Council of Churches, and continues to work toward full membership in this
body.

According to Rev. Dr. Sanchez, "Programmatic priority will be given to
sensitive topics in the life of the church, including gender violence and
human rights, sexuality and Christian spirituality, social action, and
Christian social justice in a global world."

In August of this year, Dr. Sanchez was also elected to the Program of
Solidarity Support of the Churches, a LACC program funded by the World
Council of Churches. He is participating in the creation of a cycle of
ecumenical workshops on gender, sexuality and human rights.

The election of Rev. Dr. Armando Sanchez, MCC Ecumenical Officer for Central
America, as the Executive Secretary of the National (Nicaraguan) Committee of
Latin American Council of the Churches, is a recognition of the ecumenical
leadership world-wide by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches. It is a testament of UFMCC's ecumenical work that devotes itself to
a powerful prophetic presence in a world that aches for justice for all of
God's creation. The heartfelt congratulations from the entire Fellowship is
extended to Rev. Dr. Sanchez.

/signed/
Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord
Chief Ecumenical Officer
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

EDITOR'S NOTE:
E-mail messages conveying congratulations may be sent to Rev. Dr. Armando
Sanchez at icmpaznic@hotmail.com

(END)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord, Chief Officer
UFMCC Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069
Tel: (323) 936-7743
Cell: (310) 625-4449
E-Mail:  MCCECUUSA@aol.com
Website: www.ufmcc.com