wfn.org | World's Largest Gay Church Holds Event at Washington National

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Cathedral
 
N E W S   R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: October	28, 2005

Leader of World's Largest Gay Church To Be Installed at  Washington National 
Cathedral 
Rev. Nancy Wilson To Be Installed As Head of Metropolitan  Community Churches

At Saturday Public Event 

(Washington, DC) -- The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson, an open  lesbian and 
veteran gay rights leader, will be installed as Presiding Bishop of 
Metropolitan 
Community Churches (MCC), the world's largest gay Christian church,  on 
Saturday, Oct. 29.

The Installation Ceremony will take place at  Washington National Cathedral 
in Washington, DC from 2-4 PM and is open to the  public.

In 1979, Wilson, of Sarasota, FL, participated in the first-ever  meeting of 
gay religious leaders at the U.S. White House during the Carter  
Administration.

Wilson has represented gay Christians at the National  Council of Churches 
and the World Council of Churches. 

In 1987, she  represented MCC as an ecumenical observer at the Bilateral 
Dialogue of the Roman  Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Columbia, South
Carolina, 
where she met  Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, becoming one of the first 
openly-gay leaders to meet  the now Pope Benedict XVI. Wilson has been active
on behalf 
of HIV issues,	prisoner treatment programs, and women's rights.

Wilson resides with her  partner of 27 years, Dr. Paula Schoenwether. They 
both actively work for	same-sex marriage equality.

Prior to her MCC ministry, Rev. Wilson was  active in the United Methodist 
Church.

The denomination was founded by  the Rev. Troy Perry in Los Angeles in 1968. 
Today there are over 250  Metropolitan Community Churches located in 23 
countries. Each year more than	225,000 persons attend MCC programs and
services.

For additional	information on Metropolitan Community Churches and the 
Installation Service,  visit _www.MCCchurch.org_ (http://www.mccchurch.org/)
.

__________________________________________________

P R E S  S   S U M M A R Y
Event:
An open lesbian, The Reverend Nancy  L. Wilson, will be installed as 
Presiding Bishop of Metropolitan Community  Churches (MCC), the world's
largest 
predominantly-gay Christian denomination.  

Wilson succeeds the Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry. More than 225,000  persons 
attend MCC programs at more than 250 congregations in 23 countries.  Wilson
is a 
long-time supporter of same-sex marriage rights for gay couples.  

During the Installation, Rev. Wilson will unveil "Focus on the Human  
Family," a program to combat spiritual violence against gays and lesbians by 
such 
groups as Dr. James Dobson's "Focus on the Family."

During the  service a major mainline U.S. seminary will unveil plans for 
establishment of a  "Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies."

Where:
Washington National  Cathedral, Woodley and Wisconsin Avenues, Washington, 
DC.  

When:
Saturday, October 29, 2005, 2-4 PM

Press Information:  

Event open to the public. Media entrance is the South Transept. This  
entrance is on South Road opposite Pilgrim Steps.  Press area is designated 
in the 
south balcony. No cameras allowed on the nave floor. 

MEDIA  INTERVIEWS: 
Rev. Nancy Wilson is available for interviews. To arrange media  interviews, 
call Jim Birkitt in the MCC Communications Department at (310)	625-4177, or 
send requests to _info@MCCchurch.org_ (mailto:info@MCCchurch.org) .

NOTE:  This news story is illustrative of the profound	change taking place 
in how faith communities treat gay and lesbian people of  faith. Thirty years

ago, the Episcopal Church in Washington, DC withdrew an  invitation for the 
Presiding Bishop of Metropolitan Community Churches to speak  and literally 
locked the doors of the church to keep gay Christians out. Today,  the
Episcopal 
Church is welcoming gay Christians to the Washington National  Cathedral, and
is 
hosting the Installation Service for MCC's new Presiding  Bishop.

PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON  REQUEST

___________________________________________

CONTACT:
Jim  Birkitt, Communications Director
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard
West  Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel. (310) 625-4177
E-Mail: _info@MCCchurch.org_ (mailto:info@MCCchurch.org) 
Website: _www.MCCchurch.org_ (http://www.mccchurch.org/)