The Political and Social Activities of the Northern Sanctuary

Metropolitan Community Church

This specific problem delved into the NSMCC’s political and

social activities that affect the community. The succeeding

paragraphs show the themes derived by the researchers from the

narratives provided by the key informants of this study.

Political Movements

The NSMCC defines itself as an “affirming, radically

inclusive, non-converting Christian church community…”

Nonetheless, the organization plays a role that goes beyond the

church’s primary function. In the pursuit of the organization in

attaining their objectives, it inevitably participates in the

political realm. Political participation is explained by Uhlaner

(2015) as activities of the mass public in politics, including,

for example, voting in elections, helping a political campaign,

giving money to a candidate or cause, writing or calling

officials, petitioning, boycotting, demonstrating, and working

with other people on issues. This definition is demonstrated by

the organization through the narratives provided by the study’s

informants. Informant 1 claimed that:

“Campaign ng Ladlad party list, we were… obligated…

obligasyon namin na kailangan supportahan natin ‘to, dito sa

Baguio… some of our members are officers ng Ladlad

Cordillera. So, kasama kami sa campaign niyan, we shed out,

 we solicited money from our friends, para lang makatulong sa

campaign…” (Personal Communication, August 3, 2019).

(We were obliged to support the campaign of the Ladlad

party list here in the City of Baguio. Some of our members

are officers of Ladlad Cordillera, thus, we were with them

in their campaign. We shed out, solicited money from our

friends to aid the party’s campaign.)

The same information was given by Informant 2 when asked about

the political activities of the church. The informant stated

that: “… 2013 pala we campaigned for the Ladlad party list…”

(Personal Communication, August 3, 2019).

<INSERT ANOTHER INFORMANT SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE LADLAD

PARTYLIST>

These statements from the informants show the support of

the church in a political entity in trying to advance their

objectives. The consistency of the information provided by the

informants uncovers the organizational culture established by

the church. Consistent with the Lafang’s (2011) findings, the

culture moulded throughout the years of the church’s development

determined the political participation of its members. Using the

Natural System Perspective of Organization theory, organizations

are seen as institutions composed of different individuals,

consequently bearing different interests. In the case of the

NSMCC, the interests of its members aligned, thereby allowing

the organization to rally under a banner of a political entity

amidst the members’ individual differences. This is because the

Ladlad party list carries with it platforms that are common with

the church’s thrusts.

The NSMCC also portrayed movements that directly influenced

the public policy of the local government of the City of Baguio.

In the information provided by Informant 1, he stated that:

“… we were invited by Vice Mayor Edison Bilog to

participate in the discussion sa mga city council hearing on

the anti-discrimination ordinance, kasi kami yung mga

nilalapitan ng mga cases, karamihan mga estudyante na

transgender who have issues sa kanilang mga campuses;

particularly sa cross-dressing policy, yung paggamit ng

C.R., So, inilalapit namin ‘yan noon pa kay Vice Mayor kung

pwedeng matulungan. Since, we still don’t have then yung

anti-discrimination ordinance, although nai-submit na pero

hindi pa naipapatupad as ordinance ng Baguio, so, pinu-push

namin sakanila na it’s about time to ano, to tutukan na yung

anti-discrimination ordinance para matapos na yung mga

issues ng mga transgender being harassed sa mga campuses.”

(Personal Communication, August 3, 2019).

(We were invited by Vice Mayor Edison Bilog to participate

in the discussions of the city council on their hearing for

the anti-discrimination bill. It is because a lot of people

come to us to ask for our assistance. Most of them are

transgender students who encounter problems with their

campus’s policy. They confide to us their issues, such as

the schools’ policy on the banning of cross-dressing and

implementing rigid rules on the utilization of comfort

rooms. It is us who inform the Vice Mayor of these

happenings and we ask for his help.)