Together we are Stronger

The End of the Ghettoized Church: Together We are
stronger

MCC (Metropolitan Community Church)  in the Valley, originally part of the
denomination founded by Rev. Troy Perry in 1968, has moved to become a UCC
(United Church of Christ) and a MCC Church.  
Rev. Dr. Bob Shore Goss observed that there was a time when there was a
need for LGBT folks needed a safe space to discover a welcoming place within a
church that would accept them for who they were.  More than 20 years ago, Rev Goss penned these
words in his book, Jesus ACTED UP:   “Christianity itself is not the enemy.
Rather, institutional forms of Christianity continue to oppress gay and lesbian
people.”  But things have dramatically
changed from period of AIDS.  The LGBT
baby boom and the movement to create families sparked the marriage equality
movement in the US.  No one would have
imagined that openly gay/lesbian citizens would serve honorably in our armed
services and that over eighteen states, with some five cases pending appellate decisions
in a number of others, would achieve marriage equality.

There has been a dramatic decline in LGBT churches,
except in geographically conservative states. Many Christians are searching for
more integrated and welcoming congregations where all are celebrated as
children of God.

MCC in the Valley, founded in 1972 in North Hollywood and
the only “green” MCC church, has undergone a year long discernment process to
become even more inclusive as a church. 
The congregation has voted 92% affirmative with 8% abstaining to
affiliate with the United Church of Christ, a progressive social justice and
environmentally involved church, as dual affiliated church—both United Church
of Christ and Metropolitan Community Church. 
The congregation believes that together our churches better serve God’s
people.

Rev. Joseph Shore-Goss the Pastor of Congregational Care
and Spiritual Life says; “I have dreamt of something like this since my days in
seminary.  That I may be involved in a
community actively attempting to live out the prayer; ‘That they may all be
one.’ (John 17:21) ‘In essentials–unity, in nonessentials–diversity, in all
things–charity,’   I pray that
through the united and uniting efforts of the UCC we may bring a true Message
of God’s all inclusive love.”

There will be an acceptance of MCC into the United Church
of Christ in May 10th at the Central Association Meeting of the UCC
and an installation service on Sunday May 18th at 3 PM.