Interview with Rev. Andy Sidden of Garden of Grace United Church of Christ By Christopher Annino

Garden of Grace http://www.gogucc.com/   was formed 20 years ago as Metropolitan Community Church of Columbia.  It met in a tiny rental facility off Main Street.  This August, the church celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Platinum Extravaganza weekend.  The primary outreach at the beginning was to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.   The church doesn’t just cater to these groups it is meant for all people.  This has reflected in the membership, ministers, and attendees.  Rev Andy Sidden is  the second pastor for Gardens of Grace Church.  A Wings of Change capital campaign 1999-2001 allowed them to pay for wooded land on what was then the outskirts of Columbia South Carolina and the metro area.  A Building & More capital campaign during 2004-2006 allowed them to build on that land, which has now become a thriving part of the city.

Q: What are some of your goals for your church?

A: “Basically, we go to grow God's disciples, to uplift Christ's goodness, to create Spiritual community, and to care for our God's people and God's world.  Our core values are dynamic hope, incredible compassion, extravagant hospitality, and radical love. The grand vision of our church is to gather us to God and to glorify God.  At some point in our future, we will need a second building.  We already need more space for our growing children's ministry.  ”

Q: What are your future plans with the church?

A: Garden of Grace plans its fourth mission trip in July 2014 to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  This is the poorest community in the United States. As we have done in past years, we'll also be collecting items for the reservation, including shoes for Christmas.  We collected groceries for Harvest Hope Food Bank, which serves South Carolina's Midlands, and household items for the University of South Carolina's Housing First program.  We offer on-going pastoral benevolence for those in need.  We minister with the S.C. AIDS Council, S.C. Palmetto AIDS Support Services, S.C. Pride, S.C. Equality, S.C. Pride Trans-Action, S.C. Progressive Network, S.C. Gay & Lesbian Business Guild, and S.C. Christian Action Council.

Q. How do deal with the public and their views toward you?

A: “We have overcome from our earlier years a victim mindset among our people, many of whom were unchurched.  We continue to struggle against the damage done to our people by fundamentalist Christians, while offering a place for Progressive followers of Jesus.  The first couple of years in our new facility we faced repeated vandalism,  but that has ended.  We have become a respected and beloved member of our southeast Columbia community.  Although our people travel as much as hour to worship with us, we now draw from our neighborhood, too. And, of course, more money for new ministries is always needed.’

Q: What are the future plans for your children’s ministry?

A: Out children's ministry is growing rapidly with record numbers of children this year.  Our Children's Ministry expanded this year with the addition of a nursery.  More expansion is needed, including a children's Sunday school with well-trained teachers and with appropriate space.  A family-friendly Fall Festival is planned Saturday, Nov. 10.  This will also raise money for next year's Pine Ridge Mission trip.  Thanksgiving and Christmas covered-dish luncheons will be at 2 p.m. those days.  Our Christmas musical will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22.  Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Celebration will be at 7 p.m.

Q: Any finale thoughts

A: “God bless you all”