Liberation United Church of Christ (UCC) is closing after 19 years of Ministry to the lgbt community, 14 of those years on Madison Avenue in Lakewood. The final decision to dissolve and close the church was made at a special congregational meeting on Sunday, November 18. The recommendation to close was made by Liberation’s coordinating Council after several months of careful study and consideration and meetings with officials of the Western Reserve Association of the UCC.
Liberation was started in 1993 as a ministry by and for the lgbt community. After meeting at the Hillel Community Center at Case Western University for five years, Liberation moved to its present location in Lakewood in 1998 when the Parkwood UCC church dissolved and the building was given to Liberation.
Rev. H. Kurt Wieser, originally from Philadelphia, has served as senior pastor for the past 10 years. He lives
in Westlake with his partner of 22 years, Jim Ebbenga.
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As a predominately gay church, Liberation has played an important role in the lives of hundreds of local lgbt people who were alienated by or unwelcome in other churches. In recent years, as society has become more inclusive and accepting, more churches have also opened their doors to the lgbt community.
In its 19 years, Liberation has made an important contribution to the life of the community, working closely with the Lakewood Community Service Center, community meals programs, AIDS Food Bank collections, Cleveland Pride, Equality Ohio Lobby Days and other organizations and events, to name a few. The Liberation facility has also
been home to Community United Head Start and Day Care, several AA groups, Co-dependents Anonymous, the Lakewood High School Gay-Straight Alliance and others.
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Rev. Wieser and the Liberation congregation have joined with other Lakewood churches in ecumenical services such as Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, Easter Sunrise services on the lakefront, Community Thanksgiving services, special Lenten bible studies and more.
On Sunday, December 23, at 2:00 p.m., Liberation will hold a special service of celebration and gratitude for the blessings of God upon its members and friends and its church building. The church will officially close following the Christmas Eve Service December 24 at 10:00 p.m. The facility will continue to be home for the Head Start program and other groups that currently use the building for their
classes and meetings.