|
A New House of Worship -- February 3, 2002
by Bob Demaree, Agape News Staff, February 2002
Never has there been a place in the State of Indiana that gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual persons could call their own House of Worship.
|
|
|
The new sanctuary on January 19. This is going to be finished by February 3?
|
|
|
|
The first service in the new sanctuary -- February 3, 10:30 a.m.
|
|
There is now.
On Sunday, February 3, Jesus Metropolitan Community Church opened the doors to its own building, the first GLBT-owned church in Indiana.
"It's a symbol of hope" for GLBT people throughout the state, said Jesus MCC pastor Jeff Miner. "A church building symbolizes the presence of God, and until this
time there has never been a church building associated primarily with our community. This new building is a powerful symbol of God's presence among us. For the first time [a GLBT Hoosier] can drive past a big
building and say this is a place where my people worship."
Jesus MCC, founded in August 1990, has met in rented space for the last 11½ years, including the last four years at All Souls Unitarian Church in eastern
Indianapolis. Now, for the first time ever, we will have a Sunday morning worship service which will be held at 10:30 a.m. There will continue to be a Sunday evening service at 6:00 p.m.
Pastor Jeff said the existence of Jesus MCC's own building communicates permanence and legitimacy. "It's hard for some people to believe you're a real
church if you don't even have a church home," he said. "It brings a sense of stability."
Even without a building Jesus MCC has grown by leaps and bounds. We had just 40 members five years ago. Today, attendance is regularly more than 200 and we are now the largest Metropolitan Community Church in the denomination's Great Lakes District — an area that covers six states including Ohio,
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
"This is a happening place," Pastor Jeff said. "The spirit of God is doing wonderful things."
Small groups have gone from 2 to 28 in the last five years. These groups meet for fellowship, study,
service, and support, and range from Communion serving to coed basketball. The building provides room for the church and its groups to continue growing.
The first services in the new sanctuary were held on Sunday, February 3, at 10:30 am and 6:00 pm. We hope that even those who have not been able to attend services for a while will join us for
this momentous occasion, and will share the excitement of this historic time.
Jesus MCC is a place where GLBT people hear the message of God's love and grapple with what it
means to follow Jesus — a place where "GLBT Christian" is not an oxymoron.
"Our people, like all people, have a deep spiritual sense, an instinctive longing to connect with God," said Pastor Jeff.
Many who are gay may have been turned off in the past by churches that would not accept them for who they are. "They may have given up and decided to do it for themselves. But now they will know
there is a church of people like us and they don't have to go it alone. They can step into a church community where they will be welcomed with support and love."
The 21,000 square-foot building, located near Keystone Avenue and 56th Street at 2950 E. 55th Place, had previously been used as businesses, and continues to have businesses operating in a
portion of it. Renovation work has been necessary in order to transform it into a church, including
the creation of a 375-seat sanctuary along with a social hall, kitchen, nursery, conference room, classrooms and offices.
There is still more work to do. Blinds are needed for the windows, flooring is needed for the social hall
and kitchen, and a booth is needed for the sound system. It is hoped an Art Auction on March 2 — our first social event in the building — will raise money for these not-yet-completed projects.
The building is a turning point for Jesus MCC. It's something that church members have been
working toward for a long time, but Pastor Jeff noted it's "not at all about the real estate or the bricks and mortar" of having a building of our own. "It's a platform for us to use to fulfill what God has
called us to do."
It's about the ministry and the message. It's about reaching out to GLBT people in the central Indiana and spreading the gospel of God's awesome love.
See also: pages are listed in reverse chronological order
|
