Who are we at MCC Key West?
- MCC Key West
On June 15, 1980 Keys to the Kingdom Metropolitan Community Church formed as a study group with 14 members, holding services at the Key West Women’s Club on Duval Street. The Worship Coordinator was Rev. Robert Copestake, and the late Jerry Franz was active in organizing services. In November of 1982 The Church attained Mission Status and in December Rev. Greg Strickland was called as Pastor.
In 1983 the Church was incorporated as Metropolitan Community Church Key West, a not for profit (501c3) corporation under the laws of the State of Florida. Greg Strickland and Rev. Walt Collins led the Church. In 1985 Rev. Steve Torrence was called as pastor; there were 49 active members.
In 1986 the building at our present location, 1215 Petronia, was purchased from The Salvation Army. That organization did not want to sell to MCC so the building was bought by a member who then sold to the Church. That same year the Church was chartered by UFMCC and became a sponsor of the Lambda Buddy Group, with 60 active volunteers providing assistance to PWAs and individuals with ARC. During the 80’s and 90’s MCC Key West performed an important ministry to this population and their friends and families. In November 1986 a Thanksgiving service was the first service was held in the new building. In January 1987 The Church received an occupancy permit and began holding regular services in the new building. Later in 1987 a deck was added in the rear of the building and Joan Rapp was hired as an Administrative Assistant.
By May 1989 MCC Key West had 98 active members and hosted the Southeast District Conference of UFMCC. In June, 1990 The Church celebrated its 10th anniversary with Rev. Elder Troy Perry delivering the message. Rev. Tyrone Sweeting became the Assistant Pastor. The Church began a bookstore in the Social Hall. There were 114 active members by the end of the year. In 1991 The Church began a Lay Shepherds Program to assist the Pastor in meeting the needs of the Congregation.
In 1992 Rev. Sweeting was called to become Pastor of MCC, Lafayette, Louisiana. Tony Freeman was installed as Pastoral Intern in September. Rev. Julia Seward was called as Assistant Pastor in November. Under the direction of Rev. Seward assisted by Lauri Smith, signing interpretation was provided during services; the next year a chair lift was installed from the Social Hall to the second floor Sanctuary. MCC Key West participated in outreach to MCC churches in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by providing monthly funds to assist an Orphanage there. The 15th anniversary was celebrated with a party at Atlantic Shores Resort. Our Pastoral Intern, Tony Freeman, left in August to continue his journey toward ordination. Rev. Elder Troy Perry visited in October.
In 1995 The Lower Keys Ministerial Association refused to allow MCC to participate in their annual Christmas Parade. A controversy ensued and the next year the City of Key West took over the running of the renamed and inclusive Holiday Parade. In addition, a new, more inclusive alliance of ministers was formed.
Rev. Torrence took a sabbatical in 1996-97 to attend the Police Academy and Rev. Seward was Acting Pastor. Following Steve’s departure, Rev. Roy Lennington served as pastor. Then Rev. Todd Gowey was appointed as interim pastor by district coordinator Rev. Judy Davenport. When Rev. Davenport passed suddenly, Rev. Gowey was called to temporarily fill her position. In 2002 he appointed Geoff Leonard-Robinson as interim pastor, who was later ordained in UFMCC.
In 2005 we undertook a major renovation of the building and our kitchen upgraded to commercial standard allowing us to expand our feeding ministries. In June we celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a banquet in the Key West Women’s Club, our original “home.” The Rev. Elder Troy Perry was present, preaching on the anniversary Sunday and serving as Grand Marshall of the annual Pride Parade.
In June 2006 Rev. Geoff Leonard-Robinson left to become Pastor of St. Luke’s MCC, Jacksonville, Florida. In December 2007 The Rev. Charles Tigard, appointed by Regional Elder Rev. Lillie Brock, became our Interim Pastor, with a two-year appointment. Following strategic planning, and some consolidation and structuring, we began our pastoral search under the direction of Rev. Elder Brock. We hope to call a pastor by the end of 2008.
- UFMCC
In 1968, a year before New York's Stonewall Riots, a series of most unlikely events in Southern California resulted in the birth of the world's first church group with a primary, positive ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons.
Those events, a failed relationship, an attempted suicide, a reconnection with God, an unexpected prophecy, and the birth of a dream led to MCC's first worship service: a gathering of 12 people in Rev. Troy Perry's living room in Huntington Park, California on October 6, 1968.
That first worship service in a Los Angeles suburb in 1968 launched the international movement of Metropolitan Community Churches, which today has grown to 43,000 members and adherents in almost 300 congregations in 22 countries. During the past 36 years, MCC's prophetic witness has forever changed the face of Christianity and helped to fuel the international struggle for LGBT rights and equality
Our Mission and Vision Statements
MCC Key West Mission Statement
To reclaim Christianity for all people with the Message of God's Inclusive Love; by building on Christ's Foundation of Compassion, Diversity, Vision and Courage: Sharing a Faith which Empowers people to Live out their Greatest Calling: To Love God and One Another.
UFMCC's Mission Statement
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a Christian Church founded in and reaching beyond the Gay and Lesbian communities. We embody and proclaim Christian salvation and liberation, Christian inclusivity and community, and Christian social action and justice. We serve among those seeking and celebrating the integration of their spirituality and sexuality.
UFMCC's Vision Statement
Metropolitan Community Churches are on a bold mission to transform hearts, lives, and history. We are a movement that faithfully proclaims God’s inclusive love for all people and proudly bears witness to the holy integration of spirituality and sexuality. Just as Jesus did, we are called to:
* Do justice, show kindness, and live humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
* Explore life’s questions with open hearts and minds.
* Raise our voices in sacred defiance against religious (and political or systemic) exclusion.
* Reach out to those with no hope.
* Lift up new generations of remarkable, far-reaching spiritual activists.
click here for a link to UFMCC's complete statement of Vision, Purpose, and Direction
Metropolitan Community Church, Key West
1215 Petronia St., Key West Florida 33040
(305)294-8912
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