Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha

Biography

From http://www.mccomaha.org/page.php?ipage=30:

In 1973, "Rev. Fred Zydek and Rev. Gary Storm became MCC Omaha's first pastors. Services were held in the Unitarian church, and in January 1974, MCC Omaha became a chartered Metropolitan Community Church congregation.

"In 1975 Rev. Bob Arthur became pastor and the church moved into a former laundromat at the corner of 20thand Burt. Rev. Bob Darst then took leadership of the congregation. Pastor Bob was known for the two dollar fellowship meals he prepared and served every Wednesday. In 1982, Rev. Jan Kross joined MCC Omaha family as the first female pastor. The congregation continued to meet at 20th and Burt despite vandalism and graffiti until the Fire Marshall ruled the building did not meet code.

"In 1975, members of MCC Omaha took a huge step in faith and purchased a former bar at 420 South 24th Street. On that day MCC Omaha became the first LGBT organization in Nebraska to own property. Today we are still the only LGBT organization in the state that owns real estate.

"The congregation worked hard to beautify that small building. (To this day it continues to serve as a church with an outreach to bikers.) The cross from that building continues to hang in the building's current sanctuary. In 1985 MCC Omaha was present in the first Pride parade and has marched in each year in Omaha's Pride parade since then. In 1989, Rev. Matthew Howard was called as pastor.

"Rev. Howard worked with the church and the community to raise money, and in 1992, the congregation purchased the current building on South 22nd Street. Built in 1888 as Danish Lutheran church, the congregation found a home where MCC Omaha could grow. Neighbors donated land and today the church and its property comprises nine and a half lots of land in downtown Omaha. In 1995, Earle Lewis came to the pulpit followed by Rev. Sharon Sloat in 1996, and Rev. Barb Sagat in 2001. Rev. Tom Emmett moved from Colorado in 2007 to become the Senior Pastor and Rev. Melissa Smithee was added as a second pastor in 2010 as the Pastor of Congregational Life."

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records: