The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 21, 1997, Image 1
WEATHER
Thunderstorms
P TUESDAY
Thunderstorms
Columbi
^Columbia couple finds
church that combines
spiritwihty,homosexuality
in the Christian faith
ERIN SHAW Staff Writer
Michelle, a 26-year-old Columbia
President, is busy being a newlywed.
She's proud of her wedding ring,
building her savings and planning on
starting a family. She beams when she
talks about being in love.
Along with decorating the house and
establishing bank accounts, her new
shared life included finding a church.
Not only did she have to find a church
she felt comfortable joining, she was
faced with an additional challenge ?
would that church accept her and her
partner?
^ Michelle's partner is a woman named
Emily.
And they're Christians.
"We're a normal, active couple that
loves God and loves to go to church,"
Michelle said After their marriage "union"
ceremony, Michelle and Emily searched
for a church where they could be honest
about themselves and their relationship.
They attended several churches, but
^didn't feel this acceptance until they
attended Columbia's Metropolitan
Community Church, led by the pastor
who performed their union, Reverend
Patricia Voelker.
MCC is not an exclusively "gay"
church. It does, however, offer "primary,
but not exclusive, ministry to the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender community
of the Midlands of South Carolina,"
t according to a church brochure.
This is something Voelker stresses.
She said she would rather have it
known as a place that accepts all people,
regardless of religious background and
sexual orientation.
"One way to get my gander up is to
call us a gay church," Voelker said. "Most
of us happen to be gay, but the church
has no gender or sexuality. We don't turn
anyone away from here. If you come for
!11 1 J-l J_ i )
^ a service, yuu wiu near me worus gay
and 'lesbian,' but you won't here the
words you're only good if like you hear
in many other churches."
A diverse congregation
Raised Methodist, Voelker said she
was called to the ministry at age 49 after
"coming out" to herself as a lesbian 10
years prior. She has been pastor for about
%two years.
She said her identity as a lesbian
does not conflict with her identity as
Christian.
"My understanding of God is that
God is so broad, he creates diversity,"
Voelker said. "God gave us our sexuality
as much as he gave us our spirituality."
Voelker said she sees diversity in
people, and her congregation, as a
reflection of the diversity of God. She
Gibbes Planetarium brings
universe down to Earth
Gibbes Planetarium's show,
"Through the Eyes of Hubble," is
scheduled to begin Saturday and run
through June 22. The program is
being brought back by popular
demand and has been updated since
its 1996 debut to include the latest
V discoveries. Show times are every
Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and
4 p.m. The planetarium's on-going
Carolina Sides program is shown at
3 pjn. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets
to either show are 50 cents with paid
museum admission, which is $2 for
%
GAMECOCK ONLINE Vis
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Reverend Patricia Voelker speaks 1
give, ministry to the lesbian, gay, bis
said one of her favorite sayings is, 1 was
created in God's image, not your image
of God."
This is part of VoelkeFs philosophy
when people voice their disagreement
with her life by basing their arguments
on the Bible. She said she believes the
frequently quoted passages are twisted
by those who want to build a case against
homosexuality, a case substantiated by
cultural reinforcement throughout the
centuries.
Tf they ever want to quote what Jesus
says about it (homosexuality), they'll
have to remain silent," she said "There's
nothing in the New Testament that says
homosexuals are wrong."
Homosexuality in the Bible
Jimmy Gahagan, official
representative of USC's Intervarsity
Christian Fellowship, said the Bible does
address homosexuality as a sin.
"The Rihle is nrettv clear in that.
*"v ?
homosexuality is wrong," Gahagan said.
"Homosexuality needs to be dealt with
like any other sin. I would be against
the concept of a church established on
a principle I couldn't accept."
Dave Patehin, director of Campus
Crusade for Christ, shares similar views.
He also said there is a place for
homosexuals in the church ? those who
adults, $1.50 for students and seniors
and free for museum members and
children under 6. Call the Starline
at 254-STAR for information.
Engineering students shines at
regional conference
This year, Virginia Tech was the
host of t!he SouthEasternConference
sponsored by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers. USC's
TEEE student branch entered robots
and web homepages for competition;
took first place in software competition
with Brian Poteat, Glenn Dawson
and Jason Majors; and won a
paper/presentation contest with Rob
Bierman.
The use XUD171
Excelsior | | Ti u
Trio is
L. THIRI
" graduate PiCf
student chamber
music trio.
They recently placed third in
_ national competition. More in ETC
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to her congregation at the Metro]
exual and transgender community
recognize their "sexual sin" and don't
act on their homosexual tendencies.
"People who are struggling with this
issue need compassion and they need tr
be cared for," Patehin said. "They don't
need to be ostracized."
USC Religious Studies Professor
Kevin Lewis said the founding of churches
for the needs of specific "niche groups*
is on the rise, particularly in the South.
He said he speaks as a Christian and
an academic professor in supporting the
right for the MCC to exist and for
members to call themselves Christians,
"As controversial as it may be, (the
MCC) is an expression of groups that
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tradition that won't change," Lewis said
"Why it pleases some Christians tc
think that homosexuals choose to be
homosexuals is beyond me," Lewis said.
"It reflects upon their own peculiar waj
of dealing with sexuality than upon
guidance received from scripture."
Support and acceptance
Voelker stresses the absence of
hostility or rejection toward a person for
not prescribing to rigid church doctrine
at MCC. She said MCC accepts people
"where they are, not where we want
them to be."
According to Voelker, many members
Friends of C
PERRY SOLUBLE Staff Writer
The Friends of the Congaree Swam
help maintain the Congaree Swamp Park
is to develop funds, volunteers and a
legislators to better the swamp.
The Congaree Swamp was establish*
is the last significant tract of river bottoi
Southeast. On June 30,1983, the Ui
designated the park as an Internatioi
Reserve.
The park is an international treasure
said Carol Lamb, a Friends group men
As one of only 300 in the world, the Co
has state and national champion trees ai
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poll tan Community Church. The chu
y of the Midlands of South Carolina" a
have been rejected from their families,
communities and churches ? places
i people turn for support.
Church member Michelle knows all
about hatred.
While studying religion and psychology
at Converse College in Spartanburg, she
> said she was frequently harassed for her
' sexual orientation, receiving what she
called "close to death threats," ranging
1 from harassing messages on her
i answering machine to posters with
offensive names taped to her door. She
said she prides herself on not being
! hypocritical and not judging those who
; are so ready to judge her.
1 "I can understand how it's really hard
to go against what you were taught all
> your life," she said in response to those
s who tell her she's going to hell for being
a lesbian. "I respect other people's rights
r to their opinions. It means I have a right
l to my own."
Spirituality is one tie that binds
Michelle and Emily, one reason it was
so important ior tnem to noia a marriage
ceremony and find a church to attend
as a couple, Michelle said. At MCC, she
can hold hands and receive communion
with Emily during the service without
being stared at.
The concept of MCC as a place of safe
worship is important to the congregation,
Voelker said.
iongaree Swar
of land. In the past five yei
60 nations have signed th<
The group has organii
p is a group to ga^ deals with t
^ issues. The second handle
dvocacy with 'pgg tgjrd group operates f
group works on upcoming
>d in 1976 and deals with public relations
m forest in the The Friends Group wai
lited Nations and about the park. They w
lal Biosphere 0f law enforcement officer:
The group must follow
s to the people," raise money. Their idea is
iber. Dublic and the Dark.
ngaree Swamp The Friends group is in
id 22,200 acres access road into the park
; Lady DOW]
mecocks take
; step closer to an DOG:
ampionship with
)ur-game sweep of the D4
orgia Bulldogs.
re in SPORTS.
www.gamecock.sc.edu
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TORI O'HARA The Gamecock
rch offers "primary, bat not excluiccording
to a church brochure.
"If the biggest bigot comes in, I can't
stop him from walking in the door,"
Voelker said. She said she would only
ask someone to leave if they threatened
church members.
Reaching out
Voelker said that although they have
received no negative feedback from other
churches in the community, they haven't
been openly embraced by any, either.
Voelker said she wished she would be
invited to one of the various groups of
churches that continue ongoing dialogues
in the Columbia area. She said she hopes
for not only increased spirituality within
the church, but increased visibility in
the community.
Voelker said one way of doing this is
by reaching out to entire communities
and people of different faiths. i
She said she looks forward to
continuing the guest preaching series,
when members of the MCC invite 1
ministers afotherfeiths to deliver sermons 1
during Sunday services.
"This isn't a bar, this isn't a pickup
place," she said. "This is a place where s
people who have experienced God share t
that with other people. i
"How could anyone want to put that f
down? Why is that anything but a cause s
for celebration?"
np unite for p
irs, people from more than enters it is prr
i park's register. They want
sed five task forces, Lamb ranger's statioi
he organization and bylaw who come to tt
;s the membership aspect, like to raise ft
und raising, and the fourth Lamb said 1
I projects. The fifth group all come togetl
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) aim images. oeii. tiuim
its to enhance education in both present a
ant to establish the presence that the Cong
3 in the park. The group
r federal guidelines to help Congaree Swa
j to intertwine the general and 4. Events
Banning." A1
terested in making a public reservations a
because the only road that 776-4396, ext.
What is the total distanc
Pluto and back in miles
S
5 ANSWER: 7,000,00
Source: Harper's Index
INDEX
Viewpoints 2
Etc. 3
Comics 4
Sports 5
Classified 6
eligion
Church members
appreciate freedom
/I mm 1 1 i />
for worship, behets
ERIN SHAW Staff Writer
The MCC's view of acceptance is
jvidenced in their non-traditional views
>n just exactly who and what God is.
The acceptance of the many faces of
lesus is one of the main tenants of belief
it the MCC. There is an illustration of
i black Jesus on the wall, and they refer
o God as "God," not as male or female.
Members' individual needs are taken
nto account as much as possible. For
jxample, they use grape juice instead of
vine in communion to support members
vho may be in recovery from drug or
dcohol addictions.
The first time you hear someone say
Jesus is a blade man,' or God is a woman,"
ts like Whoah, wait a minute," member
Michelle said. "But then, when you think
ibout it, it's a wonderful concept. Who
s to say God is anything other than God.
It's almost degrading to the Spirit."
MCC is like many other Christian
hurches in several capacities. They have
Sunday worship services consisting of
3ible passages, music performed by a
:horal group and prayers.
There are about 40 regular members
rf" the church. They come from all different
aackgrounds, ranging from Baptist to
Catholic. Members represent all walks
)f life and positions in the community
? from USC students to professionals,
[n addition to Sunday services, MCC
aolds a Tuesday night prayer group.
Members share Sunday pot luck lunches
and support community service projects.
Sunday services and other church
activities highlight MCC's diversity,
:ombining many elements of worship
from various Christian faiths.
"We have a wonderfully spiritual
ivorsmp service, voelKer said, une 01
the neat things about this church is that
this congregation has a positive feel. We
have a cross-section of people. We have
singles, couples, women and men."
The MCC of Columbia is part of a
Christian denomination called the
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Churches, based in Los Angeles. The
UFMCC is made up of 300 churches
worldwide. The doctrine of the churches
is based upon the principles of the Apostles
and Nicene Creeds. The specifics of
worship services differ from church to
church, each left up to combine elements
of traditional and progressive worship
as they choose.
The UFMCC was founded in 1968
by Rev. Troy Perry, a Pentecostal preacher
who was rejected from his ministry
because he was gay.
Voelker emphasized 1968 as
ignificant in terms of civil rights. It's
he year before Stonewall, the historic
iprising in which a group of gay men
untested a police raid on a gay bar, often
leen as a turning point for gay rights.
reservation
/ate.
; to obtain the money to increase the
i to make it more interesting for people
te swamp. Eventually, the group would
mds for an amphitheater in the park,
the Friends group is "a lot of groups that
ler for the environment."
Courson and Rep. James Smith were
t the first meeting to "reiterate the role
Tess plays for the state," Lamb said.
? A A *111 1 1 1 If ft
i s next meeting win De neia may e.
imp NatureFest will be held May 2,3,
i include the "Owl Prowl" and "Bird
1 programs are free, but advanced
re required. For more information, call
304.
V FOR
0,000 ^ FUN