June - 1974 - In Unity

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~~--~~QUOTE *

* TODA V'S

* WEATHER *

" There is one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.. "

Whether it's cold, or Whether it's hot, The Spirit will be with us, Weather or not!

Ephesians 4:4路5 '<..l!3;----.G""'

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Vol. IV, No.3

The Magazine of the Universal Fellowship of MetropolitanCommunity

Churches

June 1974

Gays Converge on San Francisco LOS ANGELES MCC

- HOME AT LAST Richard Reddinger MCC Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CaIifornia- The dedication of the "mother church" of Metropolitan Community Church took place on Sunday, April 28,1974 at its new location at 1050 South Hill Street, here. Together we stood, hundreds of us - the rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight, celebrities, representatives from just about every walk of life - together rejoicing and thanking God for the blessings of fellowship and Birthplace of MCC for the faith that He has given 1.0 us all. At 11 a.m. the main sanctuary was filled to more than capacity, everyone joining in a personal way with the singspiration songfest before the services. With an air of victory and dignity, the processional began with the flag representatives from each state or country where there is an MCC, the most impressive being the one from Nigeria in his native costume. The invocation was delivered by Elder Richard Ploen, Dean of the Samaritan Bible School and Elder John Hose gave the special welcome. Special guest, Ms. Martin J. (Beckie) Walsh, well-known mezzo-soprano from Gallup, New Mexico, sang a Psalm accompanied by Dr. Emma Lou Diemer, graduate composer from the Eastman School of Music. Rev. Elder Freda Smith jubilantly read letters of congratulations from President Richard M. Nixon, Senator John Tunney, Congressman Barry Goldwater, Mae West, and many, many more. [Cont'd on page 17) GAYS AND THE BIBLE

Is There Condemnation? Carl Goebel Exhorter Candidate MCC Sacramento

The issue we are dealing with is that of rightly divining the word of truth concerning homosexuality. As Christians, we feel that we have studied to present ourselves approved unto God, unashamed workmen in His service, and that we have the "boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him" and not by any rationalizati.on of truth or Scripture: "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." The word 'sodomite' is nowhere found in either the Hebrew of the Old Testament or' the Greek of the New. The word that the King James mistranslates as 'sodomite' is the Hebrew word qadesh, literally (Continued on page 10)

HOST CHURCH Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 23rd and Capp Street, San Francisco, will host the Fifth Annual UFMCC General Conference August 7-1l. The church, which shares its facilities with SFMCC will be the site of worship and business conducted by delegates and ministers from 30 states and four countries. In addition to events planned DY the conference staff, ether activities are being planned by the SF gay community to correspond with the five-day conference.

SFMCC To Host Confab SAN FRANCISCO-Gay Christians from the U.S., England, Africa, Canada and Denmark are scheduled to gather here in August for the fifth annual General Conference of the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches. San Francisco's gay community is already beginning to plan a welcome that delegates won't soon forget. The community throughout the five-day conference, will plan special events to correspond with conference programs. The first two days, beginning Wednesday, August 7, will be devoted to registration, workshops, and committee meetings. Elder James Sandmire, pastor of the host church reports, "There will be plenty of time to get acquainted and settled before the concentrated business sessions begin on Friday." The theme: There is one body ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism ... is taken Sandmire noted, from Ephesians 4:4-5. A half-hour registration period begins both the Wednesday and Thursday schedules at 8:30 a.m. Special Communion services conducted by the district coordinators will follow at 9 a.m. Wednesday. A devotional is scheduled Thursday. Committee meetings and workshops have been scheduled from 9:30 to 11 :30 a.rn. and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. While lunch, is scheduled from 11 :30 a.rn. to 1 p.m. the first four days of the conference. A special dinner for district coordinators is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday. Rev. Bo Daniels, pastor of MCC Cincinnati, will bring God's message to the delegates and friends at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, the annual ministers' dinner will commence at 7:30 p.m. and others attending the conference will have the evening open to take in the sights of (Continued on page 10)


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