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A strong voice
The new pastor at MCC Portland has plans to revitalize
the organization’s role in the community
▼
by In g a S o ren se n
selves, have been rejected along the way by the
oy A. Cole is a man with big plans and
Christian church. Many believe that God no longer
grand visions. As the new pastor of
loves them because of their sexual orientation.
the Metropolitan Community Church
That’s what they’re told by their religious lead
of Portland, a denomination catering
ers,” he says. “It takes time to get over that hurt and
to gay and lesbian worshipers, Cole
to realize that’s not true. One of MCC’s roles is to
says he’s looking to give MCC a facelift.
reach out to lesbians and gay men and help them
“My goals include transforming MCC’s pre
reclaim their spiritual heritage.”
dominantly male membership into one which is
In order to reach out to others, Cole says MCC
more reflective of society, a place where women
Portland plans to hold a service honoring women,
feel welcome,” says Cole, adding 90 percent of
and is sponsor
MCC’s 65 members
ing a Christmas
are men. “It seems
celebration Dec.
as though when a
18 to which gay
woman is pastor,
and non-gay fol
then most of her
lowers of many
membership is fe
faiths are invited
male; when a man is
to attend. He
pastor, his member
also would like
ship is mostly male.
MCC to become
I really want to see
a m em ber of
that change,because
Ecumenical
I think lesbians can
Ministries of Or
offer so much to gay
egon,
a group
men and gay men
w hich rep re
can offer so much to
sents 2,000 con
lesbians.”
gregations and
Cole, an amiable
17 denom ina
38-year-old, was re
tions statewide.
cently installed as
Over the years,
MCC Portland’s se
rumors have cir
nior pastor. A 1984
culated
that
graduate of Warner
MCC was not
Pacific University in
Portland, he spent
w elcom e
in
the last five years
EMO due to op-
with MCC in Reno,
position from
Nev., before wend
certain EMO
ing his way back to
members. Other
the Rose City.
rum ors m ain
“I am delighted
tained MCC did
to be back here.
not want to be
There are a lot of
come a member
challenges I am ea
of EMO.
“MCC has a long history here in
ger to take on,” he
“I’ve heard
Portland [25 years], but I think the
says. In addition to
the stories, and I
attractin g
m ore
voice of MCC has been muted over the d o n ’t know
wom en to M CC,
w hat’s w hat,”
years. It's my hope that, under my
Cole is leading the
says
C ole.
pastoral leadership, I can help make
charge to renovate
“W hat I do
the church. The
our voice a strong voice for the rights
know is that I’d
structure, which is
like to sit down
of gay and lesbian people. ”
located in the
and talk with
Irvington neighbor
— R oy A . C ole [EMO ex ecu
hood in Northeast
tive director]
Portland, was built in 1906 and, says Cole, is in
Rodney Page [and] it is my hope that we can
need of serious repair.
become a part of Ecumenical Ministries of Or
“We want to make MCC an asset to the entire
egon.”
Irvington neighborhood as well as the lesbian and
In the meantime, Cole says he will work on
gay community. The church needs major renova
nurturing his relationship with his new commu
tion if we are to do that. We are currently looking
nity. The day after the Nov. 8 election and the
to have the exterior repainted,” Cole says, adding
defeat of Ballot Measure 13, he joined representa
he hopes MCC will eventually become an impor
tives from two dozen human rights organizations
tant resource and comfortable meeting place for a
who held a press conference to call for continued
diversity of community groups.
unity in the struggle for civil rights.
“MCC has a long history here in Portland [25
“I am very proud that MCC will be among the
years], but I think the voice of MCC has been
many groups across our state that are working to
muted over the years. It’s my hope that, under my
educate people about gays and lesbians,” says
pastoral leadership, I can help make our voice a
Cole, adding he’d like to see MCC churches
strong voice for the rights of gay and lesbian
spring up across Oregon. Currently, MCC estab
people.”
lishments exist in Portland, Eugene and Salem.
Cole says he believes MCC’s voice has long
For more information about MCC Portland,
been “muted” because many gay men and lesbians
call 281 -8868. The Christmas service will be held
have simply stayed away from the church: “Many
at 10 am Dec. 18 at MCC, Northeast 24th Avenue
gays and lesbians, in their journey to accept them
and Broadway, in Portland.
R