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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2002)
October lfl. 2002' rTrn7TTT7imnew;s ocated in a small office building sur minorities commu rounded by trees and almost un- nity, Gentle Shep noticeable to passing cars and pedes herd participates in trians, Metropolitan Community a monthly dinner Small congregation gets a new senior pastor Church of the Gentle Shepherd sponsored by the seeks to continue its personalized ministry to Imperial Sovereign by P atricia L . M acA odh a the Vancouver community. Court of the Rain- tree Empire and The congregation began 17 years ago with an evening service at Michael Servetus Uni- regulatory body overseeing human sub staffs informational booths at Portland Pride versalist Unitarian Fellowship. It later moved ject research protection. “I work to pro and Vancouver’s Saturday in the Park. The con gregation is probably best known for Martha’s to 13th and Jefferson before settling in at mote the science and ethics of human Pantry, a food and dry goods bank for families 2200 Broadway. research at O H SU ,” she says. affected by A ID S in Southwest Washington. What led Barshofsky, born and In those 17 years, the church has had only The church also coordinates an annual Christ raised Jewish in Brooklyn, N.Y., into a three senior pastors. The first, the Rev. Joyce Bax Christian denomination and, ultimate mas basket program for the same people. ter, eventually became involved in the domestic ly, into Christian ministry? Though low-profile, G entle Shepherd is violence movement. The second, the Rev. Teresa an example of how determination and com Nunn, “served for nearly 12 years and was respon “My partner, Andrea, had been a m itm ent can keep a sm all congregation member of an M CC church before we sible for a great deal of church growth and matu active and inspirational to the community met,” she says. “Through her, I learned ration,” long-term member Jerry West says. that [Universal Fellowship of Metropol around it. Barshofsky is excited about her The Rev. Harriet Barshofsky, who was itan Community Churches] was a calling to this church, and the church is installed Sept. 15, previously worked as interim denomination that served the lesbigay enthusiastic about her. director of congregational life at M C C Port “When I was interviewed by the pastoral community. Then, in 1990,1 had a reli land from April 2000 to January 2001. Before The Rev. Harriet Barshofsky will continue working at search committee, I became very impressed by gious conversion experience in which I that she was involved with ministry at M CC Oregon Health Sciences University while preaching at the love and faith of that congregation,” she was led to a specific pastor of M CC Long Beach in Southern California. Metropolitan Community Church of the Gentle Shepherd Long Beach in California.” says. “As the church grows...the needs will Barshofsky completed her formal education increase, and I anticipate becoming a full-time Barshofsky was drawn to preparation for the couver church’s nature while she and parish at University of Portland, where she received a clergy by a vision she had 10 years ago. She real senior pastor.” master’s degree in theology. Her clergy candida ioners work to build a bigger congregation. ized the vision was a call to the professional min Barshofsky serves as what is known as a “tent- cy, a period of ministerial internship, was super M etropolitan C ommunity C hurch of the istry and began the long and demanding process maker minister.” The term refers to a minister vised by the Rev. Roy A. Cole, who stepped leading to her ordination, temporary employ G entle S hepherd holds worship services 10 a.m . whose income is based primarily on secular work. down as M CC Portland pastor in October 2001. ment at M CC Portland and ultimate election to and 6:30 p.m . Sundays in Suites E and F at “Paul was a tentmaker by trade and a preach- Barshofsky explains the difference between 2200 Broadway in Vancouver, W ash. For more er/pastor by calling,” Barshofsky says. “His sub the position she now holds in Vancouver. the two churches. information call 360-695- 1480, e-mail M CC of the Gentle Shepherd meets a need sistence was based on the money he made from “M C C Portland is a community-based in the community. West describes it as “close- m ccgs@ aol.com or visit the Internet site tentmaking.” church, and M C C of the Gentle Shepherd is a w w w .m ccgs.org. knit” but “never an isolationist church, as some While performing her pastoral duties, family-based church. As a family-based church,” smaller churches are.” He says membership Barshofsky will continue her full-time employ she stresses, “M CC of the Gentle Shepherd is P atricia L. M a c A odha is a Portland free-lance varies between eight and 35 people. ment as an analyst on Oregon Health Sciences better able to meet the needs of individuals.” She writer. E-m ail her at plm acaodhal@ hotm ail.com In order to reach out to the larger sexual University’s Institutional Review Board, the wants that tendency to remain a part of the Van- T he T entm aker jn ar t for e v e r y d a y l i f e . 30 n w 2 3 r d p l , P o r t l a n d , o r e q o n , 503-224-0334. p la t in u m and d ia m o n d b a n d s by cathy w a ter m a n 19
