JANUARY 20, 2006
Don Borbe served as MCC's second pastor from 1979 to 1981, fully engaging
in community activities like Pride.
They were the 47th congregation in the growing worldwide denomination.
Perry came to Portland for the chartering service Jan. 9, 1977. Many skep
tical gay community members had anticipated the third MCC attempt
flopping like the first two. But they turned out in force at The Old Church
for the gala event, Roxy Neuhardt and Darcelle included.
Nine months later, the^Portland MCC congregation did something
unusual. It mustered the down payment and bought a derelict wood frame
church in the hippie-infested Sullivan’s Gulch area near Irvington. Real
estate people in September 1978 figured it was good enough for the gays.
MCC Portland was only the third congregation in the UFMCC to buy its
own building, and the mortgage was not burned until 1993. It was a far
sighted venture that has paid off. The church is still the only major piece of
gay-identified urban real estate in Oregon.
Amerine left the congregation to become the first coordinator of the
Northwest District of the UFMCC in June 1979. The Rev. Don Borbe, the
Rev. Jim Glyer and Delores Berry followed him, each serving an average of
15 months. When Harvey Milk was murdered in San Francisco in 1978,
a memorial was held at MCC. Speakers were Barbara Roberts, Jerry Weller
and Holly Hart. In October 1979, MCC and the Portland Town Council
jointly sponsored a candlelight march down Broadway. In 1980, the
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus was organized at the suggestion of MCC’s first
choir director, Gary Coleman. PGMC rehearsed at the church and held its
earliest concerts there.
JUSt.OUt 21
Just Out founders Jay Brown (center) and Renee LaChance (left of
Brown) supported MCC in newspaper articles and columns.
Challenges and Responses to AIDS in the Community
AIDS reared its ugly head in 1981 and became a primary focus of the
gay community and the church by 1983. Several members of PGMC and
MCC formed early support groups, which led to Phoenix Rising, the
Personal Active Listening Project and Community Health and Essential
Support Services. Cascade AIDS Project later incorporated these groups.
Esther’s Pantry opened at this time, first housed behind the Dirty Duck,
then under the Embers Avenue before moving under the Everett Hotel
across from Ray’s Ordinary Grill on Northwest Broadway.
The Rev. Gary Wilson arrived in 1986. His contributions to the congre
gation and the gay community included assisting Pat Schweibert and oth
ers with the startup of Our House of Portland. In 1986, MCC planned the
first 50-hour AIDS prayer vigil. In 1987, many churches throughout the city
joined in the event, as they did for the next several years. This led to
Portland’s observation of World AIDS Day.
In 1988, Measure 8 was the first political battle at the ballot box con
cerning “no special rights” for gays. The gay community was stunned. Terry
Bean, Karen Keeney, Jim Wegher and John Grigsby formed what became
known as Equity Foundation to help the gay community get financially
organized. National Coming Out Day was proclaimed for that October.
Raised in the Church of God of Prophecy, the Rev.
Troy Perry has fasted, led marches and met with
presidents in his quest for justice for all
oppressed communities.
Special Celebration Events
• Jan. 27: Reception, 5 p.m. at Peace House,
2116 N.E. 18th Ave. Sanctuary concert, 7 p.m. at
Metropolitan Community Church of Portland,
2400 N.E. Broadway.
• Jan. 28: “A Curious and Peculiar People”
history evening featuring speakers and displays,
7 p.m. at MCC.
• Jan. 29: Festival worship with special guest the
Rev. Troy Perry, 9 and 11 a.m. at MCC.
Continued on Page 22
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Sister Paula Nielsen returned to Portland after
working with the Angelus Temple in Los
Angeles. She was church secretary for 10 years
before launching her cable access ministry.
Austin Amerine returned for several anniversary celebrations.
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