I
JULY 30 . 2005 • Q-NOTES
South Carolina
13
MCC has a new presence
in the Upstate
Celebration marks denomination's
recognition
by David Stout
Q-Notes staff
There’s an old saying that everything’s
better the second time around. Donna
Stroud is hoping, or rather preying, it’s true.
Rev. Elder Storey (r) welcomes Rev. Stroud
and MCC of the Upstate into the MCC
fellowship.
You see, Stroud, an ordained minister with
the Metropolitan Community Church, is
involved in a few “second times” these
days.
• Her journey to the clergy began in the
mid ’90s when she started attending her
local MCC in Greenville, S.C. After mov
ing away to study — first at Emory
University in Atlanta then at Erskine
College in Due West, S.C. — followed by
a stint on staff at MCC Charlotte, she’s
returned to Greenville.
• She is the newly installed pastor of MCC
of the Upstate, an MCC church estab
lished to fill the void that was created
when MCC Greenville disassociated from
the denomination in 2003 over polity dif
ferences.
• Her congregation recently secured its
own worship space in Duncan, S.C., and
expects to purchase the property by the
end of the year. It will be the second such
building owned by LGBT Christians in the
Greenville metro region. New Day
Christian Community — the former MCC
Greenville — has owned its worship
facility since 1996.
Rev. Stroud told Q.-Nofes that the 75-
seat, 110-year-old church has a
unique history. “It was originally
an AME church, built by a white
family for the black community
because they weren’t allowed to
attend white churches at the time.
It’s changed hands several times
over the years and eventually
reverted back to one of the origi
nal owning families.”
On July 10 a celebration was
held to mark Metropolitan
Community Church’s official
recognition of MCC of the Upstate
as an affiliate, Stroud’s installation
as pastor and the consecration of
the church building, located at
2180 E. Poinsett St. extension
(also known as Highway 290).
Members and regular atten
dees were joined at the event by
well-wishers from neighboring
MCCs and special guests Rev.
Elder Gill Storey, director of MCC Region 7
— which encompasses the Carolinas —
and her partner, noted MCC evangelist Rev.
Elder Jeri Ann Harvey.
The afternoon included a worship serv
ice led by Rev. Elder Storey, special music
and plenty of food and fellowship.
“Today’s gathering was a joyous and
emotional celebration for Pastor Donna
and the entire congregation,” said one
attendee. “One woman even told me she
wished she could live in the building
because she just loves it so much.”
Rev. Elder Storey noted that MCC of the
Upstate was the last church to join the
denomination before its historic changing
of the guard at General Conference —
scheduled for the fourth weekend in July in
Calgary, Canada — when MCC founder
Rev. Elder Tboy Perry was to conclude his
official duties as Moderator and step down
after more than three and a half decades of
Metropolitan Community Church
of the Upstate ^
Come celebrate God with us in a loving, kind: affirming ^
and accepting place where worship is our most important ■
priority. ^
Diversity is our strength. All are welcome in (jcxd’s house,
regardless of gender, color, aeed or religious background.
ALWAYS!
Metropolitan Community Church of the Upstate
2180 East Poinsett Street Ext. (Highway 290) / Duncan, SC 29334
Phone: 864.439.5080 E-Mail: mccgreenville@bellsouth.net
Rev. Donna Stroud, M.Div. Website: mccgreenvillesccom
Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 pm / Choir Practice: 4:45 pm
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