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GAY AND MAINLINE
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I was reading an article by John Dart in Christian Century about the success
of the Metropolitan Community Churches. My reading stopped and memories
began when I came upon this paragraph:
“In October 1968,
Perry [a defrocked gay pastor] placed an ad in a gay newspaper announcing
a service to be held in his rented duplex in Huntington Park near Los Angeles.
Twelve people showed up. Little more than a year later, the 385 seat Encore
Theater in Hollywood was filled with worshipers for Sunday services.”
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That’s when memories poured out, because I was minister of First Christian
Church in Huntington Park at the time. |
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Huntington Park is one of the 80 or so bedroom cities in Los Angeles County.
If you go a mile in any direction you’re either in South Gate, Cudahy,
Bell, Vernon or Los Angeles. It’s just across the tracks from Watts. |
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It was already in the beginning stages of transition when I went there
in 1963. The transition became acute when the Watts riots occurred. It
was a time to be relevant. The congregation, for the most part, cooperated
in our various ventures. We had a coffee house. We started a contemporary
service when they were really contemporary. We started a high-rise senior
citizens retirement home. We were involved in the Watts Urban Redevelopment
Corporation and All People’s Christian Center. I can’t remember all
the things we attempted. Yes, we were relevant! |
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I visited Huntington Park in March of 2001. It is now a vital, mostly Latino
community. We took a photo of that classic Tudor gothic church with its
wonderful stain-glassed windows, pipe organ, gymnasium, chapel and elevator!
The current occupants have covered over the gold-gilded “First Christian
Church” name with a sign that reads, “Templo Adventisto.” Our former coffee
house has been replaced by a parking lot. |
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You like to think, if you are a minister or church member, that your work
is in the mainline. You like to think that it outlasts you. That it matters.
And while we were in Huntington Park we got the headlines. |
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We never had a clue that a major denomination was being born in our midst. |
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Well, we had some clues, but didn’t think much of them. For one thing,
that little house group was soon renting the Huntington Park Women’s Club.
Many of the women in our church were members of the club, so I soon heard
of the new Sunday renters. There were some hesitations about such renters,
but the Women’s Club needed the rent in those days. I remember the comment,
“Boy,
can they sing!” |
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In those days we were not aware of the gay issues. Not sensitive. As long
as I can remember there had been gays and lesbians in my congregations.
They had been on our paid staff. They were elders and deacons. I can’t
remember that it was ever an issue. I thought they were accepted. Our church
became the home of the Huntington Park Civic Theatre. It was reported that
at one of their parties in our social hall, men were seen dancing with
men. It was not reported as something we should do anything about. Just
interesting. |
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Some of those folks were no doubt part of the founding group of the Universal
Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches. Their presentation to
me of the “Oscar” for contributions to the Huntington Park Civic Theater
was an undeserved honor that I increasingly appreciate. |
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Memories are not the same as history, but they are as close as I can come.
I don’t know whether I ever met the Reverend Troy Perry. He must have been
in a bad situation, having recently been defrocked for his honesty about
being gay. We were far more likely to have had differences over his fundamentalist
background than over his sexuality. But our church would have welcomed
his first small groups into our chapel, and probably even our sanctuary.
At least, I hope so. |
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As things turned out, his instincts were right. His personal need was also
in the hearts of others who felt outside the mainline. His small duplex,
then the Women’s Club, were more hospitable venues for people whose rejection
by family, friends, church and society was immense. They had no reason
to risk anyone’s rejection by seeking inclusion in the kind of institution
that has proven itself slow to embrace the outcast. |
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So, a denomination had its birth nearby. I wonder what I preached about
that day. I hope it was about the amazing Spirit that turns seeds to flowers,
even to mighty oaks. Or maybe that the last shall be first, and the first
last. Or maybe how 12 men long ago, meeting in an upper room, started the
whole Christian enterprise, while the mainline religious establishment
didn’t have a clue.
Art Morgan – April 2001
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