Grace Community United Church Of Christ, Which Stood Up For Gay Marriage, Faces Closure

By Lauren Markoe
Religion News Service

(RNS) The small stack of envelopes that arrives at Grace Community United Church of Christ in St. Paul, Minn., each day are filled with good will and small bills -- ones, fives and tens mostly.

The donations lift the spirit, said Rev. Oliver White, but they likely won't be enough to save the church.

"Technically, we should be packing," White said.

On June 1, the church will likely default on a high-interest loan and lose its building, unless it can come up with $175,000 to buy the loan out.

As of Wednesday (May 16), Grace Community was about $170,000 short, but its plight has gained considerable attention within and without the UCC, thanks to one of several reasons the predominantly African-American church may lose its home.

In 2005, White, took a stand at the UCC's General Synod in opposition to many of his congregants and backed support for same-sex marriage. His side won the day at the conference, with about 80 percent of the vote, but White came home to a congregation divided over his belief that gay couples deserve the UCC's blessing. Immediately, he began to watch its numbers dwindle.

The congregation, founded in 1990 in a relatively poor African-American neighborhood, grew smaller and poorer, and two years later took out a high-interest $150,000 loan, which now has an even higher interest rate of 23 percent.

When the church was growing financially desperate earlier this spring, a predominantly gay UCC megachurch in Dallas delivered a $15,000 check to help with the interest payments.

The donation, hand-delivered, gave the remaining members of the congregation hope.

But an incident earlier this spring in which a gunman drove by the church firing shots and screaming "die faggots," shook the congregation. There were no physical injuries, and it inspired them to fight harder to survive.

In hindsight, White said, signing the loan was a terrible mistake, and buying it out is the key to the church's survival. White is asking 200,000 people to donate $1 each, working his church networks and with rally.org, an online fundraising tool that has gleaned more than $700 for Grace Community.

If the goal isn't met, according to the church's statement on rally.org the pastor's "decision to take a stand in favor of gay marriage rights will have cost him and his small congregation their spiritual home."

But Grace Community had serious fiscal needs even before White took his stand. And even White acknowledges that the church could have done a better job of managing its money.

Race also plays a role in the church's plight.

To many other churches within the generally progressive UCC, the question of same-sex marriage was easily settled in the affirmative.

But African-American churches have generally been more resistant, making White's stance particularly brave in the eyes of many gay rights proponents -- such as those at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas -- who realized the stakes for Grace Church were particularly high.

Race also plays into the relationship between White's church and the denomination, and its efforts to keep Grace Community afloat. The UCC's Minnesota Conference counts 135 churches, including one predominantly Native American church and one African-American church -- Grace Community.

"It's of great interest to us to have ministry in both those communities," said Conference Minister Karen Smith Sellers, citing years of financial assistance to Grace Community from the conference and individual UCC churches, an estimated total of more than $100,000.

In 2007, the conference, with agreement from Grace Community, decided to diminish its financial support, Sellers said. "We released ourselves from a relationship that began to look unhealthy," she said.

White attributes only good intentions to the state conference, which, he said, rightfully pointed out that Grace Community's finances could have been better kept and more transparent. But despite the conference's willingness to help, their concerns seemed patronizing to some parishioners, he said.

"I don't think they meant it to be racist but it came off that way," said White, who met with Sellers on Thursday to discuss the church's future.

"It could be God has other plans for this congregation," Sellers said before the meeting.

In the meantime, the donations continue to dribble in, from people of all races, gay and straight alike. White continues to pray for that "miracle check" that will solve his problem.

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Comments

[Michelle Morr Krabill]

02:25 PM on 05/31/2012

Drive out the darkness with light!
http://wordofawoman.com/2012/05/31/a-change-of-focus/

[Derrick Coetzee]

06:17 PM on 05/28/2012

In addition to the rally.org fundraiser, Believe Out Loud is holding an official online fundraiser at: https://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50427/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=7848

They've raised $8700 so far. Please help - if LGBTs are ever to be universally accepted, they need dedicated advocates in religious communities like Rev. White.

[halidom]

10:31 PM on 05/26/2012

I just went to rally.org to make a donation I live in Australia and it said they can't accept donations from my country. Why wouldn't be world wide? If they use Paypal I'm sure the would collect more money from around the world. Helping a poor church is a world issue not just an America issue. I'm not religious but I do have feelings and I'm sure there are others like me world wide.

[accarain]

12:55 PM on 05/26/2012

Don't matter how much money you got ,there's only 2 kinds of people there's saved people and there's lost people. Bob Dylan: American musican, singer,songwriter

[accarain]

01:18 PM on 05/26/2012

The first step in a person's salvation is knowledge of their sin.
Marcus Annaaeus Seneca /Roman Philosopher,Dramatist,Statesman

[akutan]

06:44 PM on 05/25/2012

Bad financial and moral decisions.

[springsm]

01:49 PM on 05/26/2012

And you have a right to your very narrow philsophy. Always the majority of main stream churches (even the bigoted ones) are in trouble financially. The masses are going to the pentecoastal entertainment centers where they are told what to think and believe. That is sad but it is a fact. As far as the rights of others and justice issues, the UCC is on the correct side. Being for equal civil rights for all is something that the UCC believes. they didn't make bad moral decisions. Shame on you. I see where your are from, but that doesn't mean you can degenate the others.

[flexibility2013]

03:48 PM on 05/25/2012

Marriage is between a man and a woman. So it has been written, so let it be done.

[halidom]

10:47 PM on 05/26/2012

The Bible also says you can have slaves. The book was written in a different era and had different views of society. When God told his people to destroy Canaan he/she said they could keep the women and male children. It also has a story about a wife that can't conceive so husband sleeps with her slave. When she does conceive he kicks out the slave and her son into a desert to die. The Bible my be a good book but society has change and you can't take the whole book as a way to act in modern society.

[Courtney McCleary]

11:49 AM on 05/30/2012

Well historically gay relationships and marriages were a-okay until around what? the 4th century to 7th century?

I bet it was a political ploy. Also gay marriages used to be done in church.

Also marriage isn't a religious ceremony anyway so people should but out of others relationships. Unless someone is going into their bed to make sure the man doesn't sleep with his wife 1 week out of the month because she's on her period, everyone needs to shut up about the bible.

Also it's important to note that Jesus never condoned the mistreatment of outcast in his name because it makes a mockery of him so... all those people using the bible as a reason to mistreat gays, sorry but Jesus disagrees with that. According to your own scripture.

[sopullmyfinger]

01:37 PM on 05/25/2012

Religion is on its way out. There's reason to rejoice in the closure of another church. The new generation of children are not exposed to church, any kind of church, and are living their lives according to their own minds. Whether or not they make the best decisions for themselves is, at best, a 50-50 chance, and we wish them luck. I'm glad to know that there will no longer be any kind church spewing forth imaginary and hateful doctrine to make those decisions even tougher. I'm one of those "spared" Catholics who grew up in exclusive Catholic boarding schools. I left the church the moment I went to college. In light of the Catholic Church's inability to recruit priests and the record number of dwindling church attendance, I consider myself very lucky to have escaped.

[Courtney McCleary]

11:50 AM on 05/30/2012

You wouldn't say that if more people were Evangelical Lutherans a very large and very liberal church who supports gay rights and people pretty much being themselves.

[sopullmyfinger]

02:16 PM on 05/30/2012

You are correct. I concede that about Lutherans -- they can be progressive. Thank you for the reminder.

[Coyote Blond]

12:57 PM on 05/30/2012

Buh bye to the make believe book created to control the brainless that cannot think for themselves. baaaaaaaaa baaaaaa Won't happen fast enough.

[PlayTOE]

09:20 AM on 05/25/2012

So, why did they take out the loan, and what happened to the money?

[springsm]

01:50 PM on 05/26/2012

Yes, the closure is more about the financial difficulties that being on the right side of justice. That is a good question. WHERE is the money?

[norepublicanleftbehind]

01:32 AM on 05/25/2012

Can we get this in the Advocate and Towerload and Pam's Houseblend and Mombian?

[tosc]

09:22 AM on 05/24/2012

I find it interesting that a large population of blacks are against gay marriage, but are accepting of unwed pregnancies, single parenting with absent fathers, of whom, many are lacking in child support and spousal support. Their seems to be an element in the black community that does not embrace marriage on any level, for gays or for themselves?

[AshleyM83]

08:14 PM on 05/24/2012

Nope. Black women are caught in a rock and a hard place when it comes to marriage and relationships. The majority of black women I know are not married but would like to be. Many of them put the cart before the horse (fornicate) hoping that they will eventually meet Mr Right. I mean how many white/black/hispanic/asian men do YOU KNOW that are willing to wait until marriage for sex? Its just that white, hispanic and asian men are more likely to marry the women they get pregnant. Period.

[AshleyM83]

08:18 PM on 05/24/2012

I have chosen celibacy since 2007, but I fully understand that I might not get to the altar because of my choice to put God first. If more religious women made that choice- I think men would have to conform ....or share partners. Just a theory....

[detroitblkmale30]

11:05 AM on 05/23/2012

So the title is misleading, the church didn't stand up for gay marriage, the pastor did, in opposition to his own congregants who apparently left as a result.

[leyvadaniel]

06:23 PM on 05/23/2012

There, there, you makes it sound as if he did something wrong. Jesus was crucified because he wouldn't conform to the oppressor... the pastor was acting according to Jesus example. Those who oppose the happiness of other using the pulpit as a political platform are more like the high priests that sided with the romans against Jesus.

[detroitblkmale30]

06:37 PM on 05/23/2012

I wasn't saying thatt he is able to do what he sees as right. That's an analogy utilized to argue a point, not a theological case. Jesus said nothing in support of such acts. There's a strong case to be made for same sex marriage since this isn't a theocracy and on secular grounds, just not a strong Biblical one.

[bryanzth]

07:38 PM on 05/23/2012

Good on you! Nice post!

BZ.

[SukiTheCat]

10:15 AM on 05/25/2012

but they will still all vote for Pres Obama in Nov

[detroitblkmale30]

10:29 AM on 05/25/2012

most will yes, some have already said they will not.

[springsm]

01:52 PM on 05/26/2012

If they are smart they will, if not..it is a toss up. But to not vote for Obama because they can't handle equality of marriage is a dumb reason to not.

[BOBinPS]

09:01 PM on 05/22/2012

Religion! Why does anyone care?

[signgrrl]

05:31 PM on 05/23/2012

because it has SO MUCH INFLUENCE.

[BOBinPS]

06:12 PM on 05/23/2012

Sad, but true........

[AshleyM83]

08:05 PM on 05/24/2012

You do! That's why you're here.....in the religious section. SMH

[BOBinPS]

09:00 PM on 05/24/2012

Know thy enemy.

[John Denney]

11:42 PM on 05/21/2012

So much for the common belief that all religious people just blindly accept their leader's pronouncements.

[KDMac]

09:27 AM on 05/25/2012

That's how people like David Koresh become so dangerous.

[John Denney]

12:26 PM on 05/27/2012

That "some" will follow a false teacher does not mean that "all" will blindly follow their leader into a ditch.

Following a false leader is not limited to religious people, either.

[springsm]

01:53 PM on 05/26/2012

Churches in the UCC are autonomous. So you can't herd them...

[John Denney]

12:16 PM on 05/27/2012

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" - John 10:27

[Claudia King]

08:34 PM on 05/21/2012

It would be nice if this church was saved. But it looks doubtful to me. The minister, however well intentioned, appears to have gotten out in front of his congregation with his stand without engaging in a consensus building process first. At least a church board chosen by the congregation should have weighed in and the minister then abiding by their decision. And then the very bad decision re the loan. Except for good intentions convictions re religious tolerance, which are very commendable, I'm not sure there is much reason to think this minister makes good decisions. Of course, there could be more to the story that is not here.

[KDMac]

09:27 AM on 05/25/2012

His stand and their financial troubles do not appear to be related.

[Claudia King]

09:55 AM on 05/25/2012

I agree. But for many a decision to help financially might be based upon more than his stand re gays. Those with funds to help may think that he is a bad investment, given his previous financial decisions/the church's financial history. Maybe if the church set up a capital funding oversight committee and someone monied group/organization stepped forward with a financial arrangement that paid the debt and set the church up with a better arrangement for the church to pay the new mortgage holder (?). I imagine here are a thousand(s) financially struggling churches; one would hope that most did no make the "deals with the financial devils" this one seems to have made.

[Old Grady]

05:37 PM on 05/21/2012

"The congregation, founded in 1990 in a relatively poor African-American neighborhood, grew smaller and poorer, and two years later took out a high-interest $150,000 loan, which now has an even higher interest rate of 23 percent."
Anyone stupid enough to run his church (or his business) like this is a disgrace, and deserves to go begging on the street like this.