Healing Spirit Metropolitan Community Church

Rochester, Minnesota

 

 



Healing Spirit Metropolitan Community Church is a church within the wider Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Known for its diverse congregations, the UFMCC denomination was started in 1968 by Rev. Troy Perry in Los Angles, to provide a safe and welcoming environment for gay men and lesbians. It now has congregations on every continent and is growing! Each church is self-governing and financed, and chooses its own leadership and style of worship.

Healing Spirit MCC began in August of 1998 when two justice-seeking Presbyterian ministers, Rev. Jane Chelf and Rev. Doug Johnson, recognized the need for a welcoming church for those who felt spiritually estranged from mainstream churches. We had a simple beginning, as a bible study group, in the home of Rev. Jane Chelf.  Soon we outgrew the living room chapel.  December 1998, with the help of All God’s Children MCC of Minneapolis, the church was granted mission church status; and we moved our worship service to Assisi Heights, the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis.  In September of 1999, we became Healing Spirit MCC with 18 charter members.

Healing Spirit continued to grow over the next several months under Rev. Jane’s guidance. In the spring of 2000, Healing Spirit knew it was time to call its first MCC pastor!  The call was heard and received in December 2000 when Rev. Doreen Shambrook from London, England accepted the position at HSMCC.  Rev. Doreen was installed as Healing Spirit’s first MCC pastor in July of 2001.  Our numbers continued to increase and our presence as a welcoming and inclusive Christian community in Southeast Minnesota was becoming better known.  In June of 2003, Rev. Doreen moved to Florida and began work with Spirit of Life MCC in New Port Richey.  On August 9th, 2004, Rev. Nancy Horvath-Zurn began her service as Healing Spirit's second MCC pastor.

Healing Spirit, continuing its mission of sharing God’s love for all, moved to a new location in November of 2003.  We presently worship in the beautiful sanctuary of People of Hope, a Lutheran church in mission, ELCA.   People of Hope Mission Center, built in 2002, is a fully handicapped accessible facility.  

We are a church of over 35 people who remain dedicated to the teachings of Jesus and the message of love, peace and justice for all of God’s humanity and creation.  

How Our Members Feel About Being a Part of Healing Spirit...

 Curt - “Healing Spirit has been a lifeline for me. At the lowest point in my life, fate brought me to the church family we call Healing Spirit. I had heard that Rochester had an MCC, and I had enjoyed services at All God’s Children, but I didn’t have the ‘need’ to belong to a church body. But when my life fell apart, God worked through people and situations to put me at Healing Spirit during Valentine’s weekend of 2002. It was my first Valentine’s Day alone, after a thirteen year relationship, but when I left church that night I felt okay. And I came back. Every week I left our service feeling better than when I got there. Pastor Doreen’s messages spoke to me, as if she knew what was in my head and heart, what I was feeling. Now, a few years later, I have Pastor Nancy’s words in my head and it is good!! I enjoy my church family, and that is what you are to me, FAMILY. I love you all”.                                   

Ellen - “Healing Spirit is an integral part of my spiritual well-being. I grew so weary of waiting for change, feeling there was no place for me, the whole me, in any church. I come just as I am to Healing Spirit and I am embraced. I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful and transforming faith community.”

Tom - “Healing Spirit MCC is a family of people who know me and care for me on a personal level. It’s hard to find that in many churches, especially the large ones. I have attended others on a regular basis throughout y life, but the people of Healing Spirit MCC are the closest to my heart."

Mari Lynn - “As a mature bisexual person who definitely ‘came out’ late in life, I feel honored to be a part of Healing Spirit MCC. I feel that my relationship with my Creator is celebrated with each and every service I attend, and would recommend it to anyone who is seeking a truly open and affirming church”.

Zach - “I’ve been in MCC churches my whole life. I was baptized in an MCC church and went to my first conference when I was five months old. Healing Spirit is special to me because everyone is so nice and friendly. I like it because it’s small and you can get to know everyone. I am glad that even though I’m younger I am able to do things like running the sound system, greeting, ushering, and even co-celebrating on the altar. I wish there were more young people coming so they could see how cool everyone is and what a great church this is.”