Bethel Metropolitan Community Church

Bethel Metropolitan Community Church (or Bethel MCC, originally Bethel Community Church) was an open Christian congregation affiliated with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), known for welcoming gay and lesbian members. The congregation was founded in a split from the older Covenant Metropolitan Community Church. They asked retired former Covenant pastor Marge Ragona to serve as pastor.

Bethel began by meeting in private homes. Soon, the church found worship space at 1830 Montclair Road in Irondale, then moved to another building on Springville Road in Huffman. In 2008 the church moved again, sharing Woodlawn United Methodist Church at the invitation of Pastor Larry Horne. The congregation was beginning a service in Woodlawn’s sanctuary on May 31, 2009, when A fire began in the basement that destroyed the building.

After Covenant Community Church left the UFMCC, the national organization invited Bethel to join. The church never grew large enough to sustain itself, and closed its doors on January 2, 2011.

References

• Garrison, Greg (November 30, 2008) "Methodist church in Woodlawn will host gay community." The Birmingham News
• Stock, Erin & Victoria L. Coman (June 1, 2009) "Fire destroys Woodlawn United Methodist church, which was constructed in 1912." The Birmingham News
• Michaels, Sean Robert (January 2011) "Bethel MCC to close in B'ham." Noise