For many women in our community, reconciling a lesbian life with a spiritual faith can be difficult without the right support, especially when many religious communities are not fully accepting (if at all).  

MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks offers a very different experience. It’s a chapter of the 30-year old international Metropolitan Community Church, a human rights Christian organization that specifically serves the LGBT community to provide unique and meaningful experiences of faith.

If you don’t believe they cater to our community, consider who’s leading the Austin congregation: Rev. Karen Thompson. A graduate of the Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Karen was the first “out” lesbian approved as a Candidate for Ministry in Mission Presbytery. Pretty amazing stuff. But that wasn’t enough. Karen had a calling to serve her LGBT sisters and brothers, and left to pursue ordination in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Karen and her partner live and thrive in Austin with their three children– serving as examples of how reconciliation between faith and homosexuality can be a very real, attainable achievement.

And MCC Austin gives back to the Austin LGBT community regularly, generously contributing to organzations like OutYouth, Waterloo Counseling, Austin Pride Build (Habitat for Humanity), aGLIFF and SoulForce.

But you’ll have to experience the amazing energy and connectedness of this community yourself. MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks offers traditional worship services Sunday at 9am and 11am, with additional programs throughout the week. Also, the annual MCC Austin Christmas Choir Concert takes place this Sunday, 12/13 from 7:30 – 9pm, which features special readings and music presented by the Sanctuary Choir, Chime Choir and various soloists.

Visit MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks at 8601 South 1st St, or find more information at www.mccaustin.org