Well, I THINK this should be in general questions. I don’t know. A mod may want to move it somewhere else, but this seems to make the most sense for now.
The MCC denomination (Metropolitan Community Churches) are gay-affirming. But can you go there if you’re NOT gay? Does anyone know? Will someone be asking at the door? Do you have to wear a special T-shirt? Do you have to know the secret handshake?
From here :
and
It sounds like they’re more about being inclusive of different sexual orientations than being an all-gay church.
My wife and I attended St. John’s M.C.C., Raleigh, twice, once for a choir concert and service, and once representing our own Episcopal church as part of a “how do we do affirming ministry?” study. We were welcomed warmly, and enjoyed it. One thing that St. John’s does in particular, which may or may not be part of M.C.C. policy as a whole, is to particularly welcome and include the handicapped, of whatever sexual orientation. The Gospel choir which did the concert included three people in wheelchairs as a regular part of the choir; I believe there were others who had less obvious handicaps in it. Not all the choir was gay. (There were two transgendered folk there as well – or should I say “at least two”; we met two who happened to mention their TG status in the course of our conversations.)
All you have to do is show up, and you’ll be welcomed.
Am I missing something here? Are there any Christian churches that don’t welcome visitors?
Note: I’m not talking about specific religious practices (i.e. you can’t take communion at a Catholic church unless you’ve been confirmed in one; note that you are always welcome at mass anyways, even if you’re not Catholic).
I used to be a member of the MCC, and, yes, they welcome anyone. However, most people there will be gay, which might make some people feel uncomfortable; if you’d be happy to go to a gay bar, then you’ll fit in at the MCC.
Yes, that’s another point. Anyone is welcome to take communion at the MCC - there’s no requirement to be confirmed or baptized.
I don’t think this is quite correct.
“First Holy Communion” is common for young children, ages 6-9 is typical, as I recall. And Confirmation is older, high-school age, 15-127. Yet Catholic children commonly take communion for all those years in between before they are confirmed.
The Catholic Church does have a requirement for taking Communion; I don’t recall just what it is. I think other branches of catholicism (like Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.) can properly take Roman Catholic Communion, while it’s not proper for other split-offs like Protestants.
But, of course, it isn’t like there are any guards there to identify and throw out the non-catholics!
(Except for the current controversy about catholics who are gay – some bishops are refusing to give them communion. Search “rainbow sash” if you want more info on that.
And there is increasing talk from Rome about excluding catholic elected officials who don’t vote the bishop’s way. For example, Sen. John Kerry, who pubicly disagrees with the church heirachy position on some issues.)