Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.

Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.
MCCDC
MCCDC sanctuary in 2020
Map
Location474 Ridge Street NW Washington, D.C.
DenominationMetropolitan Community Church
Websitemccdc.com
History
Founded1970
Founder(s)Joseph Eugene Paul Breton
DedicatedDecember 17, 1992
Architecture
Architect(s)Suzane Reatig
StyleModern
Clergy
Pastor(s)Dwayne Johnson

The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. (also known as MCCDC) is a congregation of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a Protestant Christian denomination catering to LGBT people, located in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1970 as the Community Church of Washington, D.C. (CCDC), the congregation led by Pastor Paul Breton joined the new MCC denomination in 1971 with help from local activist Frank Kameny.

The original members founded MCCDC because, at the time, most churches did not welcome LGBT people. They wanted a safe space to gather, not only as LGBT people but also as LGBT Christians. The church experienced significant growth during its first 30 years, from around 65 people at its initial meeting to over 500 members in the early 2000s, despite the effects the AIDS epidemic had on the congregation. Since MCCDC's founding, several other Christian denominations have changed their views on homosexuality and now welcome LGBT people. These changes have resulted in a decline in people attending MCCDC.

MCCDC spent over 20 years meeting in its founder's home, other church buildings, and a converted rowhouse, before moving to a new and permanent facility in 1992. This facility became the first new sanctuary built in the US by an LGBT religious organization. Designed by local architect Suzane Reatig, the small but imposing building, with its vaulted glass sanctuary, has received praise from critics and earned Reatig several awards.


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