Hide Article Text (OCR)
Gays hopeto buildown churchGAYContinued from Page Oneyear celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. The statement says:“We .. associate ourselves together for the study and practice of morality and religion, as interpreted by the growing thought and noblest lives of humanity, hoping* thereby to prove helpful one to another and to promote truth, righteousness and love in the world.’*At the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday, six members conducted a role play situation, presenting a make-believe board of trustees meeting in which all sides of the rent-or-not-to -rent-to-homosexuals controversy came out. The congregation then broke into small group discussion, with later reports back from the small groups.Several small groups reported they were more concerned about rental to a fundamentalist Christian group — which the local gay church using the building is — than over the fact that the group happens to be composed of homosexuals.One speaker said some in her group claimed “The conflict (with the “bond of unity”) is the strong Christian beliefs of this group, not because theyare gay.”In one discussion group, Ralph Carpino, a trustee, said the board doesn’t think rental to homosexual’Des Moines TritonThtBiekPftgiHead about the pinball indusi travaganaa, a frenetic gatheringand cigar-smoking coin men previ tic game machines. Special tips i Fantastic Included.groups violates the “bond of unity” statementDon Allen, a retired newsman, said “You have to extend some tolerance to a group you do not agree with.” But he indicated there is a point where he would draw the line.“1 wouldn't want it rented to Moonies (followers of Sun Myung Moon) because I think that is a phony outfit,” he said.As to public attitudes, one speaker observed that “A lot of things we do here would disturb others if they knew. It would shock people, for instance, that we are not Christians.”The Rev. Kenneth Hurto, minister of the church, didn’t join the discussion. He said after the service that he approves rental of the building tosuch groups.A woman raised this question as she was leaving the church: “Is there no Christian church in Des Moines that would make space available to this Christian group?”The Metropolitan CommunityChurch has a full time pastor, theRev. Alice Jones, and a parsonage. Members of the Metropolitan Community Church hope to eventually have their own church building.
Newspaper Details
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa, US
Mon, Nov 14, 1977
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
State H.
IA, USA 15 Mar 2019
Other Publications Near Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines Daily Leader
Des Moines Register and Leader
Des Moines Iowa State Register
Iowa Industrial Progress
Des Moines Daily News
