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SWEET SPIRIT MCC HISTORY
For over 30 years we have been a part of the GLBT and
progressive religous community of Salem, OR.
And for 30 years we
have stood for justice,
the transforming message of God's love
and the invitiation that All are Welcome at Christ's Table!
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June 2007
Sweet Spirit MCC moved to a new
space at 2544 19th St. SE
in Salem, Oregon.
Sept.
2006 Rev. Jill Nelson was appointed
by the Area Elder to be the interim pastor for Sweet Spirit. She
continues to lead the congregation today as they seek the pastor God is calling
to lead them into the future.
March
2006 Founding member, Lay Pastor and later
ordain minister Patricia Jackson lost her battle with cancer.
January 2006
Rev. Ken Kerr accepted a pastorate in Vancouver
WA, where he resides.
January 1997
Rev. Ken Kerr accepted the position of Interim
Pastor. Rev. Kerr later took on the position of senior pastor and led
Sweet Spirit until 2006
Nov.
1996 Rev. Nunn did not
renew her contract with Sweet Spirit because of her demanding obligations in
her own church.
June 1996
Rev. Teresa Nunn, Pastor of Gentle
Shepherd in Vancouver, Washington
agreed to Interim Pastor for a six months period.
May 1996
Rev. Powell resigned his
position as Pastor of Sweet Spirit because of health and overwhelming changes
in his business.
February 1995 The
congregation voted to bring Rev. George Powell into our denomination as a
transfer clergy. He will begin working on getting his license through the
U.F.M.C.C. studies. He took over the duties as pastor the 12th of February.
Sept. 1994
Another big change, we moved into the
"Design of Hair Beauty School" at 3322
Lancaster Dr. N.E. The new location gave us a very
pleasant space, plenty of parking and a new feeling of growth.
May 1993
NW District Conference was
held in San Jose and Patricia
Jackson was again appointed Lay Pastor for her third year.
July 1992
A big change occurred as Sweet
Spirit moved its services from the Unitarian
Church to "The Center' 1410
- 12th Street S.E. and started having morning (11
a.m.) services. Having a building which was handicap assessable and
to have morning worship..
May 1992
Sweet Spirit successfully
hosted the NW District Conference at the Chumaree Motel. Rev. Troy Perry made
an appearance and was the main speaker at a rally for the "No on 9"
campaign being held on election day in November. Patricia Jackson was
reappointed Lay Pastor for her second year.
May 1991
At the NW District Conference
held in Tri Cities, Washington,
Patricia Jackson was appointed Lay Pastor by the NW District Committee.
January 1988
Rev. Patrick Mechem answered the call to pastor Sweet Spirit
and arrived here from the East in February. He was active in gay organizations
and particularly in Gay Pride held in April 1989, Because of ill health, Rev.
Mechem resigned in April 1991 and moved to Nampa, Idaho.
August 1986
After serving 5 great years, Rev. Jodi Mekkers
resigned as pastor and moved to Boise, Idaho.
Patricia Jackson was appointed worship coordinator for one and a half years
while Sweet Spirit conducted the search for a new pastor.
July 1985
Phil Crum is licensed to the
clergy of U.F.M.C.C. and becomes Assistant Pastor to M.C.C. Salem under Rev.
Jodi Mekkers. (Rev. Phil Crum passed away in 1996)
July 1984
Mary Frantz is licensed as the
clergy of UF.M.C.C.
May 1983
M.C.C. Salem hosted the
Northwest District Conference at the Chumaree Rodeway Inn on Market
Street and becomes a Commission
Church in the U.F.M.C.C.
July 1982
Jodi Mekkers is licensed to
the clergy of UF.M.C.C. at the NW Arcadia 1982 retreat and becomes Pastor of
M.C.C. Salem. As Rev. Jodi continued to serve the Salem MCC group it began to
flourish. Under Rev. Jodi the congregation grew, formally adopted the Sweet
Spirit MCC name (Jonathan Schnieder's name suggestion) and was instrumental in
starting an AIDS rap group now known as Mid Oregon AIDS Support Services, Inc.
Sept. 1981
Jodi Mekkers, Student Clergy from Portland,
became our Worship Coordinator. Jodi drove back and forth from Portland
each Sunday to keep the Salem
church going, eventually moving to Salem.
April 1980
On Easter Sunday 12 members
were taken into membership.
Oct. 1979
M.C.C. Salem began meeting at
the Unitarian Church
at 495 - 19th Street NE
where we met until July of 1991.
July 1979
Rev. Bill Derth became pastor
of M.C.C. Salem. Rev. Bill Derth came from Sacramento,
California and stayed until September.
March 1979
M.C.C. Salem started meeting at Pringle Hall in Pringle
Park just behind Salem
Memorial Hospital.
February 1979
Began worshipping at the Salem Heights Hall on the comer of Madrona and Liberty
South. The Free Will Baptist Church also used the hall. When they discovered
who we were, they complained to the owners of the hall and M.C.C. was asked to
leave.
January 1978
Began worshipping in the home of Chuck and Deenie Harvey.
October 1977
The first worship service was held at 785
Capitol Street NE in the home of Chuck Simpson.
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