by Judy Scarlett
Cookeville News Writer
COOKEVILLE - Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of the Cumberlands, located in Cookeville, now has the Reverend Barb Price as interim pastor. She is a retired Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) clergy. Price moved to the Nashville area two years ago when her partner of 25 years, Jane, accepted a job in that area.
Price was staff clergy at Spirit of Hope MCC in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1989 to 2002. Her contributions were in the area of counseling, teaching and working with couples. She developed the pre-holy union counseling program for Spirit of Hope. Her credentials include a Master's degree in counseling and experience as a substance abuse counselor and program coordinator for 20 years for the state of Missouri.
After moving to Nashville, she contacted the church to see if she could help out, and as she says, "Look where it got me!" Her goals for the church include assisting in the growth and development of both worship and administration. She also looks forward to developing the ability to have baptism, holy unions and rites of blessing.
Barb’s speaking style includes plenty of humor, and she diligently tries to make the teachings of Christ relevant to everyday life.
"This church’s importance is in providing a safe place for all GLBT and straight people to worship, find fellowship and understand the value of God’s love for each and every person," Price said.
Future plans include a musical service with a guest gospel singer, increased outreach into the HIV and greater GLBT community. She also hopes to offer a service for the blessing of animals.
MCC of the Cumberlands began holding services in Cookeville, Tenn., 3 years ago as an outreach of MCC Knoxville. Since then it has developed into a stable Christian congregation with its own building and is on its way to obtaining full church status within UFMCC.
UFMCC began in 1968 when the leader, Reverend Troy Perry, saw a great need to show all GLBT that they were the children of God and just as entitled to Christ’s love as any other people.
Services at MCC of the Cumberlands are at 6 p.m. on Sundays at 421 E. Davis Road, Cookeville, Tenn. For more information visit their Web site, http://mccofthecumberlands.com/ or call 1-931-265-7414 or 1-931-510-7750. All persons are invited to attend.