Morgan Park United Methodist Church ( UMC ) has been a fixture in Chicago's Far South Side since 1887 and in 2010 the church became a part of the LGBTQ-inclusive Reconciling Ministries Network ( RMN ) of Methodist churches.
"Morgan Park UMC was founded by Dr. German and a handful of devout Methodists in then unincorporated Morgan Park," said Morgan Park UMC and the Northern Conference of the UMC middle and young adults programming leader and life-long member Lisa Butler. "In 1913, the congregation moved into its current building at 110th & Longwood Drive. The growing congregation expanded the building in 1926. Although the membership has decreased since those years, the church still plays a significant role in the community."
Aside from being a RMN church, Morgan Park UMC houses the Maple/Morgan Park Food Pantry. The pantry is over 30 years old and is the product of the Maple/Morgan Park Ministerial Alliance and the Beverly/Morgan Park community of churches. Church leaders have also begun mentoring seminary students in recent years.
In 2005, the church started a film discussion group focusing on spiritual reflection. Among the other small group ministries are a prayer group, weekly Bible study, adult and youth Sunday school, adult spiritual and social ministries, prayer shawl ministry and adult basketball.
"We have strong United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women groups which provide spiritual growth, fellowship and engage in mission and service," said Butler. "We are a diverse community of faith. We have members and worshipers of different racial, religious, ethnic, cultural, geographical, occupational, socioeconomic origins and LGBTQ persons. We are also inter-generational. As a diverse congregation we strive to find the delicate balance to honor our traditions, strengthen our passionate spirituality and remain relevant. We continue to look for ways to reinvent ourselves and remain relevant to the times."
Former Pastor Eun-Hye Choi was the catalyst for the church's membership in the RMN.
"One day she came to me and said, 'I want you and your son to come with me to a meeting with the Reconciling Ministries Network,'" said Morgan Park UMC trustee Don Jaburek. "She said this group was advocating for welcoming and fully accepting LGBTQ persons. My son was an out gay high school student and gay activist. He was loved by my family and our church family. Of course, I said yes and my son said yes to the pastor's request. After we visited the RMN Chicago office, our church embarked on a journey of study and introspection."
The journey included a church study group, a sermon series led by Choi, church members' personal testimonies during Sunday worship, speakers on both sides of the issue, committee member's church newsletter articles on the importance of welcoming all and screenings of the films "Normal" and "The Bible Tells Me So."
At an all church member meeting a little more than a year later, they passed a unanimous resolution to join the RMN. A year later, Choi moved on and Rev. Dennis Langdon ( Pastor Dennis ) took over. Langdon has built upon the work Choi and other church leaders did to make the church LGBTQ-inclusive including incorporating the rainbow symbol into the church's outdoor and indoor signage, welcoming Affinity Community Services' annual Burning Bowl event this year as well as hosting an LGBTQ prayer breakfast, "Same Love" a few years ago.
"At that prayer breakfast, family reconciliation occurred and persons found safe space to come out to a supportive and affirming community," said Langdon. "An outgrowth of that event was members volunteering with Broadway United Methodist Church's 'Youth Lounge,' a ministry with at-risk LGBTQ youth."
Langdon has also appeared on Urban Broadcast Media radio where he spoke about the expansive and inclusive love of God that embodies the church's message.
When asked why the Methodist church on the whole is not accepting of LGBTQ people, Langdon said the primary reason is the church's democratic system of governance which reflects the diversity of opinions and theological world view represented world-wide.
"That the church is earnestly engaged in dialogue is really a testament to its strength, not weakness," said Langdon. "United Methodists are earnestly wrestling for faithful ways to be the big tent, inclusive church that we at Morgan Park UMC believe it is called to be."
An LGBTQ faith and community worship, food and fellowship event, "Love is Love!," will take place at the church, 11030 South Longwood Dr., on Saturday, April 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
"People can expect to find Morgan Park UMC to be a very welcoming environment to all of God's children," said Love is Love breakfast planning committee member Pam Harris. "An environment that is non-judgmental and encourages all to feel free to be their authentic selves. Participants will experience a powerful, inspirational and uplifting message. We will enjoy great food, fellowship and praising God."
"Love is Love is a continuation of our congregational commitment to reconciling ministries and the LGBTQ community and their allies," said Butler. "Join us and extend an invitation to the community. A breakfast buffet will be provided at the event and the suggested donation is $10."
To purchase tickets, visit "Love is Love - A LGBTQ Faith Community Event" on Eventbrite.com, or contact the church office at 773-238-2600 or morganparkumc@wowway.com .
On Saturday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m., the church's film discussion group will screen the 2015 Academy Award nominated movie The Imitation Game at the church. The film focuses on gay World War II Enigma code-breaker Alan Turing's story including his time at Bletchley Park during the war.
See MorganParkUMC.org and Website Link Here for more information.
