MCC Harrisburg

Founded in 1968 in California, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) began as a Christian outreach to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. MCC Harrisburg (later renamed MCC of the Spirit) and MCC Lancaster (later renamed MCC Vision of Hope) were two local parishes in the Central PA Area.

This newsletter gives a general summary of events int June and July, gave a summary of the parishes discussion on "Inclusive Language," which was a topic at a recent discussion meeting, and provides a calendar of events for the month of August. 

Founded in 1968 in California, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) began as a Christian outreach to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. MCC Harrisburg (later renamed MCC of the Spirit) and MCC Lancaster (later renamed MCC Vision of Hope) were two local parishes in the Central PA Area.

This newsletter gives a general update of May's events. 

Founded in 1968 in California, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) began as a Christian outreach to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. MCC Harrisburg (later renamed MCC of the Spirit) and MCC Lancaster (later renamed MCC Vision of Hope) were two local parishes in the Central PA Area.

In this newsletter a fundraiser is discussed, a round table dicussion was held on minorities in the Gay Community, and a calendar of events for the month of May was provided.

Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.

This issue has an transcription of an interview with Suzanne Westenhoefer.

Colin Kreitzer was born in 1947 in Enola, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania with his parents and his younger sister. He attended West Chester College and moved to Harrisburg in 1977, where he began getting involved in the gay community through activism and social activities. In this interview Colin reviews his involvement in the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg, Dignity, Metropolitan Community Church, and volleyball. He also talks about the stigma of growing up as a closeted gay man, the bullying he experienced in primary and secondary school, and how he came to accept his sexuality and come out when he was in college. He discusses his past relationships and the struggles that he has experienced trying to forge healthy, emotional connections with others. Colin is also involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, and explains the values he has gained from the organization and the changes in his own character and behavior.

Lori Hatch-Rivera was born in Rockville Central, New York on Long Island in 1958. After Lori’s family moved to South Florida, Lori enrolled into what is now Palm Beach Atlantic University and graduated in 1989 with a degree in history. After about ten years of teaching, Lori believed God was calling her to do ministry work and obtained her Master’s in Divinity at Florida Center for Theological Studies, and she is currently attending Lancaster Theological Seminary to fulfill her Doctorate in Ministry. She is the founder of an interfaith group located in Venice, Florida, and works closely with the LGBT Interfaith Coalition group and Equality PA. In this interview, Lori discusses familial issues surrounding her sexuality, her relationship with religion and the Metropolitan Community Church [MCC], as well as her social justice work within religious community in order to bring them greater awareness of LGBT identities. She also mentions future challenges for the LGBT community and her appreciation of Harrisburg’s tight-knit community. Today, she is married to her partner Darlene and is a Pastor at the MCC of Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was "an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities." The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this newsletter, the PA Rural Gay Caucus provides the location and time for the June meeting, and the minutes from the May meeting that include:

• Communications and Legislative Committee Reports
• Youth Committee Report
• Concerns over PA Senate Bill 83
• Call for nominations for the Secretary Postion
• Budgets for committees
• 3rd World Commitee Report.

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Noteworthy articles in this issue are:

• "San Francisco Olympics"
• "New Newsletter"
• "Students Talk Back" presents letters on human sexuality from Elizabethtown College students

This was announced as the last GSH newsletter. A new newsletter produced by MCC Harrisburg was expected to make its first appearance in December 1981.

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Noteworthy articles in this issue are:

• "That Rabbit's in Love" (p. 1)
• "Williamsport Support Group" (p. 2)
• "Harrisburg MCC is 1" (p. 3)
• "GSH Benefit in November" (p. 5)

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

• "A Rose" [La Rose Rouge] (p. 1)
• "Switchboard Summer Picnic" (p. 1)
• "June 30 - ERA Rally" (p. 3)
• "Dignity/Central PA is Six" (p. 3)
• "2 Flea Mkts. Net $98.38" (p. 4)
• "Gods & Gays Part I" (p. 6)

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Noteworthy articles in this issue are:

• "New Officers in June" (p. 1)
• "Treasurer Stays" (p. 1)
• "Flea Mrkt. June 6" (p. 3)
• "MCC News" (p. 4)

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Noteworthy articles in this issue are:

• "Flea Market May 23" (p. 1)
• "Gay Pride Celeb'tn" (p. 2)
• "What's going on?" (p. 4)