The History of New Life MCC
New Life MCC began as a group of 20 gathered at a couple's home on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1983. In February 1984, a Worship Coordinator and officers were elected. In May of that year, this group petitioned to become a Study Group within the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
By our first anniversary, we were ready for full-time clergy, and in March 1985, we called the Rev. Arthur Fleschner as our first pastor. Pastor Art led the church through our first three years of growth and development, including our first move, to larger quarters in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte.
In February 1989, the Rev. Robert Carl Darst accepted the call as our second pastor. During Pastor Bob's tenure, we became a fully chartered church within the UFMCC and developed many of the strengths that sustain us even now.
In December of 1996, the Rev. Dr. Tim Koch was first called to lead New Life MCC as our third pastor. The highlights of Pastor Tim's 13 year tenure include leading us to our 19-YEAR home with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; conducting bible study classes and The Artist's Way program; leading our mission outreach trip to Los Amates, Guerrero, Mexico; and developing the depth of our Christian community.
The Rev. Mark Deane was appointed Provisional Pastor by our regional elder, The Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, from May 2010 to December 2011. In February, 2014, the Rev. Dawn Jennifer Flynn was called as our fourth pastor. pASTOR DAWN WAS OFFICALLY ORDAINED AS MCC CLERGY IN OCTOBER 2018.
Our first home in 1984 was a single room in the Labor Building, a small office building on Commonwealth Avenue. A few months later, we moved upstairs to larger quarters in the same building.
After several years, we moved our worship services to the Unitarian Universalist Church in the Cotswold area, but had our offices and locations for special events in various other facilities.
In 1993, God led us to purchase a tract of land in the town of Matthews that included a building and room for parking and expansion. Before we could develop that site, we were met with extensive harassment from some of our "Christian" neighbors. We reluctantly sold that property and have since found our ministry and blessing elsewhere.
In July 1997, God presented us with the opportunity to share facilities with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in CHARLOTTE'S Plaza Midwood NEIGHBORHOOD. We had our own office, full use of Holy Trinity's extensive facilities, and a uniquely supportive relationship between the two congregations.
In late 2016, New Life identified the need to provide support to the underserved LGBTQ community in Gaston County North Carolina. After much consideration, and with the unanimous support of our Members and the whole-hearted support of the Rector and Vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, the church relocated to Gastonia in March 2017, where we continue to seek the Spirit's guidance in sharing God's love with a new community.
The heart of New Life MCC has always been its loving, giving, close-knit family. Supper together after evening service has been a tradition. Varied opportunities for mission outreach, education, and fellowship are part of the fabric of our church life. Wherever we are and under whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we seek always to be a caring, giving, loving, and growing place where all of us are welcome to come just as we are, for this is how God loves us - just as we are!
When you come as a new visitor, we will welcome you warmly. When you return, we will include you as a part of the family of New Life MCC, a small but mighty part of the family of God.
By our first anniversary, we were ready for full-time clergy, and in March 1985, we called the Rev. Arthur Fleschner as our first pastor. Pastor Art led the church through our first three years of growth and development, including our first move, to larger quarters in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte.
In February 1989, the Rev. Robert Carl Darst accepted the call as our second pastor. During Pastor Bob's tenure, we became a fully chartered church within the UFMCC and developed many of the strengths that sustain us even now.
In December of 1996, the Rev. Dr. Tim Koch was first called to lead New Life MCC as our third pastor. The highlights of Pastor Tim's 13 year tenure include leading us to our 19-YEAR home with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; conducting bible study classes and The Artist's Way program; leading our mission outreach trip to Los Amates, Guerrero, Mexico; and developing the depth of our Christian community.
The Rev. Mark Deane was appointed Provisional Pastor by our regional elder, The Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, from May 2010 to December 2011. In February, 2014, the Rev. Dawn Jennifer Flynn was called as our fourth pastor. pASTOR DAWN WAS OFFICALLY ORDAINED AS MCC CLERGY IN OCTOBER 2018.
Our first home in 1984 was a single room in the Labor Building, a small office building on Commonwealth Avenue. A few months later, we moved upstairs to larger quarters in the same building.
After several years, we moved our worship services to the Unitarian Universalist Church in the Cotswold area, but had our offices and locations for special events in various other facilities.
In 1993, God led us to purchase a tract of land in the town of Matthews that included a building and room for parking and expansion. Before we could develop that site, we were met with extensive harassment from some of our "Christian" neighbors. We reluctantly sold that property and have since found our ministry and blessing elsewhere.
In July 1997, God presented us with the opportunity to share facilities with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in CHARLOTTE'S Plaza Midwood NEIGHBORHOOD. We had our own office, full use of Holy Trinity's extensive facilities, and a uniquely supportive relationship between the two congregations.
In late 2016, New Life identified the need to provide support to the underserved LGBTQ community in Gaston County North Carolina. After much consideration, and with the unanimous support of our Members and the whole-hearted support of the Rector and Vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, the church relocated to Gastonia in March 2017, where we continue to seek the Spirit's guidance in sharing God's love with a new community.
The heart of New Life MCC has always been its loving, giving, close-knit family. Supper together after evening service has been a tradition. Varied opportunities for mission outreach, education, and fellowship are part of the fabric of our church life. Wherever we are and under whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we seek always to be a caring, giving, loving, and growing place where all of us are welcome to come just as we are, for this is how God loves us - just as we are!
When you come as a new visitor, we will welcome you warmly. When you return, we will include you as a part of the family of New Life MCC, a small but mighty part of the family of God.
