ABSTRACT
Many MCC ministers have conservative Protestant backgrounds and some have served in 44 straight *’ pastorates prior to joining the gay church. Most have retained their evangelical mind set and orthodox theology except where that traditional theology conflicts with their views on homosexual behavior. Members of their congregations represent a myriad of religious backgrounds, ranging from staunch Southern Baptists to devout Roman Catholics. This diversity has contributed to certain administrative and congregational conflicts that force either com promise or polarization and which are best exemplified in the problem of deciding which worship style is to be adopted. Catholics are accustomed to a liturgical format. Pentecostals, on the other hand, consider the pomp and ritualism of liturgical services dry and unspiritual. One MCC congregation has resolved this dilemma by offering a different worship format for each of the four Syndays of the month. Thus, on the first Sunday of the month the congregation could expect the spontaneity and emotional fervor of a pentecostal prayer meeting. A week later this would be reduced to the informality of a Baptist service ; the third Sunday consisted of a more liturgical Episcopalian celebration ; and the fourth Sunday resembled a Roman Catholic high mass. In months with a fifth Sunday, an “ experimental ” worship service was conducted.
