By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Members and friends of Good Shepherd Parish Metropolitan Community Church gathered July 8 for the church's final services.

Good Shepherd's transitional pastor, Karon Van Gelder, led the Sunday worship as current and past congregants gathered to say goodbye to the church that had been their spiritual home for many years.

Van Gelder read messages from, among others, Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the United Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches; Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, UFMCC's current moderator; and Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Daley's message praised Good Shepherd's inclusiveness as well as its telephone line, which for years has served as a lifeline to many in the GLBT community. The message further proclaimed July 8 as "Good Shepherd Parish Metropolitan Community Church Day" in the city.

During the service, past ministers gave testimonials as to how Good Shepherd has changed the GLBT community over the course of its 37 years.

"GSB touched the lives of thousands of people," said Rev. Wayne Bradley, adding that the church served as a "hospital people came to after they had been wounded by other denominations. We healed them."

Van Gelder added that Good Shepherd's congregants should leave with a "sense of accomplishment and peace."

Dwindling membership and an aging congregation led to the painful decision to close the church, said congregant Flavio Acosta, who's been a member of Good Shepherd for 32 years. Though he didn't agree with the decision, he said, "There was no way out. Not enough people and no money."

Attendance at Sunday services had dwindled to just 15 or 16 people, he added.

Many congregants are likely to find a new spiritual home at A Church 4 Me, a new MCC meeting Sundays at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted.

The new church is intended as an ecumenical place of worship for a community hailing from numerous religious backgrounds and cultural identities, according to its founder, Rev. Kevin Downer, a former Good Shepherd member.

"We're not saying one background is better than the other. The only thing (we) ask is that you be in dialogue with one another," he said.

Downer said A Church 4 Me has been planning to thoroughly integrate younger people into the life of the new congregation, adding, "What connects to youth is different than what connects to us. Their spiritual needs are different."

"Half the people on our worship team are under the age of 22," he added.

For information on A Church 4 Me visit www.achurch4me.org.