Metropolitan Community Church

The church we now know as Metropolitan Community Church of the Redwood Empire was founded twenty-three years ago in 1982, by the Rev. John Torres. The church has come along way through the years and today it is truly coming of age.

The founding members originally met on the dance floor of Woods Resort.
It is thought there may well be a connection between this place of origin, and the joyful spirit that still finds expression in the church each week.

John Torres was also its longest serving pastor. In subsequent yeas Richard Timmerman, Rev. Linda Lastor, Jack Isobel, Rev. Betty Peterson, Rev. Joby Safier, Rev. Debbie Martin, and Rev. Jim Mitulski took on its leadership role.

From the Woods Resort, the church moved into the Guerneville Community church. At that point it also gained greater visibility within the Guerneville community. In May of 1999 the church moved into the Odd Fellows Hall where it still meets today. 

At that point it also changed its name from Russian River MCC to Metropolitan Community Church of the Redwood Empire. The name change indicated a shift in thinking as the group began to reach out beyond the Russian River community. Now our dream and the ongoing work of the church focuses on moving into our own building.

MCCRE is active within the AIDS Ministry Outreach, the local food drives and is currently involved with other local leaders in the community in the creation of an interfaith collalition on the homeless.  MCCRE can be seen at such events as its spring and fall pancake breakfasts, local peace rallies and was at the 2005 Sonoma Pride celebration in Santa Rosa where the River of Praise Choir was a featured group to perform. 

The Sunday services remain at the heart of the life of the congregation, as does its spirit-filled choir.  All are welcome to come and worship, sing, experience the music and the hospitality of the community.

There is a lot of excitement as the church is growing under the leadership of Rev. Elisabeth Middelberg and the spirit-filled MCCRE choir and staff.  Each week,it continues to find new ways to be a example of God's love within the community.

MCCRE is a member of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Region One.