Collection

Boone Christ's Church United Records

Span Dates: 1992-2005
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 1 linear foot

Description

This collection contains the records of Boone Christ's Church United from 1992 until 2005. The materials include church histories, campus ministry records, newspaper articles, bulletins, annual reviews, financial records, and correspondence. Also included is material related to Cindy Long, the church's long time pastor. There are also her ordination application packets to MCC from 1996 and 1999, documents relating to her membership in the Mountain AIDS Support Council, and some personal papers.

Hist/Bio Note

Cindy Long (1960-) helped found the Metropolitan Community Church of the High Country in 1992. At the time she was the only openly lesbian minister of a Christian Church in Watauga County and the church was one of the few to fully accept members of the LGBT Community. The MCC of the High Country was located in the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship building and operated from 1992-2002. It maintained an active campus ministry. In 2002 the church left the denomination and joined the newly formed Christ's Church United and Boone Christ's Church United. The split occurred following MCC's refulsal to ordain Cindy Long. The change came in June 2002 after talks to merge with the church and the formal closure of the MCC the previous week; BCCU was formed the following Sunday). BCCU was an LGBTQ+ positive congregation in Watauga County at a time when most other congregations in the area were not. Cindy Long - the first openly lesbian minister of a Christian church in Watauga County - served as the BCCU's main leader and preacher throughout its tenure. The congregation hosted a number of different events, including World AIDs Day commemorations, support groups and "healing services" for those affected by AIDs, and weddings and funerals for LGBTQ+ community members. Organized in 1968 by Reverend Troy D. Perry, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) ministers to spiritual needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community.

Finding Aid

An online finding aid is available.
https://appstate-speccoll.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/947

Location

Special Collections Research Center Appalachian State University Belk Library & Information Commons 218 College St. P.O. Box 32026 Boone, NC 28608
https://spcoll@appstate.edu

Tags

MCC | Clergy Activist | North Carolina