Joy Metropolitan Community Church sits on South Ferncreek Avenue just south of downtown Orlando, where it has been a spiritual home for an explicitly LGBTQ+ welcoming community since 1988. Founded in 1981 in the living room of Rev. Art Flescher, Joy MCC moved onto its Ferncreek Avenue property in 1988 and has been shaped for the last decade by Senior Pastor Rev. Terri Steed Pierce. The congregation's motto is "LOVE WINS," and the church describes itself as a church "FOR and BY the LGBTQ+ community where ALL people are welcome." Sundays bring two services, communion every week, and music drawn from traditional, classical, and contemporary sources; Wednesdays bring a Spiritual Transformation class; and Thursdays keep the food pantry doors open to the neighborhood.
From a Living Room to Ferncreek Avenue
Joy MCC began in January 1981 in the living room of founding pastor Rev. Art Flescher. Seven years later, in 1988, the congregation purchased the Ferncreek Avenue property that remains its home today. That same year the church created the food pantry and an annual Thanksgiving food drive that still feed neighbors experiencing hunger in the Orlando community.
On October 6, 2012, Rev. Terri Steed Pierce began her ministry as Senior Pastor. She was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Mars Hill University and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and had previously served churches in Raleigh, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Houston, Texas; and Omaha, Nebraska. In her own words, the night of June 12, 2016, the Pulse tragedy, changed her life and sharpened the church's conviction that "love always wins."
The congregation launched a global online ministry on March 22, 2022, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that online reach is now part of the church's regular rhythm. The Joylink newsletter keeps a wider circle of friends connected to the church's life between Sundays.
Sundays at Joy MCC
Worship happens twice on Sunday mornings. The 9:00 am service is in person only and runs about an hour. The 11:00 am service runs until 12:15 pm and is offered both in the sanctuary and online through Facebook Live and a YouTube livestream, so that people who cannot be present can still join the celebration.
The services are described as "a prayerful, passionate, and joyous celebration." Each sermon is intended to balance a traditional Scriptural lesson with a contemporary reflection, and the music program pulls from traditional, classical, and contemporary genres "as diverse as we are." Communion is offered every Sunday and, as at all MCC churches, is open to everyone, regardless of background or belief.
Guests arriving for the first time can expect a warm welcome. The congregation gathers just south of downtown Orlando at 2351 South Ferncreek Avenue, and the sanctuary is air conditioned with stained glass windows and what the church calls "Southern architectural touches." The 11:00 am service is also streamed live for those worshipping from home.
Spiritual Transformation on Wednesday Nights
On Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Joy MCC hosts an adult formation hour called Spiritual Transformation. The class "dives into various subjects, scriptures, and authors" and is meant to be a thought-provoking journey of spiritual growth and deeper understanding of Christ. The class is offered both in person at the church and on Zoom, with meeting ID 812 716 810 and passcode 332797. The session format invites the same kind of curiosity about Scripture that the Sunday sermon brings, but with more time for questions and conversation.
Fill Searching Hearts
The first of the church's three outward-facing commitments is "Fill Searching Hearts." Joy MCC teaches that every person is deserving of love, respect, and acceptance, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. The church aims to be a welcoming and inclusive space where individuals from all walks of life can come together to experience what it calls the boundless love of God, and to provide paths for healing and growth no matter where people are in their lives. Sunday worship and the Wednesday Spiritual Transformation class are the two main expressions of that work.
Fight for Justice
The second commitment is "Fight for Justice." Joy MCC believes that everyone deserves to be treated with humanity and respect, and it works to end inequality, poverty, and other forms of injustice. Five named efforts make this work visible throughout the year:
- Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed every November 20 with a gathering for reflection, support, and solidarity.
- A Prayerful Presence is held every June 12, between 2:00 am and 5:00 pm, in remembrance of the Pulse tragedy.
- Come Out With Pride is Joy MCC's participation in Orlando's annual pride parade each October.
- Expand Don't Ban Book Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 pm via Zoom, reading banned books as an act of defiance and joining in person when possible.
- The Unclobber teaching series walks through Old and New Testament passages that have been used against the LGBTQ+ community and reframes them in their original context. Two sermons by Rev. Terri and the essay "Homosexuality: Not A Sin, Not A Sickness" by Rev. Elder Don Eastman are available as resources.
Feed Hungry People
The third commitment is "Feed Hungry People." Joy MCC runs a food pantry that is open every Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, except for holidays. The pantry is staffed by volunteers and coordinated by Larry Edwards, who serves as Volunteer Food Pantry Coordinator. Donations of food and pet food are collected at the altar on the third Sunday of every month, and monetary donations are welcome throughout the week. Each year around Thanksgiving, the congregation gathers food for an annual Thanksgiving food drive so that families in the community can share a holiday meal.
The L.I.F.E. Team and Pastoral Care
An active prayer and pastoral care ministry runs through the L.I.F.E. Team (Loving, Investing, Fostering, Enriching). Requests submitted through the church's prayer request form are handled confidentially by this team, and the team also reaches out when members of the community have a spiritual need. The Grief Support Group, called "Living with Loss, Healing with Hope," meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm and is led by Rev. Shirley Strader. It is a space for anyone experiencing any form of loss to share their journey and find pathways toward healing.
Weddings at Joy MCC
Joy MCC is open to officiating weddings for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, either in its own sanctuary or at a location of the couple's choice. The sanctuary accommodates larger guest counts, is air conditioned, and offers the stained glass and Southern architectural details the church describes as part of its wedding ambiance. Couples who book the church can also be referred to vendors for cake, music, flowers, photography, videography, and design. Pricing and procedure inquiries are handled by Angela Bates, Director of Administrative Services.
The Building as a Venue
The same building that holds Sunday worship is available to rent for weddings, conferences, and special celebrations. Three packages are offered. The Small Gathering package is $2,200 for eight hours, up to forty guests, with tables and chairs included. A second package at $2,500 extends seating to up to three hundred guests and adds two hours of photo access. The Platinum Package, at $3,000, adds seating for up to five hundred guests, three hours of photo access, an event planner, and day-of management. All packages require a 15 percent deposit to hold the date, with the balance due five days before the event. Holiday and peak-season pricing may vary. The church is described as family-friendly, all-inclusive, conveniently located, and scenically surrounded.
The Staff Who Lead Joy MCC
Joy MCC's paid staff is small and lean, and several key roles are filled by volunteers. The leadership team includes:
- Rev. Terri Steed Pierce, Senior Pastor and Moderator of the Board, in her tenth year of ministry at Joy MCC.
- Rev. Alan Dicken, Pastor of Engagement, a graduate of Bethany College (B.A. in Religious Studies) and Union Theological Seminary in New York City (M.Div), who has also served churches in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bethany, West Virginia.
- Alvin Giles, Director of Worship and Production, a world-traveling musician, songwriter, producer, and educator who has opened for Stevie Wonder, Bryan Adams, John Legend, Miguel, Nas, Bobby Womack, Al Jarreau, and others, and who played piano on the soundtrack for 12 Years a Slave.
- Megan Currie, Pastor of Virtual Connection, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her partner Roxy and their dog Ernest, and keeps Joy MCC's social channels connected between Sundays. She holds an M.Div from Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology and a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy from Mars Hill University.
- Angela Bates, Director of Administrative Services, a ten-year U.S. Army veteran who keeps the day-to-day operations running behind the scenes.
Volunteers round out the team: Rev. Bentley Stewart as Resident Theologian, Sasha Stewart as Justice Artist, John Sherman on the production team and sound, Cruz Hernandez on production and streaming, Larry Hendrixson on drums, Larry Edwards as Volunteer Food Pantry Coordinator, and Corey Beam as Content Coordinator. A board of lay leaders supports the staff and includes Mark Kornmann (Vice Moderator), Grant Garris (Treasurer), George Lytle (Clerk), LeAnn Hamlin (Community Liaison), Lane Blackwell (Facilities Liaison), and Jihan Jude (Resource Development).
Beliefs, Welcome, and "LOVE WINS"
Joy MCC is rooted in the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus and describes itself as open and affirming, welcoming the full participation of people of all races, cultures, ages, abilities, spiritual backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Its four named core values are Inclusion, Spiritual Transformation, Community, and Social Action. The church states that inclusivity means welcoming and embracing people of all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life without discrimination, and that it "fully embraces and supports LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships," advocating for equality and inclusion within the church and beyond. The biblical foundation for this welcome is laid out in a series of "one another" commands the congregation lifts up: accept one another (Romans 15:7), bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2-3), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), forgive one another (Ephesians 4:31-32), carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), and love one another (John 13:34). Romans 15:13 is also a touchstone text: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Two Sunday services, weekly communion open to everyone, Wednesday night Spiritual Transformation, a Thursday food pantry, a monthly grief group, a twice-monthly banned book club, and an open invitation to join the volunteer Welcome/Usher Team, Production Team, Music Ministry, Food Pantry, L.I.F.E. Team, or Hospitality crew together shape the rhythm of life at Joy MCC.