Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego (MCCSD)
Trademarked as "The Met."
Approved Guiding Statements:
Vibrant. Inclusive. Progressive.
Our mission is to help bring people closer to God and one another.
What We Believe (brochure) MCCSD Bylaws Donate
Our Beliefs
We are a Progressive Christian Community of Faith
As an open and affirming progressive faith community:
• We believe in a God who is concerned with every human
being personally and accepts each one with unconditional love.
• We have found our connection to God through the life,
teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our model for
care, compassion and community. We also recognize and
respect those who find their connection to God through other
spiritual paths.
• One of the ways in which God speaks to us is through the
Bible. We consider its accounts and teachings in light of their
historical and cultural context.
• We are guided by Jesus’ teaching of the Golden Rule: “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you” and the Greatest
Commandments: “Love God with all your heart; and love your
neighbor as yourself.”
Our Core Values
• Inclusion: Love is our greatest moral value. Inclusion is a
primary focus of our ministry. We want to be conduits of faith
where everyone is included in the family of God. We believe
that all people, as they are and where they are, should be
welcomed at God’s table.
• Community: Our deep desire is to offer a safe and open
community for people to worship, learn, and grow in their
faith. We are committed to equipping ourselves and each
other to do the work that God has called us to do in the world.
• Spiritual Transformation: A message of liberation guides
our ministry. We believe that when people are invited to
experience God through the life and ministry of Christ, lives
will be transformed.
• Justice: We are committed to uplifting all people and
standing with those who suffer under the weight of oppressive
systems. We are guided by our commitment to global human
rights.
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring people closer to God and one another.
We are an open and affirming faith community. With roots in the teachings and spiritual practices of Christianity, we are also respectful of the rich wisdom of other faith traditions.
We affirm each individual as a unique and gifted creation of God. Building on our history of celebrating diversity in sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity, we are a congregation that welcomes all people.
We are called to:
• Teach and practice the Good News of God’s unconditional
love for all people.
• Welcome home those who have been spiritually wounded or
are seeking or growing a relationship with God.
• Actively promote equality and justice for all people.
• Be fully engaged in our own growth and with others on their
spiritual journey to hope, healing, and wholeness.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be a vibrant, inclusive, progressive community of faith that transforms lives and transforms the world.
Vibrant
We will increasingly become a place to grow and a place to give. More people will become engaged in our mission and ministries by discovering their gifts and developing their strengths. As an engaged church many will be inspired to passionately live out their life’s purpose. A symphony of talents will produce the transforming harmony of grace and love.
Inclusive
We will meet people where they are on their spiritual journey. People who encounter us will experience authentic hospitality and affirming love. We will grow in diversity.
Progressive
We will be a beacon for equality and a force for social change. We will make a positive difference in our community and beyond. We will build bridges of understanding and cooperation with people on other spiritual paths. As we give voice to our passion for justice, we will share in the transformation of the world.
Click HERE to view the Church By-Laws
History Highlights of the Local Church
Founded in April, 1970, by Howard Williams and a group of twelve; 33 attended the first worship service at Chapel of the Chimes.June, 1970, Rev. John Paul Stevens was elected first pastor of MCCSD. June, 1970, MCCSD begins to meet at Chollas View Methodist Church. November, 1970, Rev. Elder “Papa” John Hose elected as second pastor. By the end of 1971, MCCSD grows to just under 100. By June of 1972, MCCSD membership tops 200. August of 1974, Deacon David Farrell becomes Lay Pastoral Leader. May 6, 1975, MCCSD closes escrow on Fern Street church property. July of 1975, Rev. David Farrell elected as third pastor of MCCSD. Between 1975 and 1980, MCCSD membership grows to over 400. August 18, 1982, MCCSD closes escrow on 30th Street church property. November 14, 1982, new MCCSD church campus dedicated, with a new budget of $147,831.12 (4,500% increase) Between 1983 and 1989, AIDS takes the lives of over 1/3 of MCCSD membership. January of 1986, first International AIDS Vigil of Prayer, which evolves into World Aids Day June of 1990, MCCSD celebrates 20th Anniversary. December of 1995, Rev. Farrell retires after 20 years as Senior Pastor. January, 1996, Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt appointed Interim Senior Pastor. July, 1996, Rev. Anthony “Tony” Freeman elected fourth Senior Pastor of MCCSD. August 3, 1996, Rev. Tony Freeman installed as Senior Pastor. By August of 1997, MCCSD membership grows to over 300. December, 1998, with over 800 in attendance, MCCSD holds Christmas Eve service at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego. June 2-4, 2000, MCCSD celebrates its 30th Anniversary. On Pentecost Sunday, June 11, 2000, Rev. Tony Freeman casts a bold new vision. June 12, 2000, the congregation of MCC San Diego enters in a 14-month period of Fundamental Transformation, seeking to follow God’s will to become a new church for the 21st Century. June, 10, 2001, The Journey to the Promise, seeking to meet the space needs for our growing ministries, kicks off in a big way with nearly $150,000 in donations and pledges. 2002…the critical 400 weekly attendance barrier is broken consistently. June 8, 2003, Miracle Sunday garners nearly $900,000 in pledges for a Building Dreams Together Capital Campaign, toward a new church home. July 27, 2003, with the 30th Street property in escrow, MCC San Diego holds its last worship service at that church campus. August 3, 2003, the first worship services are held at the interim worship location at The Center in Hillcrest. August 18, 2003, the Church Ministry Offices move to interim location at 4340 Vandever Ave. in Mission Valley. August 20, 2003, escrow closes on the 30th Street property. 2004... the Property Aquisition Team continues to actively seek an appropriate church property to meet our ministry needs. September 2004, Spritual Transformation Team forms to faclitate discerning how we can most effectively be together as a faith community and be the church God is calling us to be. October, 2005, Pastor Tony Freeman announces this will be his last year as Senior Pastor. (Later determined he will leave in March, 2006); a Pastoral Search Committee is formed January 8, 2006, Associate Pastor Dan Koeshall’s last Sunday as he goes to Colorado Springs to serve as Interim Pastor at Pikes Peak MCC. January 29, 2006, the Board of Directors announces that Rev. Elder John Gill of King of Peace MCC in St. Petersburg, will be the Interim Senior Pastor. April, 2006, Rev. John Gill takes the helm Interim Senior Pastor. 2006 & 2007, the Property Acquisition Team continues to actively seek an appropriate church property to meet our ministry needs; the Pastoral Transition Team guides us through a period of celebration, evaluation and discernment. August, 2007, the Pastoral Search Team is activated and the search process moves into high gear. November, 2007, Rev. Dan Koeshall called as senior pastor, to begin serving mid January 2008 January 20, 2008 Rev. Dan Koeshall celebrates his first Sunday as senior pastor.September 1, 2009: At about 2 PM, Pastor Dan received the word we had been awaiting: escrow had closed on a new church home at Mission Bay. October 11, 2009: The first worship services in our new church home at 2633 Denver Street, with over 400 people in attendance!November 21-22, 2009: Dedication of our church by the bay. Watch MCC Moderator Nancy Wilson's remarks on the history and mission of our denomination.On October 6, 2010, we were hit with a "flood" from rain on the roof and openings from HVAC upgrading. The resulting $300K in damage and renovation (virtually all paid by insurance) proved a blessing in disguise with numerous upgrades and improvements.June 4-6, 2015, The Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego celebrated its 45th anniversary!May 2016, solar panels installed making us a greener congregation.January 2018, we celebrated Pastor Dan's 10th anniversary as our senior pastor.Read about MCCSD and the Aids epidemic
