For 50 Years, All God’s Children MCC Is Still Here For You

Finding a community that resonates with you is a heartwarming experience that everyone deserves. The members of All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church (AGMCC) understand, and they are here to provide one. Since its conception over 50 years ago, AGCMCC has found ways to support the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities. Offering the community space to discover more about the divine, themselves, and people just like them.

Rev. Kenny Callaghan has been a pastor for 25 years and has been serving AGCMCC since being voted on in September of 2022. After living in southern California for most of his life, Rev. Callaghan came to Minnesota in 2016 for the purpose of seeing his chosen adoptive parents. He felt he needed to experience healing from the “realities” of coming out in his thirties. Since then, he has been enjoying his life being the pastor for AGCMCC and living with his spouse, Kirk, his two dogs, and his cat, Ginger.

“I went to seminary in my late twenties, early thirties, and the call to ministry, and what that meant for me was not to to be a bible-thumper, because I am not, but I wanted to help bring change through social justice and equity for all people. I spent many years working with people who live outside, people who are post-incarcerated, people who struggle with addiction to various chemicals, and also people that just need to be loved up and just to experience life and community in different ways,” Rev. Callaghan said.

AGCMCC will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this July 21^st. As the date approaches, the many challenges and victories that the church has been through come to mind. Beginning in 1974 by students from both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities, the church sought to collapse the divide that existed between organized religion and LGBTQ+ communities. During this time, they were met with backlash from the community in the form of slurs and vandalism, but through it all, AGCMCC never gave up.

Despite the lack of support, the church continued to fight for what it believed in, backing marginalized individuals and fighting for equality for everyone. AGCMCC openly spoke about the AIDS epidemic and addressed the rights to same sex marriage.

“Being a place known as a church of gay and lesbian bisexual, transgender people in the community that wasn’t always supportive but. All God’s Children never gave up. They’ve never given up. And they have continued to fight for equality for all people. They were in the forefront of marriage equality struggles, and bringing that to the forefront in Minnesota and especially here in the Twin Cities,” Rev. Callaghan said.

Today, the Church continues its mission to serve people. On Thursdays the church hosts an event called Thursday Tables. Here, people can come in for a hot lunch run by volunteers. In addition to Thursday Tables, the church also hosts AA meetings. Additionally, they offer a food shelf and clothing closet that supplies necessities such as clothes, hygiene products, and food to those in need, and of course, they offer a Sunday Worship Celebration that everyone is always welcome to join.

Even outside the church walls, Rev. Callaghan’s missions and values never waver. He speaks of the heartbreak he feels over the removal of encampments, and how he does what he can to help those in his community.

“I am regularly fighting with the Minneapolis Police Department for breaking up these homeless encampments. It’s just tragic to me the way that people who live outside are treated by our culture. And, you know, as long as I am here in the Twin Cities and serving here, I will constantly fight for those who, you know, are arrested and marginalized by being treated inhumanely,” Rev. Callaghan said.

When asked what a person who has never attended can expect, Rev. Callaghan enthusiastically answered. He prefaces with the reminder that the church gets it, the church gets you.

“We get it. We get it. The Christian Church has done a lot to wound and hurt people. We say here that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, how you love or who you love, God welcomes and celebrates you, and so do we. You are welcome here…I don’t think anybody comes to All God’s Children MCC looking for God. I think what people come looking for is community. We don’t encourage people to believe in a God that is not personal, because we believe that the divine is personal,” Rev. Callaghan said.

True to their name, All God’s Children is a church that opens their arms to everyone. Rev. Callaghan and the other members of the church understand the pain that many have faced at the hands of the Christian Church, and they do what they can to dismantle and reverse it. On Sunday Worship, you can find yourself walking through the door alone and leaving with a coffee in hand and a new group of friends.

All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church is a church here to celebrate everyone. Whether you are new to the Twin Cities, or someone who grew up in the area, whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, old or young, the church opens its arms and doors for all.

For those looking to attend a worship celebration or other event, learn more about the history of the church and the staff, or how to be involved, please visit the website: www.agcmcc.org.