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Oldest Gay Church Installs New Leader

April 25, 2010
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By Asma Khalid

The oldest Christian church established by and for the homosexual community is appointing a new head in Washington.

The Metropolitan Community Church is installing Reverend J. Dwayne Johnson as its new senior pastor today. Johnson was born into a conservative Christian home. Both of his parents are ministers in the Church of the Nazarene. The church explicitly forbids homosexual relations.

But Johnson was a man of faith. Despite his personal feelings he went on to become a pastor himself in the Church of the Nazarene. But over time he felt that he was living a lie, and decided to leave the church.

He stumbled upon the Metropolitan Community Church 20 years ago, and he says it saved his ministry. Today, that same church is installing Johnson to help save others.

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