MCC San Francisco (MCCSF) Closes the Doors of 150 Eureka Street Building

MCC San Francisco (MCCSF) Closes the Doors of 150 Eureka Street
Building
Further Structural Assessments Require Congregation and Community
Groups
to Vacate the Building Sunday Worship Services (11 A.M. and 7 P.M.)
Located at San Francisco’s LGBT Center, until Further Notice (San
Francisco¯July 9, 2006)¯After additional assessments in recent days by
a
licensed structural engineer, the leadership of MCCSF has determined
that
the building at 150 Eureka Street be closed indefinitely. “The
structural
problem in the building was stabilized, and the known hazard has been
addressed,” said Patrick Buscovich, a licensed structural engineer who
inspected the damaged building. “All indications at this point are that
the building at 150 Eureka Street has outlived its useful life.” Last
week, church staff encountered a structural problem in a wall on the
ground floor at the back of the building, and Buscovich was immediately
contacted to assess the situation. He determined that the room and the
social hall on the floor directly above it were unsafe. All persons in
the building were immediately evacuated. “MCCSF is not a building,”
said
the Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon, Senior Minister of MCCSF. “It is a community
of
people dedicated to a common vision—a house of prayer for all people
and
a home for queer spirituality. Our vision and mission remain constant,
even if our meeting place does not.” Rev. Dr. Nixon also acknowledged
that the building has housed MCCSF’s communal spirit for almost a
quarter
century and is currently home to more than 40 community groups. “We
will
ensure that our congregation and our community continue to have a place
to celebrate spirituality now and in the future,” she said. Plans for
the site are currently under discussion by the MCCSF leadership team.
“The community has opened its arms to us in our time of great need, and
many people have already reached out with offers of help, for which we
are so appreciative,” said Rev. Dr. Nixon. “San Francisco Supervisor
Bevan Dufty and I are now working with various community leaders to
find
both immediate and long-term solutions.” “I support MCCSF in its
decision
to close 150 Eureka Street in light of safety concerns,” said
Supervisor
Dufty. “Our main concern is the well-being of parishioners, staff, and
community members who have used 150 Eureka Street. It is critical to
underscore that responding to this closure requires the City to work
effectively with MCCSF, the neighborhood, and the community at large to
secure a long-term home, as well as to develop an interim plan, because
MCCSF provides an essential spiritual space in the Castro. I pledge to
assist them in their efforts to secure a permanent place of worship for
our community.” The leaders and members of MCCSF will be grateful for
any
assistance that the community is able to provide. Donations to help
offset these significant, unforeseen costs are greatly appreciated and
may be made via the MCCSF web site (http://www.mccsf.org/). Until
further
notice, MCCSF will hold its regular 11 A.M. and 7 P.M. Sunday worship
services at the San Francisco LGBT Center at 1800 Market Street (at
Octavia). All are welcome. For more information contact:
Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon
Senior Minister
Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
415-865-2742 (direct line)
pnixon [at] mccsf.org Barbara Buckley
Co-Lay Leader, MCCSF Board of Directors
Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
MCCSFbjb [at] aol.com