Cathedral of Hope (Dallas) facts for kids

The Cathedral of Hope (CoH) is a large church in Dallas, Texas. It is known for being very welcoming to everyone. It is especially open to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people. This church is part of the United Church of Christ. It is said to be the world's biggest "liberal Christian church" that focuses on welcoming LGBT people. Over 4,000 people are members of this church.

The Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas.

The main building of the Cathedral of Hope is quite special. It was designed by a famous architect named Philip Johnson. The building is ten stories tall. It also has a 78-foot bell tower. This tower remembers people who were affected by a serious health crisis. The main church building was finished in 2002. It cost about $20 million to build. It can hold up to 2,200 people for worship at one time.

The church also has other locations. These include Mid-Cities (between Dallas and Fort Worth) and Oklahoma City. They also reach many people online across the country. The Cathedral of Hope joined the United Church of Christ in February 2007. Before that, it was a main church of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

In November 2009, construction began on the Cathedral of Hope's Interfaith Peace Chapel. This chapel was also designed by Philip Johnson's firm. It was officially opened on November 7, 2010. The Rev. Dr. Neil Cazares-Thomas has been the senior pastor since May 2015.

How the Cathedral of Hope Started

The Cathedral of Hope began on July 30, 1970. A group of twelve people met in a home in Dallas. They wanted to start a Metropolitan Community Church. In May 1971, Richard Vincent became the first pastor. For the first year and a half, the group met in homes. They even used a coffee table as their altar.

Inside the Cathedral of Hope.

In 1972, the church moved into its first building at 3834 Ross Avenue. This building used to be a small hospital. In 1974, James Harris became the second pastor. On October 4, 1976, the church bought a former Church of Christ building. This new home was at 2701 Regan, Dallas.

In November 1977, Don Eastman was chosen as the third pastor. By this time, the church had grown to almost 400 members. Michael Piazza became the senior pastor in November 1987. He helped the church grow even more. Membership reached 600 people.

Growth and New Buildings

In late 1990, the church changed its name to Cathedral of Hope MCC. This showed its goal to reach out to LGBT people everywhere. The church began planning a larger building. This new home was finished in 1992. That same year, their Christmas Eve service was shown on CNN. The church now had almost 1,000 members. In 1993, the church grew by a record 300 members.

In 1995, the Cathedral of Hope asked architect Philip Johnson to design a new church campus. By 1998, membership grew to over 2,300. The church served more than 3,000 people. In 1999, the church started broadcasting its worship services live online.

In 2000, the Cathedral of Hope began a "Century of Compassion." They started giving over one million dollars each year to help the community. On July 30, 2000, the John Thomas Bell Wall was dedicated. This wall is a national memorial. The church had held many services for people affected by a health crisis.

On August 6, 2000, a new Cathedral of Hope opened in Oklahoma City. In July 2002, a new 22,000 square foot Congregational Life Center was dedicated. This center had new classrooms for kids and youth. It also had offices for counseling and staff. By the end of 2002, the church had nearly 4,000 members locally and nationally.

A view of the Cathedral of Hope campus.

In 2005, Jo Hudson was chosen as the senior pastor. Michael Piazza became the dean of the cathedral. The church celebrated 35 years of helping people. They also started raising money for the Interfaith Peace Chapel. In October 2006, the Cathedral of Hope joined the United Church of Christ (UCC). This made it the fourth largest church in that group.

In July 2010, the Cathedral of Hope celebrated its 40th anniversary. Jo Hudson resigned in May 2013. Jim Mitulski became the interim senior pastor. After a year-long search, Neil Cazares-Thomas became the new pastor on May 24, 2015. In July 2015, the church celebrated its 45th anniversary.

Pastors of the Cathedral of Hope

Here are the senior pastors who have led the Cathedral of Hope:

• 1971–1974: Richard Vincent
• 1974–1977: James Harris
• 1977–1987: Don Eastman
• 1987–2003: Michael S. Piazza
• 2005–2013: Jo Hudson
• 2013–2014: Jim Mitulski
• 2015–present: Neil Cazares-Thomas

Helping the Community

The Cathedral of Hope in Dallas does a lot of charity work. They have programs to help people in need.

• iCare: Volunteers serve lunch every Monday. They also give out food, toiletries, and other items from the church's food pantry.
• BACH (Breakfast at Cathedral of Hope): A weekly breakfast is served to people in need every Saturday morning.
• Sometimes, these meals also include free haircuts or health checks by medical professionals.
• Pack the Pantry: Once a month, volunteers collect and organize donated food for the pantry.

Columbarium

The Cathedral of Hope has a special place called a columbarium. This is where church members can choose to have their ashes placed after they pass away. If members do not use this service, their names are still remembered on a wall in the columbarium area.

See also

• List of Christian denominations affirming LGBT

Images for kids

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  A different view of the Cathedral of Hope.