Our Historical Timeline
A person’s identity is formed in the on-going story of a community. We as Christians are part of the larger on-going story of God’s relationship with creation.
To know us, one must know our story.
Here are a few of the significant moments in the life of Cathedral of Hope Oklahoma City.
The Beginnings
There were folk in Oklahoma City who wanted a church different from the others they had experienced in the past. For years, some of them had occasionally attended the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas when they were in Dallas for business or pleasure. CoH-Dallas met this need for a new congregation in Oklahoma City. It all began with a small group bible study and a few big services at Christmas and Easter. With joy we gathered for our first, regular, Sunday service, and the early years were filled with exciting ventures.
We were reclaiming a Christianity of extravagant grace, radical inclusion, and relentless compassion.
| Fall 1999 | Alpha Circle begins |
| August 5, 2000 | First regular Sunday service held |
| September 1, 2000 | Rev. Kevin McLemore installed as pastor |
| December 2000 | Annual Christmas baskets project begins |
| Winter 2001 | First Sexuality & Scripture Conference held |
| August 2001 | Annual Crayola Crusade school supplies project begins |
| March 2002 | Women’s Circle is formed |
Serving the Community
Quickly we became a congregation that reached out to our community through a variety of service projects. These ministries carried us through years of transition as we left one denomination and went through pastoral changes. We refined our vision and mission: “to empower all people to experience the presence of God, to grow toward wholeness, and to act in love.”
| April 2002 | Church paints the Northwinds facility for those living with HIV/AIDS |
| September 2002 | Rev. Tessie Mandeville comes as pastor |
| July 2003 | Church disaffiliates with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches |
| December 2003 | Men’s Circle formed from merger of previous groups |
| February 2004 | First Habitat for Humanity project |
| Rev. Bob Wilcox begins service as interim pastor | |
| Summer 2004 | Vision and Mission statements developed |
| July 2004 | Wilson Elementary School adopted for various projects |
| January 2005 | Scarf Sewing Bee for Wilson School kids becomes an annual event |
Living God’s Reign
Empowered by the biblical image of God’s reign of peace and justice, we proclaimed “It’s okay to be a Christian.” We expanded our ministries to reach more people with God’s message of inclusive love. We advocated in the public sphere. We pursued affiliation with the United Church of Christ, known for its historic stances for justice and inclusion, and its emphasis that God is still speaking!
| May 15, 2005 | Rev. Dr. Scott Jones installed as pastor |
| September 14, 2005 | We were a Community Partner for the Holocaust Remembrance Exhibition |
| September 2005 | Circle of Hope formed in Norman, OK |
| October 30, 2005 | Voted to affiliate with the United Church of Christ |
| April – May 2006 | Weekly ministry to Oklahoma Baptist University students |
| April 30, 2006 | Transgender education network formed |
| July 30, 2006 | Rev. Bruce Lowe honored as first recipient of the Hero of Hope Award |
| November, 2006 | Lobbying of OKC Public Schools on behalf of LGBT students |
A Community of Care
2007 began with independence from our founding church. Subsequent months were spent developing the structures of an independent congregation, before launching a series of new ministries with the theme of reaching new audiences. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
| January 3, 2007 | CoH-OKC incorporated, now independent from founding church |
| March 11, 2007 | Council on Ministry adopts new ministry structures for the church |
| May 19, 2007 | CoH welcomed into Oklahoma Association of the United Church of Christ |
| June 17, 2007 | Hosts lecture on the LGBT history of Oklahoma, which later airs on KGOU radio broadcast reaching thousands around the state |
| October 11, 2007 | Community partner in Stop Hate in the Hallways Conference, which was focused on bullying prevention |
| November 4, 2007 | Health and Wellness Ministry begins with free flu shots offered to the wider community |
| January 20, 2008 | Community Care Ministries launched |
| March 2008 | CoH joins community in responding to anti-gay speech by Rep. Sally Kern |
| August 21, 2008 | Received grant from Oklahoma City Community Foundation to fund our Health & Wellness Ministries |
| October 28, 2008 | Joins nationwide UCC action to support marriage equality by holding a calling party to lobby California voters to vote “no” on Proposition 8 |
| January 11, 2009 | “Formations” class begins lectionary bible study and prayer time; we also begin using our website as a tool for spiritual formation |
| February 11, 2009 | Pastor Scott Jones is Chaplain for the Day at Oklahoma State House of Representatives |
| June 8, 2009 | “Hope in the City” Monday night discussion group begins |
Hope.United.
As we entered our tenth year as a congregation, we began to realize that God was calling us to a time of renewal and change. We began a process of re-examining our mission and vision, our ministries, even our location and our name, all in an effort to discern what the stillspeaking God was saying to us now. What was God calling us to be and do as we entered a new decade? We gave this congregational journey a name, “Hope.United.”
| Spring 2009 | Begin recording our worship and posting it on our website and YouTube |
| Fall 2009 | Began more aggressively using Facebook and Twitter as tools for evangelism |
| August 18, 2009 | Hosted Bishop Ulrich Fischer, leader of the Union of Evangelical Churches in Germany, as part of an ecumenical exchange |
| Fall 2009 | Church becomes more regularly involved in local interfaith community, including members attending a Ramadan iftar at one of the local mosques |
| November 15, 2009 | Congregational Meeting launches task forces to discern God’s call for our church |
| March 14, 2010 | Began worshipping at the building of the Mayflower Congregational Church after 9 1/2 years at the First Unitarian Church. We celebrated our leave-taking and new home with many special worship services and events. |
| April 18, 2010 | Monthly collections of supplies for The Winds House, an HIV treatment facility, begins |
| May 30, 2010 | Held our farewell service for Rev. Dr. Scott Jones. |
| June 6, 2010 | Our 2010 Summer Preaching Series began. |
| June 26-27, 2010 | After being absent from OKC Pride in 2009, we participated in OKC Pride by having a booth and being in the OKC Pride Parade. It was sure good to be back! |
| September 8, 2010 | We restarted our Circle of Hope Bible Study held every other Wednesday night. |
| September 12, 2010 | We launched our new logo and redesigned website that recognizes and celebrates our past, present and future, as a member of the United Church of Christ. |
| October 3, 2010 | Rev. Dr. Joe Meinhart preached his first Sunday sermon as our interim pastor. |
| December 2010 | Began our first ever official advertising to outreach to LGBTQIA people in Oklahoma City. |
| January 2011 | Expanded our Circle of Hope Bible Study to be held weekly. |
| March 2011 | With Lent and Easter plans set it motion, we started to prepare for OKC Pride to make our participation bigger and better than ever. |
| October 2011 | Collected school supplies for Wilson Elementary School. |
| November 6, 2011 | Honored Bob Lemon as our 2011 Hero of Hope. |
| November 13, 2011 | Remembered and honored the veterans that have served our country. |
| November 20, 2011 | Remembered those who have suffered from Transgendered hatred and prejudices. Our congregation unanimously voted for Rev. Matthew Perkins to be our pastor. |
| December 2011 | Held a Warmth for Winter drive to collect hats, gloves, scarves, socks and coats for the children at Wilson Elementary School. We collected and donated 37 pairs of gloves, 23 winter hats, 8 scarves, 20 pairs of socks, and 20 coats. |
What will be the next chapter in our story? Maybe you’ll help in writing it!
