COHOKC

Welcome!

The vision of this church is a tremendous one: “We are a people who serve in the manner of Jesus – with compassion, inclusion, liberation, and hope.”

Our mission is “to empower all people to experience the presence of God, to grow toward wholeness, and to act in love.”

To fulfill this mission requires all of us working together. For that reason we believe that every member is a minister. Everyone has a role to play in building the reign of God in this world.

Everyone is welcome here. We are clear that Cathedral of Hope is a Christian church, but we are determined that no one feel excluded. Regardless of where folk are on their faith journey, they are welcome here. We are all seeking the truth together.

As the ministers, we all have responsibilities. We are not simply consumers. We are givers, not just takers. We are called to live faithfully in a way that will change our lives and the life of the world. So, we are a people who commit to one another our presence, prayer, generosity, service, and continued spiritual growth.

I hope you will let us know if there is any way that we can minister to you by answering any questions you might have about us.

Peace,
Pastor Scott Jones

Rev. Dr. Scott Jones
Senior Pastor

Scott started as pastor in May, 2005. He holds a B. A. in religion and philosophy from Oklahoma Baptist University and an M.A. and Ph. D. in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma.

At the age of fourteen, Scott preached his first sermon at the First Baptist Church of Miami, OK, which licensed him to the ministry on March 11, 1990 and ordained him on March 16, 1997. He has served as an associate pastor at baptist churches in Arkansas and Texas.

Scott’s community involvements include: Co-Chair of the Cimarron Speakers Bureau, columnist and contributing writer for HNOKC.com, member of the LGBT outreach committee of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, and member of the Diversity Business Association. Scott has also been an activist on many social issues.

Scott is a blogger, an avid reader, and “for his sanity” likes to hike in Oklahoma State Parks. He lives with his partner Michael, who is also a community activist passionately committed to the cause of equality.

Our Story

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. For years they attended the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas when they were in Dallas. CoH-Dallas met this need and formed a parish 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 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
February 2004	Rev. Bob Wilcox begins service as interim pastor
Summer 2004	Vision and Mission statement developed
July 2004	Wilson School adopted for various projects
January 2005	Scarf Sewing Bee for Wilson School kids

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.

May 15, 2005	Rev. Dr. Scott Jones installed as pastor
September 14, 2005	Community Partner for Holocaust Remembrance Exhibition
September 2005	Circle of Hope formed in Norman, OK
October 30, 2005	Vote 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 mother 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
July 10, 2007	Reflection Circle is formed
October 11, 2007	Community partner in Stop Hate in the Hallways Conference
October 30, 2007	Expressions Circle becomes Circle of Hope
November 4, 2007	Health and Wellness Ministry begins with free flu shots
November 18, 2007	Sign language translation begins in worship service
January 20, 2008	Community Care Ministries launched