DAYTONA BEACH --- The congregation of the church formerly known for 20 years as Hope Metropolitan Community Church met Feb. 3, 2008 to re-establish itself as New Church Family, a Christian congregation welcoming everyone.
With 24 of its 28 members voting, the membership voted 24-to-0 to disaffiliate voluntarily from the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church. After several months of conflict with the Fellowship's ruling Board of Elders, the membership took this step to reaffirm its commitment to local church self-government, including the right of the congregation to select its own pastor.
After several months of exploring several affiliation options, the congregation voted unanimously to join the International Christian Community Churches, based in Asheville, N.C. The denomination includes several ex-MCC churches. The ICCC's governing board approved New Church Family's membership in early November, and its board of ministry granted clergy credentials to the Rev. Beau McDaniels. NCF becomes ICCC's first church in Florida, linking up with other gay & straight united congregations in the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia and elsewhere.
The church holds no animosity toward the Metropolitan Community Church and wishes it well as its Fellowship pursues a review of its own governance procedures.

The core beliefs of the church remain the same as before. We are an inclusive church, open to all, with a special outreach to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and serve an open Communion in His name.
The church has established a new Florida non-profit corporation under the New Church Family name. It has leased worship and office space at 815-B Beville Road Daytona Beach, and is holding worship every Sunday at 10 a.m. The Rev. B.J. "Beau" McDaniels continues as our pastor and spiritual leader, and four lay members join with her to form the church's board of directors. The church's new telephone number is
386-761-5565, and its new web site is www.newchurchfamily.org.

Contacts: Rev. Beau McDaniels, 386-761-5565
Tom Brown, publicity volunteer, 386-576-6671

NEW CHURCH FAMILY -- Frequently Asked Questions

(updated May 11, 2009)

Who are you? We are a Christian congregation that was officially established Jan 6, 2008 after several months of discussion. Formerly, we were known for about 20 years as Hope Metropolitan Community Church until the congregation decided to become nondenominational for a time. Later in 2008, we affiliated with International Christian Community Churches, a small inclusive denomination based in Asheville, N.C. (www.intlccc.org). We are ICCC's first church within Florida.

Why the unusual name? The New Church Family name started as just a temporary corporate name for legal paperwork. After considering more than a dozen other names, the congregation decided they liked the New Church Family label the best. The "New" signifies we are a brand-new work, striving to take our Christian ministry to a higher and better level. "Church" signifies that, indeed, we are a church, not just a discussion group, social club or advocacy organization. We offer all the sacraments and spiritual support of a Christian church, and we are led by an ordained minister with nearly 40 years of pastoral experience. "Family" stands for the type of love and acceptance we endeavor to offer to all who come through our doors. You may look different and think differently from me, but you are still "family." We may even disagree at times, but we are "family." And for the gay, lesbian and transgender community, "family" has a special meaning of acceptance and safety to be the person God made you to be. We realize our unorthodox name may puzzle some; in a nutshell, we are Christian, and radically inclusive, with both gay and "straight" people working together to exemplify God's love for humanity.

Where are you? We worship on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in leased space at 815-B Beville Road, Daytona Beach - the blue Copytronics office complex. We are ground-level with no stairs, easily accessible for those with wheelchairs, walkers or guide dogs. For out-of-towners, Beville Road is State Road 400, the last eastbound exit of Interstate 4. We are about a half-mile west of U.S. 1, also known as Ridgewood Avenue.

What is your service like? Our 75-minute service is informal but includes the same elements found in most Christian churches - hymns, Scripture reading, sermon, public prayers, collection, and Communion. Offered voluntarily every week, Communion usually is served at the front of the sanctuary by the pastor and 2 or 3 lay members of the congregation. A wafer is dipped in grape juice and is placed in the recipient's mouth or handed to the person as they prefer, and a brief one-to-one prayer is said. We also offer the option of receiving Communion without prayer. Dress is casual. Members greet each other with handshakes or hugs, and are encouraged to voice special praises or concerns during the time of public prayer. Worship style varies with the individual - some prefer silent introspective prayer, others feel free to call out "Amen," clap, sing or dance as the Spirit leads them

You call your church gay-friendly. What does that mean? Many of our members are openly lesbian and gay, including our pastor, the Rev. Beau McDaniels and her spouse, the Rev. Susan McDaniels. Some of our members, including church board members, are heterosexual. Some of our members are transgender or closeted gays or bisexual. Many started out in heterosexual marriages but now are in gay marriages or partnerships. We respect your privacy rights. Church attendance and membership status is confidential information - the sign-in sheet we circulate is just to help us keep track of attendance levels, and you are not required to give your full name and address information. We do not identify church members and we do not sell mailing lists to outside parties. We do not inquire about anyone's orientation, but we do offer support and counseling for those struggling with "coming out" or confusion about their sexual identity. We also actively support many gay community and campus-based projects.

What is your theology? We call ourselves Christian and believe in God as our Creator, God as our Savior as Jesus (God in human form), the Christ, who showed us how to love one another and lead us to eternal life, and God as the Holy Spirit, the presence of God in our lives on earth today. We come from a variety of denominational backgrounds and each person is encouraged to work out their own beliefs through prayer and reading the Bible, discussion with others and applying that understanding to their own life.

Besides worship, what other activities do you offer? From time to time, the church distributes food and clothing to the needy, helps members with special needs, and visits members who are hospitalized or housebound. Social events include occasional theater and movie outings, house parties, lectures, picnics and the like. Members with musical talent are encouraged to offer a solo at service. Once a month, the church has a potluck lunch immediately following service.

How do I become a member? Newcomers usually attend several services and then make a decision about strengthening their commitment through membership. That can be done through a transfer of membership from another church or by attending a membership class led by the pastor. Worshippers also can choose to be "friends" of the church - they fully participate in all church activities and discussions but do not have a voting right at business meetings. Speak to the pastor if you are interested in membership.

What does it cost? Not a penny. Even though Scripture says to tithe and we have accepted the common understanding of a tithe as 10 percent of our lives (time, talent, treasure) as our obligation, we also understand that each person must make their own decision as to what they want to give and that it takes time to get to know us and trust that we will follow God's will in the use of their commitment to this church. We encourage members to strive toward the goal of a full tithe, as God leads them, so they may experience the blessings that come with giving. Donation information is compiled confidentially for those who wish to claim a charitable income-tax deduction.