Senior Pastor

Rev. Paul Eknes-Tucker

About Holy Trinity Community Church

In our Christian Education, we seek to develop a community of people with a mature Christian faith; meaning a faith which leads us to care for others, that opens our hearts to service, an evolving faith that is the product of critical thinking and questioning.  Our education is for all ages and is conducted in places inside the church and out.

Our Witness, Holy Trinity is involved in a daring ministry which focuses on restoring and reconciling persons to faith in Christ.  Holy Trinity affirms that all persons are called to salvation through Jesus Christ.  God accepts each of us, regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation.  We advocate an inclusive ministry that regards hospitality (charity) primary among virtues. This ministry reaches out to anyone seeking the fellowship of the Church.  In addition to Sunday school, prayer gatherings and Scripture study Holy Trinity provides counseling and spiritual support for individuals and couples. Regularly biblical study is offered in the subject of sexuality and culture. Holy Trinity has a strong social conscience concerning peace and justice issues.  The church has provided support for Church World Service; Friends For Life; Katrina Relief Effort; Narcotics Anonymous; Alcoholics Anonymous; Cotton Pickin' Squares; University Consortia of Churches; Church Health Center; Memphis Area Gay Youth;  Mid-South PRIDE; Memphis Lesbian Gay Coalition for Justice; Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center; Triangle Journal News; Initiative Fairness; Memphis Vocal Arts Ensemble; Mystic Krewe of Pegasus; WKNO-TV Programming;  James Cistern Methodist Church; Bahamas; and the Witness Our Welcome Welcoming Church Movement.  We are pleased to be covenantal partners within the United Church of Christ which extends our ministry nationwide.

In our missions, we seek to share the excitement of our Christian faith without judging others.  In our missions, we seek to take our faith and beliefs from the inside out, and know that our missions require that we must also bring the outside in.  We take Christ's admonition-to go forth and share the good news-as our own, which we strive to do in word and deed both locally and globally.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN

Holy Trinity Church is a member of the holy universal body of Christ, and is a member of the United Church of Christ.    Holy Trinity joined the St. Louis Association, Missouri Mid South Conference of the United Church of Christ in September 2006.  Holy Trinity was formed in 1990 by a group of Christians exiled because of their gender/sexual orientation.  Its beliefs and doctrines are set forth in the Articles of Faith;  its basic articles of government are described in the Canons.   Holy Trinity United  Church of Christ  held its first service on June 10, 1990 in the Memphis gay/lesbian Community Center.  The founding pastor was the Rev. Richard Johnson who came from a Lutheran background.  The first service began with twelve people.  Attendance and support grew yearly until, in late 1993, a move was necessary to accommodate the growing congregation.  The Rev. Ethan Pruitt led the church through a tremendous time of growth and transition until 1994.  During the church's interim in 1994-95 a gifted interim pastor, Rev. Dave Loofbourrow shepherded the changing congregation. In 1995 the Rev. Timothy Meadows came to Memphis to lead HTCC to its next milestone.  In 1998  HTCC purchased its own building and relocated to Summer Avenue in a modest former bank building.  In 2003, the church purchased its present facility on Highland Street at Spottswood, in the University of Memphis area.  In 2004, the church purchased the adjoining property to begin a visionary project to prepare for future growth.  In 2005, Rev. Meadows celebrated his tenth year as the pastor of  Holy Trinity United Church of Christ.

WHERE WE ARE

Holy Trinity is a fully participating member of the United Church of Christ.  We support our denomination through the regional work of the Missouri Mid South Conference and nationally through Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM). The United Church of Christ is a member church of the National Council of Churches (NCC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).   As an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ we lend our voices to full inclusion of the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Queer) community in the life of the Church.  The United Church of Christ also has a vision of an ecumenical church and is a primary witness on the  Consultation On Church Union (COCU)within the United States .  By being part of the UCC family, Holy Trinity is a global mission church directly supporting the work of global missions through Church World Service.

Holy Trinity has received favorable community response in the face of increased hostilities from religious zealots.  Holy Trinity fervently proclaims God’s love for all people regardless of any human condition.  The formula for worship is centered upon Word and Sacrament and is shared by a faithful and loving congregation.  The impetus for HTCC’s ministry is a call to advocacy on behalf of the least, the last and the forgotten.    This church hopes to be an alternative to faith communities who reject their own because of social and cultural bias;  this church lifts high the cross of Christ who broke all barriers between people and God; this church also seeks diligently to follow Christ’s command to love one another and thus show true discipleship and witness.

WHERE WE'RE GOING

This church holds to a great vision for the future.  In the middle of a confusing and broken world HTCC strives to exemplify God’s grace and love towards everyone.  Holy Trinity is a sanctuary for the spiritually battered and a large voice for human rights and equality. In the coming years HTCC will be seeking eagerly to expand its reconciling service to the community by forming other partnerships for ministry to all people.  Holy Trinity remains committed tot he GLBTQ community in the MidSouth. Holy Trinity seeks to be a compelling witness to authentic faith, inclusive Christianity, and a spirituality of the heart and the mind.  We are vigilant in our discernment toward the leading of Jesus Christ and seek to have a faith evident in loving acts of justice and kindness. We are determined to be a church accessible to all.

SACRAMENTS

Holy Trinity United Church of Christ acknowledges these two sacraments: 

Holy Communion  
Holy Communion is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ for his followers.  At HTCC, communion is celebrated every Sunday.  All Christians are invited to partake. 

Baptism 
Baptisms are scheduled periodically throughout the year.

COMMUNITY RITES

Holy Trinity acknowledges the following community rites:

Marriage/Holy Union
Services are conducted between two persons who seek faithfulness to God and one another  through the exchange of vows/promises.

Reconciliation/Healing
For persons seeking healing for body, mind or spirit through prayer, laying on of hands or anointing with oil.

Christening/Blessing
For those who would like their relationships, pets, homes, etc. blessed.

Dissolution of Vows
When covenants between persons are irreconcilable, the church exhorts parties to receive counsel and a means for closure.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Is Holy Trinity a Christian church? 

       Holy Trinity adheres to the belief that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him has eternal life.  Holy Trinity believes the Holy Bible to be a primary source for faith and practice.  While it is true to say we take the Bible seriously, we do not read it literally. Like other Christian traditions Holy Trinity utilizes earlier traditions and affirms that God is still speaking to the world.

What makes Holy Trinity unique?
Holy Trinity is composed of many traditions and is open to all people.  Holy Trinity affirms and upholds an inquiring faith. Holy Trinity is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ.  The United Church of Christ is a historic denomination in the United States rooted in the Reform, Evangelical and Congregational Protestant churches.

What does Holy Trinity expect of its membership?
Membership requires responsible stewardship of our relationship with God and others through prayer, fellowship, worship and study; sharing talents that may be utilized to build up the community and financial gifts which are tokens of our labor given for the work of Christ in the local and global community.

Is Holy Trinity a “real” church?
Holy Trinity is a community of faith that reflects the region in which it thrives.  Holy Trinity is full of people who are educated, experienced,  rich, poor, straight, bi, transgender, gay, lesbian, black, white, Hispanic, Protestant, Catholic and seek to worship God and serve others by providing a loving faith community.  By being a prophetic voice in the face of hatred and injustice, HTCC upholds the desire of Jesus Christ to reconcile all people.  Since its inception Holy Trinity has been blessed and guided by the Holy Spirit as evidenced through the testimony of transformed lives and claimed faith.