Anarchists rent 'former sanctuary' from sex-change pastor

Anarchists rent 'former sanctuary' from sex-change pastor
Church also provides venue for 'Islamic punk' program

An organization that honors anarchist Red Emma is renting the "former sanctuary" from a church whose pastor underwent a sex change procedure, in an effort to alleviate some of the church's money problems.

The facility that for years has been known as St. John's United Methodist Church in Baltimore now also is advertising itself, and being advertised, as the 2640 "Building," and has been used by a show of "Islamic punk" groups.

Word of the unusual arrangement involving a mainline denomination church came from Mark Tooley, executive director of UMAction at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and focused on the unusual activities at St. John's.

"Supporters of St. John's transsexual pastor, including the local bishop, have praised the radical church's supposedly thriving congregational life. But in fact, the small congregation's preference for identity politics and radical causes has been a poor substitute for the Gospel of Jesus Christ," said Tooley.

"That a United Methodist congregation would have to rely on Red Emma's anarchist collective to survive speaks to the complete failure of liberal theology to attract a vibrant membership.

"Why are churches that boast most loudly about their 'inclusivity' almost always dying?" he asked.

"St. John's dwindling flock starkly contrasts with thriving United Methodist churches in the U.S. and even more so overseas, where an emphasis on evangelism and discipleship fuels massive growth," he said.

WND reported earlier when St. John's pastor, Ann Gordon, was reappointed to the post – as a man, Drew Phoenix.

The announcement came at a Baltimore-Washington annual conference of the UMC, when Gordon announced the change to Phoenix, and talked of a "spiritual transformation" since the sex change procedure.

The church denomination "officially" disapproves of homosexual behavior, but has no explicit policy regarding sexual identity changes or sex change operations, officials said. Gordon/Phoenix' congregation is among those that support what the members call the "reconciling" movement within the church, and campaigns to reject the church's traditional biblical teachings on marriage and sexual ethics.

Tooley notes that St. John's, "still not fully restored after a 1981 fire, now hosts meetings of Red Emma's collective, a self-described anarchist group. Payments from the anarchists have allowed the church to continue paying its utility bills.

"Red Emma's speakers at the church have included a former Black Panther imprisoned for armed robbery and the Northeast Federation of Anarchists-Communists," Tooley said.

The church's own website lists Red Emmas as a "partner" in the community, and described the organization as "a worker-owned and collectively managed bookstore and coffeehouse," and the Red Emma website noted that the "best culture jamming" is happening on the "2640 stage."

"The Iraq Veterans Against the War held a talk there, and more recently a bill of Islamic punk acts graced the 2640 stage…" the Red Emma promotion said. The website also is raising funds for the building's restoration.

"We've been able to do so much in the space over the past 8 months, but to be able to do even more, we need to make long-term renovations and repairs to the building to turn it into the fully functional community resource…." the site says, seeking $20,000.

The church itself boasts on it website of being a "beautiful nineteenth century church building with a variety of spaces that are perfect for any occasion. If you or your organization are interested in holding an event of interest to the community, or for a private event such as a wedding reception, please contact the church office…"

It already has "been perfect" for weddings, receptions, theater and music performances, drumming circles, parties, tai chi classes, dance lessons and community meetings.

"We ask all persons and groups using our building for a facility fee contribution so that we may maintain our wonderful building resource for everyone," the church says.

The Red Emma organization boasts of being named after Emma Goldman, 1869-1940, and describes her as, "perhaps one of the most well-known activists in the United States … a pioneer of change, a firebrand…" as well as "feminist, anarchist, labor organizer and rabble-rouser."

The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches’ social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings.