LETTERS: SPACE IS CLAIMED FOR HIGHER PURPOSE

To the editor:

As a former co-worker of Tamara Zellars Buck's when she was with a now-defunct publication targeted toward African-American readers, I respect her journalistic work and talents. I only wish that she would have been a little more broad in her Feb. 14 article ("Old church buildings serve new purpose") to include other churches in her piece such as the Metropolitan Community Church of Southeast Missouri at 519 Broadway.

Although its building was not formerly a church, the MCC and many other Cape churches, both current and defunct, have utilized storefronts and other types of structures as they began their growth. I find this just as interesting as reclaiming an old religious structure by another church, perhaps even more so as the church has to appeal to a congregation while in its infancy and may not always appear so church-like.

As a former member of the MCC in Cape, I worked very hard to help create a feeling of community, warmth and reverence with the help of many people. I feel it is important that churches such as the MCC receive due recognition for taking a space and claiming it for a higher purpose. The MCC specifically is often left out because their beliefs on sexuality and specifically homosexuality are more accepting and forgiving. What might be even more detrimental to a small church is the lack of acknowledgment it receives in the media and in the community. A small church regardless of the denomination has a very difficult task of creating an identity in a community while also having few resources to afford a monetary outlay to become known.

ART MATTHEWS

Flagstaff, Ariz.