Other Ministry Opportunities

Pastoral Care

When serious illness hits home we often try to make sense out a terrible situation by asking “Why God?” And this is a very good question to ask, but sometimes the answers we get are not helpful, or we get no answer at all. It’s easy to blame God for the pain in our lives. After all, if God is so loving and powerful, why doesn’t God step in to stop it and make it all better?

There are no quick, easy answers to problems and questions like these. So if you’re looking for one in this short, simple brochure, I’m sorry to disappoint you. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find meaning and truth in every circumstance we face. That doesn’t mean we can’t choose a path that leads to growth, and greater life, and greater hope and greater peace.

The Pastoral Care ministry at Gentle Shepherd MCC can provide you with a safe, caring environment where you can discover the answers you seek and maybe even find a deeper relationship with God in the process.

What is “Pastoral Care?”

Pastoral Care is an opportunity to talk with a trained pastor about the spiritual issues and problems in our life.
Pastoral Care is not therapy. If emotional or psychological issues come to light, referrals to other professionals can be provided.
Pastoral Care is someone to listen to you, to hear your situation and help you find God in truth in the midst of it.
Pastoral Care may not solve your problems, but it can help you reach out beyond yourself to find the answers you seek.
Pastoral Care is free, and offered to anyone who requests it.

Who & How?

Pastor Paul Anway is a licensed and ordained Metropolitan Community Church pastor.
For over 35 years, MCC churches have been an inclusive, Bible-based, Christian church meeting the needs of all people, particularly those who have felt unwelcomed at other churches due to sexual orientation, gender or gender identification, race, class or abilities.
Pastor Paul is a long-time survivor of HIV, having lived with the virus for over 15 years. He credits this to God’s direct intervention and presence in his life.
To set up an appointment, simply call the church office at 850-878-3001 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Commitment Ceremonies

Even though marriage between persons of the same gender is not legally recognized in the United States, we believe a day will soon come when that will change and all loving, committed relationships will be honored in this country. We believe that marriage is a state of being brought about by God so we don’t allow the legal issues to prevent us from affirming and celebrating loving commitments in all the many forms those relationships may take.

Pastor Paul is available to perform relationship blessings, commitment ceremonies, Holy Unions and marriages. If you would like to recognize and affirm your relationship before God and witnesses, then we invite you to speak with our Pastor about your ceremony. Fees are reasonable and always offered on a sliding scale. We have two basic requirements for commitment ceremonies:

All parties must be at least 18 years old.
You must have been in the relationship for at least six months.

To make an appointment to discuss your ceremony, please call the church office at 850-878-3001 send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Lay Delegate Ministry

The job of the Lay Delegate is to provide a link between the local congregation and the denomination by representing the congregation both at regional and general conferences, and by reporting back to the congregation on events, actions and decisions that occur. The lay delegate and alternate delegate are elected at the congregation’s annual meeting and should be members who have an intimate knowledge of the workings of our congregation and can represent the congregation and vote on its behalf on a variety of subjects.

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Children’s Ministry

In our children’s ministry, we have passionate volunteers that love our kids and want them to experience the love and joy of Jesus Christ and to grow closer to Him. Through age-appropriate stories and activities, our volunteers help to guide our young ones by giving them a firm foundation in their faith.

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Spirituality Groups

Our men’s and women’s spirituality groups meet on alternating Monday nights. These small group settings allow for a more in-depth study of various Biblical topics. They also offer a safe setting where participants can feel free to ask questions and share opinions on topics that are relevant to our lives.

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Web Ministry

Our Web ministry plays an important role in the life of our church. Not only is it a vital tool in disseminating information to our church family, but more importantly, it’s a global portal to those outside our local body. If you have experience in Web design and would like to participate in this ministry, you can contact GSMCC’s This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Greeting Card Ministry

If a note expressing care and God’s love has ever come your way at a meaningful time, then you’ll know why this ministry is so important. Connie makes sure a card is sent if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, or if you’ve recently experienced a loss in your life. If you’d like to donate cards or stamps to this ministry, drop her an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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