WASHINGTON — The country’s only predominantly gay denomination has been approved to supply chaplains for the Veterans Administration (VA) for use in hospitals and other VA facilities. The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) does not have a timeline for when it will begin supplying chaplains to the VA. Church spokesman Jim Birkitt said the application took about nine months and the church encountered “no resistance whatsoever.”
“This marks an historic step for MCC churches,” said Troy Perry, the denomination’s founder and moderator. “U.S. programs have long been hostile to gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender servicemembers and veterans, so this marks yet another positive step toward full equality for America’s gay and lesbian citizens.”
The VA’s National Chaplain Center currently accepts chaplains from about 225 registered religious groups, most of whom are also recognized by the armed forces. MCC officials say they now plan to apply to provide chaplains to the military.
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