The first thought of having an MCC in Pensacola started when Jackie D. visited an MCC in south Florida. She and two other women, Ann B. and Helen M., made some preliminary inquiries into the possibility of starting an MCC here. However, the interest among the people did not seem to be very high, so they reluctantly dropped the idea for a while ...

1976

In August, Edward Paul joined the Lambda Society of Pensacola and learned that there had been some interest in starting an MCC in Pensacola. He inquired as to who had been interested, and began to encourage them to renew their efforts. Letters were written to Reverend Elder John Hose in Tampa and to Reverend Even S., who was the District Coordinator at that time. This year we started out as a feasibility study group.

1977

We were notified that the National Evangelistic Team, under the direction of Ron Anderson, would be passing through and would stop to visit with us. We assembled a group of about 20 people to hear the team tell about the church. That evening (February 4th), we decided that the only way to begin was to just push forward. Therefore on Sunday, February 6, 1977, MCC Pensacola was born. We had our first service in the home of Ann and Helen. There has been a service every Sunday since. Around the first of March, Tom Johnson who was an Exhorter in the church, moved to Pensacola to continue his education at the University of West Florida, and became our worship coordinator. On March 27, 1977, we began meeting in the Unitarian Fellowship building on 904 E. Scott Street. On May 20th, we became an official study group, and on August 10th, we had an official visit from Reverend Elder John Hose, who was returning to Tampa after General Conference in Denver. He was accompanied by Reverend Lee J. Carlton, a minister from England, and others. In September, Tom became ill at the time of his graduation, and therefore resigned from his duties. On October 1st, Susan Kliebenstein and her partner, Ricki Richards, became our new Worship Coordinators. Both were ordained. They were very instrumental in holding our church together during this time. In November, we obtained mission status.

1978

In May, we requested that we be returned to study group status. On June 30th, at the end of their contract period, Susan and Ricki resigned. Edward Paul was asked to become the Worship Coordinator and began as such on July 2nd.

1979

On April 22nd, Reverend Elder Nancy Wilson shared a joy-filled visit with us. In November, we again were approved for mission status, and shortly thereafter progressed to the point that the Worship Coordinator was put on half-time salary.

1980

Edward Paul resigned on August 31st and moved to Austin, Texas to become assistant pastor at MCC Austin.

1980-1983

Barbara I. Toller became the Worship Coordinator. She was student clergy and left on June 1st. Steve Urie and Terry Douglas, who were deacons at the time, led the services until a new pastor arrived.

1983-1985

Reverend Marge Ragona became the new pastor in 1983. While she was here we were the hosts for the District Conference on November 2-4 in 1984 held at the Holiday Inn in Gulf Breeze. By 1985, deacons Larry Hauffe, Terry Douglas and Angela Palma filled in to lead the church in worship until the next pastor arrived.

1985-1993

Reverend Lee J. Carlton was asked to come be our new pastor. Previous to this, Lee was the Southeast District Coordinator. While he was our pastor, our church received its charter membership. Reverend Carlton resigned on September 5th.

1993-1997

On September 5th, Zaida Rivera, student clergy, became the Pastoral Leader. She was voted in as the new pastor in 1994 and resigned February 2, 1997.

1997-2000

On May 8th, the Pastoral Search Committee voted to nominate the Reverend Marilyn R. Marr as our candidate for the pastoral position. On June 1st she was elected to serve as our new pastor. Reverend Marr began on July 14, 1997 and resigned, leaving on July 6, 2000. She took a position as the pastor of the Rainbow Promise MCC church in Lakeland, Florida.

2000-Present

On October 8, 2000, the Pastoral Search Committee voted to nominate the Reverend Sandy O'Steen as our candidate for the pastoral position, and she was elected to serve on December 3, 2000. She began serving in February, 2001. A second worship service was added in April of 2001, and Rev. Lee Carlton joined our staff and served as Associate Pastor for six months that year. In 2001, Rev. Jo Crisco became our Associate Pastor for 2 1/2 years. Recognizing the need for accessible space that would allow the church to fulfill its mission, the congregation voted to seek property at the annual meeting in 2002. After two years of searching, the church voted to purchase property on Fairfield Drive at the annual meeting in 2004. We conducted our first Capital Campaign in May of that year. On September 16th of 2004, our property on Alcaniz Street was destroyed by hurricane Ivan. We met in three temporary locations during our recovery process. In August of 2005, Rev. David Pettit and Rev. Ron Helms became our Associate Pastors. Rev. Helms completed his service in November of 2005 and Rev.Pettit completed his service in April of 2007. In January of 2006, work began on our building at 3118 W. Fairfield Dr. and was finished in July 2007. On August 19th we held a dedication celebration. The Rev. Elder Lillie Brock, Region 7; Rev. Lee Carlton; Rev. Jo Crisco; Rev. Steve Urie and our Pastor, Rev. Sandy O'Steen officiated.