MCC Christ the Liberator (CTL)  began in September, 1977, when a group of seventeen interested persons met at the Unitarian Church in Princeton, to strategize on how to form a welcoming and affirming ministry to the gay and lesbian community of central New Jersey.  From that simple beginning, MCC-CTL has grown in numbers and in spirit and has worshipped at various locations throughout Middlesex County, including Princeton, Piscataway, New Brunswick and North Brunswick.  Realizing that the face of our community has broadened as we explore new identities and come home to our authentic selves, we now articulate our outreach as including the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex communities, our allies (GLBTQIA), and those yet to be named.  

Beginning in June, 2011, MCC-CTL began sharing space with The Pride Center of New Jersey in Highland Park.  Through this partnership, we look forward to new ministry opportunities as we continue to teach others about God's unconditional love as we follow what we call "the Christ Way."

 The Christ Way is a journey toward the type of spirituality that Jesus had in mind when he welcomed crowds of outsiders, ministered to the disenfranchised of his day, and struggled against the oppresive power of the Roman Empire.  We look to the Judeo-Christian scriptures for ways in which to link Jesus' Way with our own in today's world. 

A Progressive Church
MCC CTL is affiliated with The Center for Progressive Christianity, "an approach to Christianity that is inclusive, innovative, and informed" (www.progressivechristianity.org).  In calling ourselves "progressive," we at MCC CTL strive to embrace today's world with faith, hope, and love, utilizing body, mind, and spirit, while acknowledging and blessing all peoples' spiritualities.

We are Christians who...
~ Believe that following the path and teachings of Jesus can lead to an awareness and experience of the Sacred and the Oneness and Unity of all life;
~ Affirm that the teachings of Jesus provide but one of the many ways to experience the Sacredness and Oneness of life, and that we can draw from diverse sources of wisdom in our spiritual journey;
~ Seek community that is inclusive of ALL people;
~ Know that the way we behave towards one another is the fullest expression of what we believe;
~ Find grace in the search for understanding and believe there is more value in questioning than in absolutes;
~ Strive for peace and justice among all people;
~ Strive to protect and restore the integrity of our Earth; and
~ Commit to a path of life-long learning, compassion, and selfless love.