As the time for General Synod in Kansas City nears, the city celebrates 50 years of Pride

Kansas City is one of many cities around the country that celebrated its 50th anniversary of Pride festivities this month. And Colonial Church in Prairie Village UCC took part in the three-day festival offering glitter tattoos, messages of love and inclusion, and a bright banner encouraging people to “Do justice and love all.”

Kansas City will soon host the largest denominational gathering of the United Church of Christ, as the time for General Synod approaches July 11-15.

It’s worthwhile to note that Synod is taking place just steps from a space of notable LGBTQ+ history. This country’s first national gathering of gay and lesbian civil rights activist organizations took place there in 1966, just across Barney Allis Plaza from where the Convention Center is now located. Kansas City was chosen to host the gathering at the time because of its central location in the country and its vibrant LGBTQ cultural scene. A historical plaque commemorates the spot and recognizes Kansas City’s first organization that was formed to address needs of the local gay and lesbian community in that same year.

In 1975, Kansas City became one of many cities throughout the country to join in commemorating the Stonewall Uprising by celebrating Pride every June.

Pride at the Kansas-Missouri Border

And the festivities and parade are going strong, 50 years since its start.

At this year’s Kansas City Pride, June 6-8, the Rev. Michael Vollbrecht was one of many volunteers at the festival booth shared by Colonial Church and Southminster Presbyterian Church, where he quickly learned how to paint glitter tattoos of various LGBTQ flags. People could receive these in exchange for offering $1 donations to local community organizations. It was a popular activity, with folks waiting in line to receive them.

Vollbrecht, a resident of Kansas, served as the UCC generosity officer for the West Central and Southern Regions as well as a pastor of Colonial Church – soon to become the church’s senior minister. He said that their booth was among hundreds of organizations present and around 25 churches hosting festival booths.

“Because of where we’re located in country, we have a lot of organizations working hard on behalf of LGBTQ folks,” he noted.

Since Kansas City is right on the Kansas and Missouri border, people come to Pride from a very wide radius from both states, Vollbrecht said.

“People get excited about it because I think there is a mentality that this is a rural or red state, but people forget that there’s also really amazing people here who are really committed to social justice work, allyship, and advocacy. I saw a lot of ‘Free Mom Hugs’ shirts and people here who want to support people,” he said.

‘Love and joy on display’

Colonial Church has over a decade of history participating in Kansas City Pride. It’s an important commitment to being visibly present in its Midwest and “Bible Belt” setting, where there’s a history of churches not being LGBTQ+ inclusive, Vollbrecht said.

“Thankfully, now there are so many churches that are open and welcoming, and it becomes really important for people in the community to see that,” he said. His shirt at the Pride festival said that “This gay pastor loves you,” and it created meaningful interactions with many people there.

“That’s the important thing about pride – that you be visible, that you remind people that God’s impact is not just in areas that have offered hurt to people. It’s in places where a lot of love and joy is on display. I think the churches that are sharing that are going to see, not just growth, but the impact in their communities. I see it now at my church in Prairie Village.”

The church regularly receives positive feedback about its rainbow banner, and a parent recently shared with Vollbrecht they are grateful to have a welcoming church to raise their kids — in contrast to their own experience of experiencing hurt from church.

Vollbrecht is excited for General Synod and so many in the UCC to visit Kansas City.  

“It’s going to be phenomenal to welcome everybody, and especially our queer family, because this is a place where – as we’ve seen through Pride and things our church has been doing – there is some really good stuff here,” he said. “It will be good to extend that hospitality to folks as they visit.”  

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