The constraint of worshipping in a small, brick-walled room is no problem for the members of Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church: they’ve already come out of the closet.

Rev. Renee DuBose, Our Hope’s founding pastor and a lesbian, said this church stands out from others in Athens because it was founded on the principle that “sexuality and spirituality are not mutually exclusive.”

The Christian church caters to “the spiritual needs of all people, but especially the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and ‘straight-but-not-narrow’ community,” according to their Web site.

“We have a unique faith community where we really believe God’s love is for everyone,” DuBose said.

DuBose leads the Sunday morning services held at the Presbyterian Student Center on South Lumpkin Street with help from Music Director Steve Pearson and junior Hosang Lee from Marietta. Lee plays the piano while Pearson sings and directs the congregation.

Lee said he’s been attending Our Hope for about a year and enjoys coming because members have such laid-back attitudes.

“The service is formal and traditional, but they mix it well with a liberal attitude,” he said.

The service begins when Lee plays an opening song, like “Gather Us In,” while DuBose walks up the aisle to the altar and ambo in the front of the room.

DuBose said this time of year her sermon is about the importance of Lent, one of the liturgical seasons for many Christian churches.

“What if our Lenten sacrificing wasn’t giving up something but rather realigning our priorities?” DuBose asked at the March 4 service. “I don’t want to just get a ‘C’ on loving God and loving our neighbor – I want an ‘A’. That’s just how competitive lesbians are.”

When DuBose finishes her sermon, she prepares the bread and wine for communion at the altar. The lights above the congregation dim, and only the candles and the lights directly above the altar light the room.

A few members stand at the front of the room and offer wafers dipped in juice, as well as prayers.

As students walk forward – with their partner or alone – they take the wafer and bow their heads so those giving communion can place their hands on their shoulders and pray over them.

DuBose and other members encourage visitors to take communion too.

“Our Hope really does include everyone from the first time that they walk through the door,” Kelley Napier, a member of the church, wrote in an e-mail.