News

From left: Thomas Walcott-Lee, Pastor Elizabeth Goudy and Nicholas Walcott-Lee gather for Sunday worship at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley. The church hosts services such as "What is Worship?" and "Queering the Bible." (Courtesy of

The Brown and White, a Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania news outlet, published a story entitled "Lehigh Valley church practices 'radical inclusivity.'"

The story profiles The Metropolitan Community Church of Lehigh Valley, led by Rev. Elizabeth Goudy, MDV'95. 

Reporter Archer Benedict writes: 

"Goudy said ever since the Supreme Court ruling, the church has shifted its focus once again to the inclusion of transgender people. 

The church has observed Transgender Day of Remembrance since the early 2000s, but given the solemn nature of the day, Goudy felt it was important to give the congregation a chance to celebrate transgender members in a positive way.

In 2014, the church began holding a monthly “blessing of transgender journeys,” when they invite transgender-identifying members to the front of the room, and the entire congregation reads them a prayer of affirmation.  

'It felt so important to (the church) that we have an opportunity to say to transgender people of any age, at any stage in their journey, that God loves you, and that God is blessing you through this journey,' Goudy said." 

Read the full story about Metropolitan Community Church and Goudy's leadership here: https://thebrownandwhite.com/2025/04/24/lehigh-valley-church-practices-radical-inclusivity/