The collection consists of administrative records, membership records, financial records, outreach and event records, religious service texts, publications, subject files, photographs, and other materials used and/or created by Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC), 1948, 1967-2013. Founded in 1972 as the world’s first lesbian and gay synagogue, BCC is an inclusive community of progressive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, their families, and friends.

The world’s first synagogue for gay and lesbian Jews grew out of a weekly rap group meeting on April 4, 1972 at Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Los Angeles. The three men and one woman who attended that meeting were all Jewish. MCC founder Reverend Troy Perry encouraged them to start a congregation and offered free use of church facilities. About a dozen women and men came to an ad hoc meeting to found the Metropolitan Community Temple in May of that year.

36.9 Linear Feet 22 archive boxes + 5 archive flat boxes + 4 archive binder boxes + 3 archive cartons

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Restricted access to some membership and financial records. Please consult archivist.