Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Corso.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sophia Inclusive Community was begun in 2008 by Mary Ann Schoettly. RCWP. A Roman Catholic Woman Priest, Mary Ann wanted to be a priest since she was seven years old. She was ordained a RCWP in 2008 and began with the assistance of Michael Corso Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community. Mary Ann’s vision was that this community would be a safe habor for Roman Catholics who no longer felt welcomed in their parish. The reasons would vary; poor homilies, divorce, remarriage, LGBTQIA, doctrinal differences, abortion.
Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community would be a welcoming and affirming enviornment where everyone would be safe and heard. We would be a discipleship of equals. The language we used in our liturgies was inclusive, that is, we did not use masculine language to describe God and used sisters and brothers throughout our texts. We also eliminated Atonement Theology which stated that Jesus sole purpose was to die for our sins. We beleive that Jesus taught us how to live and because of the way he preached and ministered he challenged those in power both in religion and politics. That is what got him killed. We met in-person until the pandemic when we met via Zoom. We have remain meeting via Zoom every since and have gathered people from across the country. Sadly, Mary Ann died in 2014. The community voted to name Michael Corso as pastor and he has served this role ever since.
We engage in social justice work both by attending presentations every other month via Zoom as well as serving at Soup kitichens and Food Pantries. We also support migrant workers, Afgan and Syrian Refugees and other needy causes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, it has been a surprisingly smooth road. We make all our decsions by consensus. We hold meetings once a month to discuss strategies and how we will spend contributions we receive.
Even when our Foundress grew sick and died the community stayed together and supported one another. We came out of that experience more determined and resilient.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a Faith Based Spiritual Community who are Followers of Jesus. We seek to bring mercy, compassion, justice, hope, love, and peace into the world. We do this through education, activism, prayer, charity, and good works.
We are anti-racists, allies of the LGBTQIA community, friends of the disabled community as well as those with mental health challenges.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
As a non-profit, spend more time learning about By=Laws and how they pertain to your organizaiton.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sophiainclusivecommunity.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophiainclusive/
