User:SYSTEMS MANAGER/Christ Church of Peace

The present settings of Christ Church of Peace (acronym also known as CCOP) is now established at 1240 South McDuff Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205. CCOP, a non-denominational church group, was one of the first LGBT churches established in Jacksonville, Florida.

History of Christ Church of Peace
Reverend Gary DeBusk had impressed a number of the founding members with his life and dedication to minister. Recognizing the call of God upon Rev. Gary DeBusk and their own wounded-ness by the churches of their past, the founders were intent on providing a platform necessary for Reverend DeBusk to spread the good news of God’s love for all. The first worship service at CCOP, held on November 19, 2000, was in the back of a business called Stars-n-Stripes in The Five Points area of Jacksonville, Florida.

Three weeks later, the first congregational meeting was held Sunday December 10, 2000. It was then that the board, The Ministry Operations Team (MOT), was selected along with newly formed members for this group. A contest had been held for people to submit proposed names and graphics for the church, among them, Christ Church Of Peace.

The name Christ Church of Peace submitted by Larry Jackson which was agreed to present day Christ Church Of Peace Tenth Year anniversary (2012).

The church soon outgrew where CCOP had been meeting so later, the MOT held a meeting and voted to secure a storefront place on King Street, Jacksonville, Florida. The first worship service held there was on Christmas Eve of 2000. Within a couple of months of moving into this location, it became apparent that more room was desperately needed.

A building search committee was formed and almost immediately, The Lion’s Club of Jacksonville at 1240 South McDuff Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205 put their building up for sale. The decision by the founding members of CCOP and the Board members of the MOT team was decided upon to purchase the building we are currently in.

CCOP was then only 10 months old in 2001.

In November 2001, CCOP celebrated their first anniversary with Tammy Faye Baker Mesner  as our keynote speaker and entertainer for the weekend. Since that time God has blessed CCOP to be a blessing to so many others not only in this community but across the state and around the world.

In 2003, a vision task force team was formed to assemble a vision statement and formulate the direction that Christ Church of Peace wanted to go in the future. June 2006, a connection with was formed between Reverend DeBusk, CCOP, the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual communities, and an organization called “LOVETHYNEIGHBOR”. From an interview with News4Jax, a well known television located in Jacksonville, Florida, "The Reverend Gary Debusk of the Christ Church of Peace thinks the outing of marriage equality foes will have a positive outcome by creating dialogue on both sides." This movement was directly from Reverend DeBusk Jacksonville, Florida to love all who are either gay or straight, black or white, tall or short. Let us not forget the beginning belief that LGBT should have the same rights as heterosexual couples through SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. This movement was beginning to be such that Reverend DeBusk was interviewed on CNN. Reverend DeBusk also established a strong connection with which is support of the HIV/AIDS community. Both CCOP responded by setting up a food pantry and shelter for those living with HIV/AIDS.

In 2007 our founding Pastor and friend the Rev. Gary DeBusk was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and in October of that year crossed over into the spirit.

A number of individuals stepped forward to messages and support the vision that God had for CCOP, until an interim pastor was secured. An interim pastor search committee was put together by the MOT and a number of individuals were interviewed. Barbara Dubberly was selected, and she helped lead us forward from April 2008 - July 2009. A pastoral search team was busy behind the scenes accepting and reviewing applications. Unfortunately it took much longer than expected and once again we were encouraged by messages from members and friends of CCOP.

In June of 2010 Bruce Joffee was selected to be our part time Pastor. He served us until November of 2011. Again we asked for members and friends to step forward while we searched for a new pastor.

In April of 2012 Christ Church of Peace welcomed the Reverend Dr. Harvey Carr to be Head Pastor and CCOP is looking forward to a long and fulfilling ministry under his spiritual guidance.