Church in Ocean Park calls on young and old
By WINTER JOHNSON Special to the Daily Press
OCEAN PARK — The Church in Ocean Park, a United Methodist congregation known for its social activism and visible presence within the Santa Monica community, is turning a new chapter in its 107-year history. Reverend Sandie Richards, pastor of the church since 1995, is transferring to First United Methodist Church in downtown Los Angeles. The torch will officially be passed to Reverend Janet McKeithen this Sunday. McKeithen has served the Shandon United Methodist Church in central California since 1995.
Established in 1898, the Church in Ocean Park has been active in organizations pushing for social change since the 1970s, when it was under the leadership of Reverend James Conn. Rev. Conn's Ocean Park Community Organization (OPCO) was formed in 1979 as an adjunct to the Church in Ocean Park, partly in reaction to the rapid pace of change along Main Street, and the progressivism that began to flourish in the era, sources say.
That activism has hardly ceased since his departure in 1994.
“We are dedicated to personal enrichment, mutual support, shared leadership and social justice through witness and service,” declares the church’s mission statement.
“I think it’s an expectation of the Church in Ocean Park to be progressive, pro-choice, pro-gay, lesbian and bi-sexual rights, and pro-renter’s rights,” said Santa Monica resident Judy Abdo, a member of the church for 32 years.
The pastors who have shepherded the church reflect its history. Rev. Richards, who has served on the Santa Monica Commission for the Status of Women, is a member of the Ocean Park Community Organization and Santa Monica Renters’ Rights. She also is a charter member of Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism (SMART), which promotes a living wage for city workers.
Rev. Richards believes that the church’s mission is not limited to simply serving Sunday attendees, but also the community and the world.
Similarly, Rev. McKeithen holds to the creed that there is no faith without action. She has established coalitions to provide health care, health education, food, transportation services, ESL and other social services to farm workers in Inyo County. She also is a former refugee coordinator for various nationalities, including Haitians and Central Americans. She also was a case worker for the Inyo County Perinatal Substance Abuse Program.
With the change in leadership, there also is an expectation to continue in the church’s activist history, and a need to bring the younger generation to the Church in Ocean Park — the majority of the congregation is over 40 years old. But its mission of bringing God to the community through service will remain the same.
“I want to expand programs for youth and children — it’s one of my passions, and I have a strong background in doing that,” said Rev. McKeithen, when asked about her plans for the future. “I also want to get involved with Santa Monica College. The church allows you to express different spiritualities.
“I think it’s a great place for a young person to be a part of because it’s all about social action,” she added. “I call it putting feet to your faith. I think young people don’t like things that are hypocritical and a lot of churches are, but this church is authentic.”
As the structure itself is more than a century old, time and the elements led to much-needed improvements and earthquake proofing at the church and three other buildings it owns. That duty fell to Rev. Richards at the beginning of her tenure. She and other church leaders got to work, learning about the historical background of each of the buildings in order to restore them appropriately. But the four facilities, which include 237 Hill St., 245 Hill St., and the Archer House, were not the only aspects that changed. Rev. Richards saw other alterations in the congregation as well.
“We’ve grown as a church in our ability to articulate our spirituality,” she said. “When I first came, we were articulating our Christianity in terms of social activism.
“Now, the tools of spirituality, like prayer and Bible study, are more obvious. My understanding of spirituality deepened as well. We deepened each other,” said Rev. Richards of her former congregation.
As Rev. McKeithen has been settling into her new role this past week, she said she looks forward to her coming years, as well as the challenges.
“The biggest challenge is going to be figuring out the church, because it’s very unique,” she said. “It’s not like any other church.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 9, 2005. Read the original PDF.