A Unique, Diverse, Inclusive, and Christ-Centered Church
in the Heart of L.A.
A Unique Church
Here is how we are unique:
- Centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ (see below “A Gospel-Centered Church”)
- Submit to the authority of the Bible with Jesus at the center (Jesus is the best picture of what God looks like)
- Multi-ethnic (about evenly spread out among the 4 major ethnic groups)
- Multi-socioeconomic (from people who are homeless, working class, to professionals)
- Fully egalitarian (empowers all genders)
- Fully inclusive of LGBTQ (no limitation) while leaving room for disagreements (about 15% of us identify as LGBTQ)
- Seeking social justice and personal transformation
- Deep and wide spiritual formation (formed by deep spiritual practices and wide voices, including science)
A Gospel-Centered Church
Our core belief is Christ-centered. We approach the gospel of Jesus Christ in three aspects (we call it the tripod of the gospel): Jesus came (incarnation), he died for us (atonement), and he resurrected, ascended, and is coming back (restoration).
- Incarnation: God became human and inaugurated an upside-down Kingdom (where going down is the way up) and a power-under Kingdom (where it is not about power-over, the power of the sword and violence, but about the power-under, the power of self-sacrificial and unconditional love and grace). The Church is called to reflect this Kingdom.
- Atonement: We were created beautifully in God’s image but our sins undermined that beauty. Jesus died for us to forgive us, redeem us, and free us from our sins. We are sinners living in God’s amazing grace. When our heart is transformed by his love, our life also changes. The Church is called to embrace this amazing grace.
- Restoration: Jesus resurrected, ascended, and is coming back to fully establish the Kingdom. We live in between the time of his first coming and his second coming. Our mission now is to bring to the present that which is to come. We are called to bring God’s presence, healing, love, grace, and justice to the world now. The Church is called to join God in his mission.
An Inclusive Church
This plays out in a number of ways: (1) We are inclusive people in all stages of faith, deconstruction of faith, or no faith. (2) We are multi-ethnic; we are about evenly spread out among 4 major ethnic groups; we have no dominant ethnic group. (3) We are multi-socioeconomic; we have people who are homeless, working class, and professionals. (4) We are multi-generational. (5) We seek social justice and personal transformation (not aligned with any political party). (6) We include all genders in leadership and challenge the patriarchy; we are gender egalitarians. (7) We are a church that is fully inclusive of those who identify as LGBTQ.
For more information on our inclusivity, click here for our sermon series, “Inclusive Church: a Gospel-Centered Approach.”
For more information on LGBTQ inclusion and affirmation as revised on September 23, 2020:
- Sermon delivered on October 25, 2020, “On LGBTQ Inclusion: Living Out the Vision of a Third Way Church”
- Elder Board’s Revised LGBTQ Statement dated September 23, 2020. Our policy is inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ people but we respect everyone’s freedom of conscience as we consider this a disputable issue under Romans 14.
Click HERE for our vision and core values
Family Profile
Every few years, we survey the congregation to get vital information about who we are as a church. This information is important to us so that we can celebrate who God has brought together as a family, and so that we can make more informed decisions about loving one another well. So, check out some demographic information about us (PDF)
