University Christian Church Of Berkeley

University Christian Church of Berkeley (UCCB) began on July 11, 1920 as a union of the First Christian Church (FCC) of Berkeley and the South Berkeley Christian Church (SBCC). UCCB is indebted to the remarkable Christian life and thought of FCC and SBCC. The FCC began on April 30, 1898 as a mission effort by Christian Endeavor Association of Christian Churches of California. It was formally organized on October 8, 1893 under the leadership of Harold E. Monser. Both Rev. Monser and his wife were ordained ministers and had served as co-pastors in the midwest. Following her husband's death she continued in the ministry and became president of the Society of Women Preachers. It is noteworthy in a time where few women were ministers, the first person ordained by FCC was a woman, Louise Kelly, on July 26, 1908.

The SBCC was a mission church of the FCC with the assistance of the Oakland Christian Church. The congregation ordained on November 19, 1905 and they erected their building at Tremont & Woolsey in 1908. When FCC and SBCC merged to become University Christian Church of Berkeley, about 300 members met at the FCC building. They later bought property on the north side of the U.C. Berkeley campus where there was no Protestant church in the student residence area. On October 9, 1929 plans were approved for building on the newly acquired lot at Scenic and Le Conte. Pastor Griggs had written, "We believe that there is real Christianity in under-taking, in the face of difficulties, a project which will result in the employment of many workers in this time of unemployment. Some may criticize a church for building at this time of business depression -- but in going ahead and ignoring sacrifice to effect the release of between $30,000 and $40,000 in wages, this congregation exemplifies the type of helpful religion which at best should be applied to conditions such as the present." Except for materials not locally available, bids were limited to Berkeley firms. The cornerstone was laid on May 24, 1931, and the first worship service was held on September 20, 1931.

Some significant ministries and community service over the last several decades includes the establishing of Scenic Preschool at the church in 1966; the establishing of the Rose Street Child Care Center in 1985; the renovation of 2 houses on 10th street in 1985 to be used as transitional housing; and the cosponsoring with the Mennonites and an order of Catholic sisters of an agricultural training school in Eastern Bolivia.

In July of 2001 UCCB entered into a partnership with Pacific School of Religion. PSR provides management and maintenance of all of the church's rental space including the sanctuary. Some of the programs and offices of the seminaries related to the Graduate Theological Union occupy the available space. In 2002, UCCB called Michal Anne Pepper as pastor. The church is currently experiencing a spiritual renewal, creating new ministries, attracting new people, and enjoying a deepening walk with God.