About South Pasadena Christian Church

South Pasadena Christian Church has a history of over 100 years of ministry. Our mission is to sow and cultivate lives of Christian faith, love and service in the spirit of unity that is foundational to who we are and what we believe.

SPCC is a Congregational church that is affiliated with, but not governed by the regional and national Disciples of Christ denomination. Our congregation has a bottom-up style of leadership. All critical decisions, such as calling pastors, constitutional changes, budget and officer election are made by a vote of the adult members of the congregation. The Board of Directors, chosen by the congregation handles the ongoing business of keeping the church running. The Pastor and Elders are in a close mutual accountability relationship on pastoral issues in the church, and report directly to the Board of Directors.

“We, the undersigned baptized believers in Christ, in order to form a church after the New Testament pattern, do hereby covenant together with God and with each other, to live and labor together according to the teachings of Christ and his apostles. To accomplish this end we promise to contend earnestly for ‘the faith once and for all delivered to the saints’ and thus seek ‘to restore the apostolic church ;in its doctrines, its ordinances, and its fruits.’ We take this step in firm reliance on the blessing of our Heavenly Father, and in earnest prayer that His wisdom may guide us into all Christian truth and growth, and give us the deep joy of seeing many souls turn to the Lord.”

For two years, the congregation met in a room on the second floor of the Alexander Building on Mission Street. Alexander R. Graham who constructed the building was a member of the church and allowed the church to use two rooms at this site. In 1908, Graham gifted the church with a small lot at the corner of Oxley and Fairview Streets. However, with a grant from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the city bought the land from the church. The church then purchased a lot at the corner of Lyndon and Fremont Streets. On August 24, 1908, South Pasadena Christian Church was formally incorporated with approximately 100 active members.

By 1910, the church built a small brown bungalow that was used as a sanctuary. This bungalow served the congregation for nearly sixty years until rapid growth during the 1960s forced the church to expand. The new sanctuary was erected in April 1963 and is still used today. The old bungalow was used to hold Sunday school classes until 1969 when it was demolished for the new Edna Gish Educational Building. This building is named after missionary and former associate minister Edna Gish, who served the church for eight years.

As members of the Christian Church, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim Him Lord and Savior of the world.

In Christ’s name and by His grace we accept our mission of witness and service to all people.

We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth, and in God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another.

Through baptism into Christ we enter into newness of life and are made one with the whole people of God.

In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in discipleship and in obedience to Christ.

At the Table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the saving acts and presence of Christ.

Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of scripture.

In the bonds of Christian faith, we yield ourselves to God that we may serve the One whose Kingdom has no end.

Blessing, glory, and honor be to God forever. Amen

We are called to be one in Christ and work together to show God’s love through our witness and service. We hear a special calling to make visible the unity of Christians. In our diversity, we belong to one another because we are one in Christ.

Our members care for each other, have opportunities to grow and learn together, and find ways to edify one another in our collective journey with the Lord. We encourage a diverse community in which everyone is welcomed and cared for.

Looking for inspiration? Looking to grow in your faith? Did you hear about a great sermon that you missed out on OR need to revisit a sermon that sparked your curiosity OR have a desire to dig deeper? Check out our FaceBook to watch our livestreams.