Get in touch
510-677-8190
cor.refugee@gmail.com
SUNDAYS @ 11:00AM PST | WATCH LIVE
About our Church Community
The seed for City of Refuge UCC grew from a small group of mostly gay and lesbian Christians’ deep desire to have a worship space that resembled the churches of their youth, but contained none of the toxic theology that was so often present in those spaces. Specifically the group desired a church that would (1) not be adverse to female clergy; (2) welcome same-gender-loving and transgendered people; (3) take seriously Jesus’ commitment to social justice; (4) value and welcome all people regardless of their race or social status; and (5) and be accountable to its members. After a year of intense contemplation, study and prayer, this visionary group founded the City of Refuge in 1991 to live out these ideals.
The original twenty-seven member church was first located in San Francisco near 14th and Belcher in the historic Castro district. It was a small open sanctuary that City of Refuge shared with the Central United Methodist Church and quickly outgrew. It wasn’t uncommon in those days for a passerby to hear the music coming from the church, wander into its open doors and be invited to take part in the worship service. The passerby might be a homeless person, a doctor, an ex-convict or a student. Regardless of the person’s station, he or she would be met with the same open arms of City of Refuge members. Although the church moved several more times before arriving at its current location in Oakland, that spirit of radical inclusivity has never left.
In 1995, City of Refuge was accepted into the United Church of Christ, joining the company of over 5,000 other churches around the world that are dedicated to using their faith to effect a just and sustainable world, not just for Christians, but for all people regardless of their faith. With the support of its members and the UCC, City of Refuge continues to live out the demands of its faith through the various programs that it runs or partners with other organizations to run that address substance abuse, homelessness, HIV/AIDS and green justice.
Meet The Shepherd’s Table- Pastoral Team
Yvette Flunder
Bishop
Ann Jefferson
Associate Pastor
Toni Dunbar
Associate Pastor
Phil Gray
Associate Pastor
Maria Caruana
Associate Pastor
Terrie Chan
Associate Pastor
Ronnie McFarland
Associate Pastor
CITY OF REFUGE UCC DEPARTMENT & AUXILIARY LEADERS
| AUXILIARY/DEPARTMENT/MINISTRY |
DESIGNATED PASTOR |
MINISTRY LEADERS |
|
BOARD OF MINISTRIES |
|
Lay Pastors Roni Jordan, Tina Stewart-Taylor, and Karla Woods |
|
BRUTHAS’ RISING |
|
Lay Pastor Sean Saxton |
| |
|
Lay Pastor Raymond Glover, Min. Terry Wells, Ronnesha Fountain, Elder Samantha (A)Sherman |
| COUNSELING CENTER |
Pastor Phil Gray |
Gwen McWilliams |
| DEACON BOARD |
Bishop Flunder |
Deacon Cynthia Billups |
| FINANCE |
Bishop Flunder |
Deacon Gail Randall |
| FIRST AID |
Pastor Maria Caruana |
Deacon Venida “Sugar Bear” Taylor |
| FOOD SERVICES MINISTRIES (Pantry/Hospitality) |
Bishop Flunder |
Pantry: Darrell Ferrell/Mady Willie |
| INTERCESSORY PRAYER |
Pastor Ann Jefferson |
Lay Pastor Sean Saxton |
| |
|
Lay Pastor Marilyn Fowler, Sean Alexander, Sean Nunley-Willis, James Pearman |
| MEMBER SERVICES |
Pastor Maria Caruana |
James Pearman, Min. Terry Wells, & Lay Pastor Raymond Glover |
| |
Pastors Phil Gray & Ronnie McFarland |
Elder Clarence Holmes & Min. Terry Wells |
| MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID |
Pastor Toni Dunbar |
Min. Tracey Abernathy |
| MOTHER’S BOARD |
Bishop Flunder |
Elder Shirley Miller/Mo. Yvonne Evans |
| AFRICA OUTREACH |
Bishop Flunder |
Lay Pastor Roni Jordan |
| MUSIC DEPARTMENT |
Pastor Ann Jefferson |
Min. Rusty Watson, Mass Choir Director |
| PATHWAYS MINISTRY/PETER CLAVER MINISTRY |
Pastor Terrie Chan |
|
| |
|
Lay Pastor Roni Jordan & Desiree Frierson |
| TFAM |
Bishop Yvette Flunder |
Elder Taunya Kinney |
| TRANSGENDER/GENDER-EXPANSIVE MINISTRY |
|
|
| USHER BOARD |
Pastor Ann Jefferson |
Bro. Timothy Blaine |
| WISDOM PRODUCTIONS |
Pastor Ann Jefferson |
Sondra Long & Ramon Jackson |
| |
|
Lay Pastors Marilyn Fowler & Tina Stewart-Taylor |
| YA FLUNDER FOUNDATION (YAFF) |
Bishop Flunder |
Min. Kenny Hall |
| |
|
Children’s Church: Angel Renee Green & Jay’lah Taylor |
