A Pastoral Letter from the Regional Church:
Years to Build, Hours to Demolish
A Community Service of Remembrance and Hope
upon the demolition of the iconic building of
First Christian Church Oklahoma City
Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm
at Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma
The Disciples Center
301 NW 36th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73118
On Monday, September 26, 2022, the iconic sanctuary built and owned by First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Oklahoma City was demolished. This demolition was surprising, shocking, and unbelievable to many. And yet, over the years this sacred space had become an unhealthy building with more overhead than First Christian Church of Oklahoma City could manage. Interestingly, this building took years to build and only hours to demolish.
As you know, this demolition was quickly reported in the media who primarily focused on the generosity of the congregation to open the space back in 1995 to serve as the gathering space for the families of the Murrah bombing victims. This is a significant part of this building’s story, but not the only story.
Over the years, the unique building of First Christian Church has been a sacred place of worship. It is a place where members and friends have come to sing and praise God, to pray for the sick and the vulnerable, confident that no prayer would go unheard or unanswered, to hear and be transformed by a Good Word from the Lord, to gather around the Lord’s Table every week and to receive God’s grace and mercy.
This sacred space has served as a gathering place over the years for families to celebrate baby dedications, baptisms, graduations, weddings, and funerals, as well as installations of new ministers, and ordinations of clergy. This space has been a place of faith formation with members as well as gathering the entire Region of Disciples of Christ in Oklahoma for our Leadership Training School and for Regional Assemblies. This building has been very visible to the community in its iconic structure, and it has drawn the community into its Jewel Box Theatre for amazing musicals.
Six years ago, First Christian Church listed their entire property, 31 acres, for sale on the commercial market. Only then did they realize the community impact. There was mighty opposition from a segment of the community who desperately wanted to save the iconic architecture and design and did not want anyone who purchased the property to demolish the building.
As of this date, the property has not been sold. Over the years, this building has become a heavy burden with maintenance and upkeep, and very costly to the worshiping community of First Christian Church. Thus, the congregation decided to undertake the demolition, knowing the impact this destruction would have on so many people’s hearts and memories.
To honor this difficult time and to recognize the surprise, shock, anger, dismay, and deep grief, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, also known as the Regional Church, will be hosting a Community Service of Celebration of Remembrance and Hope on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm on the grounds of the Disciples Center located at 301 NW 36th Street, OKC. This is the building just east of First Christian Church.
We lament the unique, iconic building is gone, but the joy of remembering is always with us. Please join us as together we grieve and invite the Holy Spirit to bless whatever will rise next from this sacred ground.
Peace and God’s Grace,
Rev. Pamela Holt
Regional Minister
View a video from ABC affiliate KOCO 5 about the service.
