FCC OKC Archives - Christian Church in Oklahoma

Demolition of Iconic FCC OKC Building

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.

CCOK3012022-10-06T11:37:50-05:00Sep 27, 2022|Regional News|Comments Off

First Christian Church – OKC Moves Out of Iconic Building

The Oklahoman published an article about First Christian Church OKC on April 2nd. Click HERE to read the entire article.

Article by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman on April 2nd:
Photo taken by drone by Dave Morris.

The iconic church building at NW 37 and Walker Avenue soon will be empty.

This week, the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City (Disciples of Christ) congregation is moving into another structure on the church’s property at 3700 N Walker Ave.

And, the church building — with its distinctive egg-shaped dome — is still for sale, said the Rev. John Malget, First Christian’s senior minister.

“We were going to have the last service in the church building on Palm Sunday (April 5) and the first service in the new location on Easter, but things changed,” Malget said.

“Things have just slowed down. That’s just part of what’s happening right now.”

The congregation voted in October 2019 to relocate and close the preschool affiliated with the church. Malget said the church office and worship space will be in the building that formerly housed the preschool. He said the structure was originally the church’s youth center.

Meanwhile, at the time of the relocation vote, the church board decided to end the Jewel Box Theatre’s season after its production in December 2019.

This week, Malget said Jewel Box, a ministry of the church, would be moving to the same building as the church. He said the theatrical company would continue with a new director, Darron Dunbar. Jewel Box Theatre is Oklahoma City’s oldest continuously operating community theater.

First Christian put the historic building on its sprawling property up for sale about 3 1/2 years ago.

In 2019, Malget said the church’s cost of upkeep and utilities had become overwhelming and the congregation needed to move even though the property hadn’t been sold.

Historic preservationists had expressed concerns that a new owner might demolish the unique building on 31 acres in a prime spot just west of Interstate 235.

Then a reprieve seemed likely.

Preservationists and the First Christian congregation thought the building would be purchased by Crossings Community Church, a far north Oklahoma City megachurch whose leaders had expressed interest in it. On Easter Sunday 2019, Crossings’ leaders announced their hopes to purchase the building for use as a Crossings’ satellite.

By that August, however, that proposal had fallen through.

Crossings leaders said costs to renovate the landmark church building exceeded their initial expectations and the church would not purchase the First Christian building.

First Christian opened in the 1950s, led by popular preacher Bill Alexander. At the time, it was one of the largest congregations in the metro area but, in recent years, the size of the congregation has dwindled.

Click HERE to read the entire article by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman

CCOK3012020-04-06T09:14:25-05:00Apr 6, 2020|Congregations|Comments Off

First Christian Church-OKC Becomes Open and Affirming

First Christian Church of Oklahoma City votes unanimously to become Open and Affirming on December 15, 2019.

Open and Affirming Statement Approved by the Congregation:

We at First Christian Church of Oklahoma City are committed to Love ALL the People! We differ in race, age, gender, cultural background, marital status, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, gender identity, family structure, political stance, theological perspective, life circumstances and spiritual journey. Diversity is a gift from God, and we are called to celebrate our differences as well as what makes us the same. We know that the church has at times rejected diversities, and denied God’s promises for itself and for others. So without reservation, we proclaim:

“You are a beloved child of God, embraced as you are at the Welcoming Table of our Lord. Together let us share God’s love so completely, that we might make a difference in God’s world!”

CCOK3012020-01-07T12:46:26-06:00Jan 7, 2020|Congregations|Comments Off

Crown Heights Christian Church and First Christian Church (OKC) Join to Support the OKC Marathon on April 28

Have you ever heard of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon? It has been one of the top marathons in the country, and it happens right here in OKC. In fact, the race course runs around Crown Heights Christian Church and First Christian (OKC) Church on Sunday morning, April 28.

The course is so close that neither church is able to hold worship services that Sunday morning. While some might find this as an inconvenience, these two congregations see this wonderful event, with more than 25,000 runners each year, as an opportunity to serve both the city and the runners. Both churches will eat together and worship together on Saturday, April 27 beginning at 6 pm at Crown Heights. Then, on Sunday morning, beginning at 6:30 am, the two churches will meet to cheer on the runners with signs, encouraging words and music on First Christian Church’s property.

Crown Heights even has a church-sponsored marathon relay team in the race. If you’re even remotely interested in finding out more or participating with us, please contact Rev. Aaron Krueger at Crown Heights (405-528-5568) or Rev. John Malget at FCC (OKC) (405-525-6551).

CCOK3012019-04-10T13:12:52-05:00Apr 4, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

FCC OKC Property For Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2016

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma City is one of 149 congregations in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma. This congregation organized and held its first service in 1889 near what is now the intersection of Main and Broadway. The first permanent home of the church was at the corner of NW 3rd and Harvey, where the Federal Reserve bank now stands. It was dedicated in 1894. In 1903 they moved to the southeast corner of NW 3rd and Robinson where they worshiped until 1956 when the beautiful, new, iconic sanctuary, education building and music building were completed at NW 36th and Walker. In 1961, the Youth Center was completed. This 31.8 acre campus has been a vibrant place of activity and worship for the last 60 years, and even served as the blessed site of grief and recovery after the Murrah bombing in 1995.

Current Ministries

Part of First Christian Church’s current ministry outreach is a bicycle ministry which helps provide transportation for many in the OKC area and have given away over 2,000 rebuilt bicycles. They also celebrate the Jewel Box Theatre’s ministry of music and drama to the community.

Unanimous Decision to Sell the Property

Earlier this month, the congregation made a difficult decision and unanimously voted to sell the entire property and now has a “for sale” sign on it. They are once again in the process of dreaming and planning for a new sacred place for worship that better fits their needs.

We hold this congregation in prayer and invite you to join us as this congregation continues to discern God’s call for their ministry.

In this season of Advent, may the Light of Christ meet you and illuminate your way.

Peace & God’s Grace,

Rev. Pam Holt, Regional Minister

Download Press Release

CCOK3012016-12-06T16:04:16-06:00Dec 6, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

FCC OKC

Demolition of Iconic FCC OKC Building

A Pastoral Letter from the Regional Church: Years to Build, Hours to Demolish

First Christian Church – OKC Moves Out of Iconic Building

First Christian Church-OKC Becomes Open and Affirming

Crown Heights Christian Church and First Christian Church (OKC) Join to Support the OKC Marathon on April 28

FCC OKC Property For Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2016

Current Ministries

Unanimous Decision to Sell the Property

Download Press Release

A Pastoral Letter from the Regional Church:
Years to Build, Hours to Demolish