After nearly eight decades, the Jefferson Community Church in San Antonio has shuttered its doors, leaving community members to face the loss of a spiritual and social mainstay. According to KSAT, the church, originally known as Jefferson Methodist Church, held its final service this Easter Sunday, unable to keep up with mounting financial pressures such as rent, insurance, and a $25,000 lost apportionment fee. "We had enough that we could keep the doors open, but we didn’t have enough that we could set aside a balloon payment and also we didn’t make enough to keep our insurance coverage," Pastor Olivia Downen-Walker stated.
Joe Rivera, a long-time church member, told KSAT of his concerns for those they serve, noting the closure means the end of the church's food pantry, community meals, and recovery groups. "There are a lot of people I don’t see anywhere else but here, and those are the people I will miss because we’re all going to scatter," Rivera said. Similarly, parishioners and Pastor Downen-Walker lament the loss of the church’s various ministries, with the pastor actively seeking a new location to continue their work. "The only thing we know right now is that we want to stay as close to this neighborhood as we can," Downen-Walker mentioned, signaling her commitment to the community.
The church's financial woes were compounded by a disagreement with the parent denomination, the United Methodist Church Conference (UMC), over its LGBTQ policies. As described in a report by San Antonio Express-News, the church disaffiliated from the UMC in 2019 after opposing a policy change that disallowed LGBTQ individuals from clergy roles. The move to independence, however, further strained the church's resources.
Adding to the sense of urgency, church members were given a tight timeline to vacate by the property owners. "It was past the point that they would have worked with us," Pastor Downen-Walker told San Antonio Express-News. Members now face the daunting task of securing a new venue for future worship and community outreach. Upcoming events, including a wedding and a high school prom, previously scheduled at the church, must also find alternate locations due to the closure.
The congregation, while disheartened, remains hopeful and united in their mission to serve. As they leave their Donaldson Avenue location, their focus turns to staying connected with their community through online services and the potential of a new site. Notwithstanding the sadness and the uncertainty of what comes next, there is a determination to carry on the legacy of Jefferson Community Church as best as they can, as Pastor Downen-Walker assured.
