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Bel Air Church

Coordinates: 34°07′50″N 118°29′07″W / 34.130581°N 118.485296°W / 34.130581; -118.485296
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Bel Air Church
Map
Address16221 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
CountryUnited States
DenominationPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Websitebelairpres.org
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Dr. Drew Sams

Bel Air Church (also known as Bel Air Presbyterian Church) is a conservative Christian megachurch located in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[1] The church, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), currently averages more than 1,500 in attendance each weekend.

History & Facility

Since its founding in 1956, Bel Air Presbyterian has become one of the largest churches in Los Angeles. The church is located on the Educational Corridor on Mulholland Drive, on a hill overlooking the San Fernando Valley. On High Holy Days, Bel Air Church hosts services for the Stephen S. Wise Temple, a Reform Jewish congregation, which is located in the same Bel Air neighborhood. [2]

The original sanctuary organ was a four-manual, sixty-eight rank mechanical action pipe organ by Casavant. It was seriously damaged, mostly by water leakage, in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. It was later rebuilt as a pipe combination instrument with a digital console from Rodgers Instruments Corporation, in protest of which Casavant declared it to be "destroyed" and stricken from their register of surviving instruments. At the time of its re-dedication, it was one of the world’s largest digital/pipe combination organs in the world.

In 2007, the church completed a $12 million campus expansion program, The Campaign for Bel Air: Phase I, which included the two story Education Building, Discipleship Center, and Administration Building, including staff offices with views overlooking the The Valley.

Former Senior Pastors include Rev. Dr. Louis H. Evans Jr., Rev. Dr. Mark Brewer, Rev. Dr. Michael H. Wenning, Rev. Paul Pierson, Rev. Dr. David G. McKechnie, Dr. Donn D. Moomaw, and Rev. Dr. Michael Wenning.

Dr. Moomaw gave the invocation at President Ronald Reagan's first inauguration in 1981. Rev. Dr. Wenning gave the invocation at President Reagan's state funeral. [3]

Present

Sanctuary and Discipleship Center

Bel Air Presbyterian Church is an active member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) denomination, and has participated in vigorous debates among the mainline denomination, on issues of theology. The church is also a member of the Evangelical Willow Creek Association and the Fellowship of Presbyterians.

Dr. Drew Sams was called and officially elected as the church's Senior Pastor and Head of Staff on April 13, 2014.[4] In June 2014, award-winning singer-songwriter recording artist Kendall Payne joined the staff as Director of Contemporary Worship. Dr. Mindy Coates-Smith serves as the Co-Director of Youth Discipleship. She also serves on the faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary. Kim Dorr-Tilley, a talent agent with Defining Artists in Studio City is Associate Pastor for Entertainment Ministries. [5]

Controversies

The current theme of Bel Air Church is "love everyone, every day, everywhere." The values posted on their website are: "Hospitality - demonstrating love toward people who are different than you. As we embody a life of hospitality, people feel at home among us." Courage - "Courage is living as a follower of Jesus regardless of how vulnerable that makes you. As we embody a life of courage, through our brokenness others will see the power of God at work in our lives." Health - "choosing to thrive in every area of your life. As we embody a life of health, our emotional, relational, financial, physical, and spiritual well-being will be transformed regardless of our circumstances." Community - "Community is desiring so much more than just being in proximity with others. As we embody a life of community, our identity in Christ unifies us as we follow Jesus alongside one another." Impact - "Impact is multiplying what God is doing in and through you. As we embody a life of impact, we will be inviting, empowering, and releasing others to follow Jesus as well." [6] The current pastor, Drew Sams spoke June 22, 2014 on the need to be" a church that welcomes all people."[1] The church professes a conservative theology with regard to homosexuality. Previous pastor, the Rev. Dr. Mark Brewer, has publicly described his views on homosexuality, stating in a sermon that "the homosexual will not inherit the Kingdom of God."[7] He has also attempted to stop a same-sex wedding from taking place.[8] In response to the ratification of same-sex marriage at the 2014 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA), the Rev. Dr. Drew Sams (the current pastor who succeeded Brewer) has also stated that same-sex marriage is contrary to the position of Bel-Air Presbyterian Church.[9]

Congregation

Education Building

Many members of Bel Air Presbyterian Church are involved in the entertainment industry, and many are prominent within the Westside L.A. community. In addition, many young adults attend the church's midweek young adults service, The Foundry. Bel Air also has many young families from The Valley in its congregation. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan regularly attended the church after leaving office, and Mrs. Reagan still occasionally attends.[10]

Activities

Bel Air Church is a founder of Imagine LA, a mentorship program that matches families exiting homelessness with volunteer teams from faith communities, corporations, and other committed organizations.[11]

References

  1. ^ "History". Bel Air Church - History. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  2. ^ "Our Clergy Responds to Divestment Vote by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)". Stephen Wise Temple. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  3. ^ "Michael Wenning, Reagans' Pastor, Dies at 75". New York Times. June 30, 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  4. ^ "Bel Air Leadership". Bel Air Church. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  5. ^ Welkos, Robert (June 4, 2014). "Christians in Hollywood – Part 1: Prayers for Hollywood". Hollywood News. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  6. ^ "ABOUT | Bel Air Church". www.belairpres.org. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  7. ^ Brewer, Mark (14 February 2004). ""Sexuality: The Challenge of Being Human, Sexual and Spiritually Holy."". Sermon Audio & Video. Bel Air Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. ^ La Ganga, Maria (5 June 2012). "West Hollywood parish leaves Presbyterian Church over gay rights". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. ^ Sams, Drew (22 June 2014). "Jonah's Mission". Sermons. Bel Air Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Faith Abundant in - of All Places - Hollywood - Netscape Celebrity". Webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  11. ^ "Fact Sheet" (PDF). ImagineLA. Retrieved 2015-10-12.

34°07′50″N 118°29′07″W / 34.130581°N 118.485296°W / 34.130581; -118.485296

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