Last fall, much-needed remodeling began at the former St. Paul's Lutheran Church building, at the corner of North 43rd Street and Fremont Avenue North. One tenant, the Church of the Apostles (COTA), needed worship space to use during the first phase, so the Fremont Baptist Church (FBC) opened its doors.
FBC's pastor, the Rev. Judy Gay, noted that some people know FBC solely by the large, painted signs visible from great distances across Seattle and in nearly every photo taken of Fremont going back through the decades. For many, "the signs on the building don't translate to the street level."
Judy has met people who don't know the church still gathers and worships at Linden Avenue North and North 36th Street: "We need to be at the doors of the church."
The church has an open-door reputation within Fremont. The large, brick church building has served as a polling place, convenient meeting space and home to the offices of ROAR of Washington, an agency assisting homeless and disadvantaged people.
The only surprise is that FBC would go so far as to share its core - its worship space - with COTA.
The challenge
Begun five years ago by the Rev. Karen Ward, COTA is associated with the Episcopalian and Lutheran churches as a joint mission of both. Karen speaks of an emerging, post-denominational era for churches - neither anti- nor non- - that encourages community among believers by "sharing our flavors rather than blending them."
With a total of three churches here - including the Emmanuel Bible Church, plus the Nalanda West Buddhist temple - Fremont is un-churched. Karen said she is undaunted by the challenge of establishing a faith community here in such an environment: "I think it's great. God is so active in a neighborhood like Fremont."
Judy enjoys Fremont and continues to seek ways to get more involved. Neither pastor speaks with trepidation about their unique roles in our unconventional community, roles made unique by their callings and their gender. That two churches here would have female pastors "fits the character of Fremont," according to Karen.
"The reason I'm the pastor at COTA is because I started it," Karen explained.
A gender gap
Young, female and black, Karen is often asked, "'How can you be qualified?'" She doesn't concern herself about acceptance from her congregation. "It's self-selecting," she explained.
One man attended COTA to debate Karen about the advisability of women in leadership, but most people chose to worship at COTA out of a desire for something slightly unconventional.
Judy admitted, "I have one family that doesn't come" to FBC because of her gender. When Judy first applied to serve as pastor here, the hiring committee didn't want to consider her application, she said; their bishop urged the group to at least interview her.
Judy arrived in 2004, when "the church was a hurting church." They'd had rough years, with a lot of upheaval. To honor the congregation's uneasiness, Judy agreed to start as an interim pastor.
Judy recalled a turning point when, at a church gathering, someone mentioned they needed more meatballs. Without hesitation, Judy went to the kitchen and returned to set out the food. Finally, "the congregation saw someone who can serve them" - literally and figuratively.
As to gender, neither woman said she believes it directly affects the way she does her job. Karen believes COTA's younger congregation doesn't see race or gender the same way preceding generations do.
"That's refreshing to me," Karen admitted. "As a person, I bring myself. Every person brings unique gifts that are not necessarily gender-based."
Ultimately, Judy said, being a woman is "not the defining thing" about her role as pastor.
A 'ministry of space'
The mission of COTA is to support and encourage arts and culture, and it generously gives the majority of its building to the Fremont Abbey Arts Center. "Supporting the arts in Fremont is supporting the spirituality of Fremont," Karen stated.
COTA doesn't advertise its presence in the worship space upstairs because, as Karen has observed, "if we identify [the building] as a church, we lose 90 percent of the people who think this place isn't for them."
Since 1892, FBC has served the neighborhood, but sometimes its greatest gift is simply being available. Dozens of 12-step meetings meet in their basement rooms, and for some attendees, FBC "is the only church they know."
When requested, Judy holds memorial services for strangers who found salvation at FBC without attending a single service. "It's almost a ministry of space," Judy explained.
An open faith community
On Saturday, Dec. 22, COTA returned to its space at the top of Fremont Avenue for services and a CD-release party.
As both churches settle back into their normal routines, the time spent together has strengthened both. "I hope we can work together more," Karen said.
They've discovered their commonalities, and as Judy pointed out, even the steep climb up Fremont Avenue need not form a barrier. By walking up Linden Avenue North, Judy noted, they can avoid the incline and quickly walk the six blocks that separate them.
Both churches are open to anyone looking for a faith community. Fremont Baptist Church, 717 N. 36th St., holds services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., while Church of the Apostles, 4272 Fremont Ave. N. (www.apostleschurch.org) gathers on Saturdays at 5 p.m.
Kirby Lindsay works, lives and recreates in Fremont. She welcomes your comments at fremont@oz.net.
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