College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland discusses issues race issues with the community through their event, Race Matters, every Monday night at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Race Matters 

Many members of College Avenue Presbyterian Church have voiced their desire to participate in classroom or informal discussion groups centered on topics relating to the Christian faith and daily life in the church via Zoom.

According to the church's post, they are able to participate in such a discourse without having to fight traffic in order to drive across the city, which makes it almost easier for them. 

They have spent the last year organizing numerous different learning groups in which members can have conversations about various racial issues.

The post also mentioned that in the discussion, participants would examine key readings and see videos that have influenced the ongoing national conversation about issues of racial justice and white supremacy. 

It is the goal that each class would be taught in part by members of the congregation. 

All the information stated above is available on the church's website. 

About College Avenue Presbyterian Church

College Avenue Presbyterian Church is dedicated to spreading its messages not only to some people, but to everyone in the ever-changing world that they live in. 

They have the belief that their purpose in the community is to assist and empower individuals so that they can become the complete and total people that God intended for them to be.

According to its website, its ministry, whether it be to family or the homeless, young or elderly, in Oakland or around the world, is influenced by this dedication to assist and enable everyone to experience this finished way of life.

History of College Avenue Presbyterian Church

On August 21, 1890, the First United Presbyterian Church of Oakland was established as a mission church following a conversation that began at Duncan MacMillan's Fruitvale Township home in 1888. 

At the Second United Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, members of the Mac-Millan family and others had been attending services.

A United Presbyterian Church in Oakland began to take shape as a result of the efforts of these families. 

It was not until 1890, when a church with 27 charter members was formally founded, that these founding families first met together in houses, asking visiting pastors to lead them in worship.

According to the church's history, the Reverend Charles Hanna, who was originally from Monmouth, Illinois, was recruited to serve as the congregation's first pastor. 

During the month of January 1891, a loan in the amount of $6,000 was secured from the Board of Church Extension in order to purchase a church lot located at the intersection of 18th and Castro Streets.

As the history mentioned, following the arrival of a large number of pastors who served College Avenue Presbyterian Church and the repercussions of World War II, these regional and neighborhood phenomena would have an effect on the church. 

As the congregation aged proportionally, these dynamics would become more apparent within its membership. The phase of transition from the era following World War II and the Baby Boomers to the changing environment was in full gear.

Rev. Monte McClain has accepted their current pastor's call and is stepping forward to help shape their current congregation for today's population and issues, so that they can continue to build bridges to those whom their Lord is calling "drop those nets" that are keeping them from participating in God's movement.