The Venice United Methodist Church of Venice, California, is a member of the California-Pacific Conference within the United Methodist Church. It serves the Venice and Marina del Rey communities within the UMC Cal-Pac Los Angeles District.
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The Church was founded in 1913, as the First Methodist Church of Venice.
The campus is located on the southeast corner of Victoria Ave. and Lincoln Blvd., just one block north of Venice Blvd.. The church is adjacent to the Venice Center for Peace with Justice and the Arts (VCPJA, the bright yellow building).
It is accessible by the Santa Monica #2 Big Blue Bus, and the Los Angeles MTA.
Venice United Methodist church celebrates worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Services are between 60 and 75 minutes long. Following the service, everyone is invited to share a bit of refreshment during our “hospitality” time in the parlor, before they carry on with their day.
The worship contains the familiar and some unfamiliar: elements of music, prayer, Scripture reading, prophetic witness, youth interpretation of Scripture, and special offerings of the gifts and talents of people from the community at large.
On the first Sunday of each month the congregation celebrates communion. To this communion table, everyone is invited into the full life of the church, without exception.
Reverend Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya, ATC, BA, MATS, MA, PHD. President and CEO, Apostolic Activation. AACTEV8 aka Global Apostolic Activation Network works with ministries and churches to help disciple believers and train for the fivefold ministries network.
Carol Green has been the Church Administrator for over 16 years. She moved to Venice and joined the Venice United Methodist Church over 35 years ago. Carol serves as the Lay Leader, is a Church Trustee, and the Assistant Treasurer.
During the school year they provide an after-school program for ages 11–17.
The congregation maintains an emergency food pantry and a people in crisis fund, for those who find themselves in momentary crisis.
The VUMC collaborates with other organizations and provides space, support, and encouragement for programs that nurture, guide, and provide safety for youth, feed the hungry, promote a living wage and universal health care, and promote non-violence and conflict transformation. They strive for peace with justice, responsible consumption and production practices, and ecological respect.
Some of these organizations are tenants of the VCPJA, the two story community center on the VUMC campus: Head Start, Inside Out Community Arts, City At Peace, and Easter Seals.