When Pastor Frank Wulf thinks that his congregation hasn't been able to worship at home for 100 years, he remembers the Old Testament scriptures about the Israelites in exile.
Wulf's church, Echo Park United Methodist Church at North Alvarado Street and Reservoir Street in northeast Los Angeles, is currently not safe for occupancy. The century-old dome atop the church's bell tower was damaged by the recent atmospheric rivers that hit California, and structural engineers say it could fall into the church and cause a snowball effect that could injure people inside the structure. .
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1. Pieces of a collapsed roof lay on the ground beneath the golden dome atop Echo Park United Methodist Church. 2. Notices are taped to the doors of Echo Park United Methodist Church, which has been a community beacon for 100 years. 3. The rain damaged and molded the walls inside Echo Park United Methodist Church, which has been a community beacon for 100 years. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
But just as the Israelites did when the Persians let them return to the land of Israel, Wulf says they will rebuild.
“The church is really not a building but a community of people, a community that cares for each other over a long period of time,” Wulf said.
Wulf's congregation has been away from their historic home since Feb. 1, the pastor said.
This came after the first strong storm of the season caused the tower to partially collapse, exposing the wood supporting the golden dome.
The wood had deteriorated badly: there was dry rot, termites and water damage.
The first structural engineer to inspect the building told Wulf and his team that the church was not a safe place for groups to congregate.
The evacuation of the building affects not only the 40 or 45 people who attend Sunday services, but also others in the community the church serves.
Wulf said services for homeless Angelenos, such as outside showers and free food, had to be suspended.
He also had to inform 12-step groups for people struggling with alcoholism or other substance use disorders that they couldn't meet in church, at least for now.
Pastor Frank Wulf of Echo Park United Methodist Church in one of the rooms severely damaged by recent heavy rains.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The church had been building temporary shelters for immigrants bused to Los Angeles from Texas. It was supposed to welcome four families to live in the space in mid-February, but it had to pause that program as well.
“Our primary commitment is to keep everyone safe,” the church team said in a statement on a GoFundMe page they posted to raise money for the work needed to reopen.
Wulf has not yet decided whether they will repair the century-old building.
“Would this be the right time to maybe tear down the entire building and start from scratch?” she asked.
