Who we are.
Founded in 1870, St. John’s is a vibrant Christian church located in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco.
We’re progressive & traditional, young & aging, families & singles, play-filled grown-ups & kids, natives & transplants, straight, gay, & queer, and locals & Bay Area neighbors.
Our worship is casual & informal, and the Spirit moves through classic & contemporary songs, stories, rituals, prayer, and art.
Together, we strive to address the needs of those marginalized in our neighborhood and city. Each week, we distribute food to about 300 local households at our Harvest Food Pantry. Motivated by national and international crises involving refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, we became a sanctuary church and continue to serve and support those affected by these issues.
OUR MISSION
Led by the compassion of Jesus
and the creativity & mystery of the Spirit,
we are an open & welcoming community that shares
the love of God with one another & the world.
What we believe.
St. John’s belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination.
We use the full range of scriptural and traditional language, reflecting God’s diversity as feminine & masculine, powerful & vulnerable. We honor the integrity of the cultural language of oppressed people groups, though we may find it unsettling. We seek to imitate Christ’s language of peace and equality amidst the oppressive, patriarchal culture reflected in the Bible.
We speak of inclusion, deliverance, and justice for all people.
The PC (USA) affirms all LGBTQ people and defines marriage as a lifelong covenant between any two people.
Our staff.
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Theresa Cho
Sam Lundquist
Karen Irwin
Tamunoemi Speedy-Bote
Vivienne Scharberth
Our elders.
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Our Elders are elected by the congregation to lead our church. They guide our community with compassion, maintain our finances, envision the future of our church, and care for church family.
Lisa Blodgett
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St. John’s is a respite in this busy world to pray, meditate and connect with God and our community. I also fully embrace the openness and spirit of diversity that is one of St. John’s core values.
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Mandalay Burmese. We’ve been going here for over 30 years, and it’s been a part of almost every family celebration. A taste sensation!
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I had a career in radio broadcasting for several years and I’m a huge TCM movie fan!
Jason Dayvault
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St John's is the warm & welcoming bright light of community in my life that I missed. It's what the Church SHOULD be. We show up for each other well, and I get to share and be filled with fellowship & worship in a comfortable space.
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Il Casaro for simple Italian done REALLY well. Delicious! I also love Caffe Bianco near Montgomery Station for their Chicken Caesar Wrap on lavash!
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Though I wasn’t born-and-raised here, I’m a sixth-generation San Franciscan. My great-great-great grandfather was a gold rusher in the early 1850s, and my great-grandmother was in the 1906 earthquake, shacks and tent cities and all. They became original owners in the Inner Richmond.
Kristy Gannon
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I connect deeply with our mission to be an open, affirming, and inclusive church in SF. I knew it was right for us immediately when we attended our first service and we, including our kids, were welcomed so warmly.
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Zona Rosa Mexican Grill: The best burritos in town! They are the reason we have instituted "Burrito Fridays" at the Gannon house.
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I love traveling for work and fun. I have visited 29 countries and 5 continents. And once I had a work project that took me to Korea 13 times in one year!
Barry Hutton
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St. John's teachings have a foundation in a traditional reading of the Bible (hey, if it's 2,000+ years old and been all over the world, it must be worth learning about). Yet, we are very willing to question and reinterpret, which helps me know that it is relevant for my life today. Plus, I'm meeting lots of great people that I want to be friends with.
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Squat N' Gobble in West Portal. You just gotta love the name. It describes exactly what you do at the restaurant, and it sounds fun (don't take yourself too seriously).
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I have hang-glided in Rio de Janeiro, bungee jumped off of Victoria Falls, and parachuted from an airplane two miles up!
Mary Ulrich
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Our focus on love, inclusion, community, acceptance (of self and others) and introspection provides a safe place to experience God’s love as I understand it through Christ’s teachings. I also appreciate that our mission projects result in action that makes a concrete difference.
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This is an impossible question, but current favorite is Chino’s Taqueria: the best burritos in the Richmond District.
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Dr. Meredith Grey and I were interns at the same time.
Frances Yee
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My favorite thing about St. John’s is the wonderful people.
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Sasa in Japantown. The sushi is delicious, and the staff is so kind.
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My favorite ice cream flavor as a child (until it was phased out by most ice cream brands) was Tin Roof Sundae. I’ve been trying to find a new favorite since.