History
In 1898, the roots of Buena Vista UMC were planted in Alameda when two missionaries began teaching English to the Japanese immigrants by studying the Bible. They established a night school that expanded to include employment and housing. This mission was formalized as a Methodist congregation on October 20, 1898. In the early 1900’s, during a time of anti-Asian sentiment, our church served as a sanctuary for this community and, soon afterward, their families. The church became a hub of activities — a women's group, men's prayer group, Bible study group, and Sunday school. In 1907 the church established itself in a Victorian house, named “Mary Helm Hall” at our current location today.
Original Buena Vista chapel
Following the Anti-Asian Exclusion Act of 1924, first- generation Issei leaders built the social hall in 1927 with their growing families in mind. Through their hard work, dedication and faith, they have given us a rich legacy of hospitality, fellowship, and gratitude that remains today. On February 19th, 1942, Executive Order 9066 ordered the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. The church stored belongings of the evacuees. When the war ended and families were allowed to return to Alameda and the church became the center of the community as a refuge and sanctuary, offering housing to displaced families.
Last worship before internment, 1942
In the years that followed the Incarceration, the Nisei (second generation) took on church leadership, and birthed a new generation of "Sansei” (third generation). New arrivals from Japan (Nichigo - Japanese language speakers) joined the Issei (first generation).
Fujinkai - Issei women of Buena Vista
The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 apologized to Japanese Americans for wartime civil rights violations. This marked a time of new beginnings when returning Sansei and newcomers rebuilt church life with children’s ministries, including a renewed basketball program. This also opened a new period of church-based community organizing.
Civil Liberties Act of 1988
Deepening our understanding of faith, the church began to address critical issues impacting our identity in the years that followed. In 2006, we became a Reconciling Congregation affirming the spiritual wholeness of LGBTQIA+ persons. In 2008, we began to explore ministry with Palestinians, broadening our ministries for global impact. In 2017 Buena Vista became a sanctuary congregation which “publicly commits to offering safety, support, and refuge to immigrants, refugees, and individuals facing the threat of deportation”.
We are a reconciling congregation
Thanks to the strong and cherished legacy of our Issei and Nisei forbearers, Buena Vista Church continues to be a diverse and inter-generational Beloved Community. We continue to anchor ourselves in the legacy of our Issei and Nisei as we strengthen our ministries. Together we create sacred space to worship, fellowship, and contribute to the vision of beloved community in our world.
Our Beloved Community