A Capitol-Area Church with an Open Door
Salem First Presbyterian Church sits on Chemeketa Street NE, about a block from the Oregon State Capitol in downtown Salem. A worshiping community has been rooted at 770 Chemeketa St NE since May 15, 1869, and the congregation is now working toward its 160th anniversary in 2029 under a campaign called Race to 160. The phrase that hangs over everything the church does is its motto, "Ordinary people. Extraordinary love," and the church describes itself as "a full inclusion community of ordinary people experiencing and embodying God's extraordinary love."
The building has two main entrances, a one-way parking lot with the entrance on Chemeketa and the exit on Court, plus a fair amount of street parking. Worship is held in the sanctuary. The Salem Poetry Project is temporarily housed in the chapel and the building also hosts community meetings and justice gatherings. The church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), of the Presbytery of the Cascades, and of More Light Presbyterians, a network of PC(USA) congregations committed to full LGBTQ+ inclusion.
What a Sunday Morning Looks Like
Worship happens at 10:30 AM on Sundays, both in person and online. Services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook and the recorded services stay available on the church's YouTube channel, so anyone who cannot be in Salem on a Sunday can still follow along. The service draws on a broad palette: Pastor Greg or a guest preacher typically delivers the message, with an "eclectic blend of contemporary and traditional worship songs, liturgy, scripture, [and] prayers." Music is led by Director of Music Devin Desmond along with vocalists, percussion, bass, piano, and guitar, and the band is often joined by guest musicians.
Coffee is on offer before the service in the Fellowship Hall, and newcomers are welcome to grab a cup and find a seat. About a third of the way in, after some music, prayers, and a welcome, the congregation "Passes the Peace." People are invited to move around the sanctuary as much or as little as they like, greet one another, hug, shake hands, fist-bump, or simply stay put. The two most common greetings are "The peace of Christ be with you" and "and also with you," but any sign of welcome is fine, and staying seated is fine too.
After the Passing of the Peace, children are invited to leave for Sunday School. Childcare is available from birth through fifth grade during the service. Every adult caregiver has been background-checked through Trusted Employees and has completed Stewards of Children boundary training, and teen volunteers are trained to help with the children. Following worship, the congregation gathers for a fellowship hour with snacks in the Fellowship Hall, with sweet and savory options, a gluten-free choice, and clearly labeled nut ingredients. On the second Sunday of the month, the church celebrates birthdays together, often with cake.
What to Wear and How to Be Received
The dress code is described as "a blend of everything from jeans and flip flops to full suits." Visitors should wear whatever feels comfortable. The congregation has made a particular commitment to people with disabilities: the church invites newcomers to let staff know in advance about specific needs and will "make whatever accommodations we can."
Two sacraments shape the life of the church. Baptism takes place on an as-needed basis. Communion, often called the Lord's Supper, is generally celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. During Communion, gluten-free bread and grape juice are served, and the church welcomes notice of any allergies or food sensitivities so that everyone can be at the table. The two sacraments are tied to the wider Reformed tradition, and the church points visitors to the PC(USA) pages on Baptism and Communion for denominational context.
[Re]Connect: Children, Youth, and Young Adults
The congregation's ministry to the under-25 set is called [Re]Connect, directed by Kim Bonn. Children through fifth grade head to Sunday School during the sermon portion of the service, and nursery care is available for the youngest. Middle and high schoolers take part in Salem Youth Collective, which meets during the school year on the second and third Sundays of each month from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. The Youth Collective is also linked to a wider community effort, salemyouthcollective.org, reflecting the church's commitment to connecting teens across congregations. Young adults meet for the [RE]Connect Young Adult Group on the fourth Sunday of each month at 5:30 PM in the church.
Qmin and the Inclusive Church
Salem First is one of the more deliberate about its welcome. The congregation is part of More Light Presbyterians, and the language of inclusion runs through every page of the church's materials: "We want you to know that you have a place at SFPC, regardless of your faith journey, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual or romantic orientation, socio-economic status, or any other characteristic that some might try to devalue you for." That commitment has a name and a calendar: Qmin, the church's LGBTQ+ community and ally space.
Qmin gatherings happen on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM at the church and are billed as "a space for dinner, community, conversation, and belonging." Everyone is welcome. Qmin plans its own programming, hosts events such as Pride in the Park, and the church also holds Qmin planning meetings. A community meeting on healthcare for all was held at the church in September, drawing state house candidates and other advocates.
Adult Groups Around Salem Cafés and the Church Parlor
Salem First takes seriously the Hebrews 10:24-25 admonition not to "neglect meeting together." A constellation of adult groups gathers across the week, several of them in local cafés rather than only at the church. The Men's Coffee Group meets Tuesday mornings at 8:30 at IKE Box Café on Cottage Street NE, with conversation running to 10:00. Share Your Life, a small-group gathering for adults, follows on Tuesdays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the church. Women@Noon meets Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 at the church, and Women's Chat gathers on Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM back at IKE Box Café. The Intentional Parenting Collaborative meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, and Faith on Tap, an hour-long open conversation about belief, meets on the third Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at McMenamins Thompson Brewery and Public House on Liberty Road S.
Grown Up Table is the church's gathering for adults in "that in-between season of life," held offsite at Create A Memory on Commercial Street NE. It is meant for building friendships with others navigating similar transitions. Contemplative Listening is a monthly Saturday morning practice using poems and psalms as starting points for shared prayer and reflection. The Salem Poetry Project, temporarily housed in the church chapel on Chemeketa Street, features a guest reader each Thursday evening at 7:00 PM followed by an open mic with the rule of three poems or five minutes, whichever comes first.
History Guild and the Long Memory of 1869
Salem First Presbyterian Church was organized on May 15, 1869, and the congregation takes its longevity seriously. The History Guild, a volunteer group that meets on Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, has been digitizing more than 28,000 documents from the church's archives. People interested in tracing a family connection to the congregation, or simply curious about more than a century and a half of Salem First's life, can email the History Guild for help.
Impact: Family Promise, Arches, Richmond Elementary, and Beyond
The church lists a handful of partnerships that anchor its outreach. Family Promise is a national network that mobilizes faith communities to support families experiencing homelessness, and Salem First participates in that work locally. The church also partners with Arches, an Oregon program focused on arts and healing for survivors of torture and other trauma. At the neighborhood level, Salem First walks alongside Richmond Elementary in Salem, and the congregation is a regular presence at Capital Pride. A memorial fund or ministry is named for Carolyne Kurtz, listed alongside these other partners on the church's Impact page. Members also take part in the Poor People's Campaign, a national moral movement that meets on Mondays at the church, and the church hosted a community meeting on universal healthcare in the sanctuary.
Staff and Leadership
Rev. Dr. Greg Bolt serves as Pastor and Head of Staff. Kim Bonn is the Director of [Re]Connect Ministry, the umbrella for children, youth, and young adults. Audrey Harman is the Director of Administration, and Ashley Taylor is the Director of Church Life, the role that coordinates fellowship, kickoff Sundays, and the lyrics and graphics that appear during the livestream. Sarah Page serves as Care Coordinator, working with prayer requests and pastoral care. Devin Desmond leads the music ministry as Director of Music. Chris Ward is the Multimedia Coordinator, handling sound, broadcast, and camera for the livestream. Sharon Klocksieben is the Hospitality Coordinator, with Joyer Takju serving as Hospitality Assistant and New Beginnings Liaison for those joining the church for the first time. Maureen Zemanek is the Office Assistant.
Beliefs and the PC(USA) Connection
The congregation is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbytery of the Cascades. Its stated mission and vision is to be a "Christ-centered listening-learning community, embracing and accepting everyone, engaging the needs of our city, finding ways to see, know, care for, and empower our neighbors as we welcome them home." The church's Statement on Common Humanity frames the work in terms of the two great commandments, to love God and to love neighbor, with "neighbor" understood as "humanity without division or subjugation." The church explicitly rejects "divisive, fear-driven voices of intolerance" and pledges concern for the safety and well-being of every neighbor regardless of faith, race, orientation, or other characteristic. A Racial Justice page on the church's site links this conviction to ongoing work.
Office Hours, Giving, and the Race to 160
The church office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visitors and newcomers can fill out a "Get Connected" form through Planning Center, and there is a separate form to submit announcements or subscribe to the newsletter through Flocknote. Giving can be done online through Clover Give, with options for one-time gifts, pledges, and volunteer-hour pledges. The Race to 160 stewardship season, running toward the congregation's 160th anniversary in 2029, asks members and friends to consider what "a season of holy imagination, courageous generosity, and shared hope" might look like, framing the question, "What if love is what God is building in us today?"
Online, On the Calendar, and Across Salem
Salem First stays connected beyond the sanctuary through a strong online presence. The full calendar of events can be exported to Google Calendar, Outlook 365, or an .ics file. The Facebook and YouTube channels host the livestream and the recorded services from previous weeks. Instagram and TikTok keep the church's day-to-day rhythm visible. For those who live in or near Salem, the building is also a stop on the Salem Poetry Project's temporary run, a venue for the Poor People's Campaign's weekly meeting, and a host site for events such as community forums on healthcare. The church's calendar is built around worship, [Re]Connect ministry, the small groups at IKE Box and at the building, the Qmin gatherings, and the long-running History Guild, and that whole web of weekly rhythms is what defines Salem First as a 150-plus-year-old downtown congregation that takes its motto literally.