On the corner of Oak Lawn Avenue and Cedar Springs Road in Dallas, the 1913 sanctuary of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church rises above a neighborhood that has long welcomed people who were looking for somewhere to belong. Founded in 1874 and shaped by more than a century and a half of change in the city around it, Oak Lawn UMC is today a Reconciling congregation of the United Methodist Church that holds worship in three languages, feeds neighbors lunch four days a week, hosts twelve-step and grief groups, and walks alongside people experiencing homelessness through a care-coordination ministry called Pathways to Dignity.
The church's own words frame the work: "We amplify God's love through radical hospitality, serving our neighbors and standing up for justice." That sentence shows up on every page of the church's communications, and it is the way the staff, the lay leadership, and the three pastors describe what they are about.
A Reconciling Church on Oak Lawn Avenue
Oak Lawn UMC is proud to be a Reconciling Congregation within the United Methodist Church. That designation, given by the Reconciling Ministries Network, is a public affirmation of full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in every aspect of church life: leadership, marriage, ordination, and membership. The congregation points to the United Methodist Baptismal Vow - "We resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves" - as the scriptural ground for that witness.
Inclusion at Oak Lawn is broader than a single issue. The church's core values name it directly, welcoming every person as a reflection of the image of God "regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, ability, or economic situation." On any given Sunday, worshippers include young families, longtime members, asylum seekers, university students from nearby SMU, and neighbors who are unsheltered. Gracious and unafraid language about this diversity runs through the church's public materials, and the three pastors describe their community as a "chosen family."
Three Pastors, One Chosen Family
The pastoral team is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison, who has spent nearly thirty years in full-time United Methodist ministry. She is widely recognized for her preaching and for her advocacy on behalf of people on the margins, including LGBTQ+ persons, migrants, and asylum seekers. She helped establish coordinated inclement-weather shelter across the DFW metroplex after a Dallas neighbor died from exposure at a bus stop, serves on the Board of Directors of the Reconciling Ministries Network, and is the president and founder of Safe Spaces Lebanon, a nonprofit supporting refugee children and families. She has been named Peacemaker of the Year by the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, LGBTQ+ Texan of the Year by Dallas Voice, and Organizer of the Year by Dallas Voice Readers' Choice and Resource Center Dallas, and is a co-editor of the CEB Women's Bible.
Pastor Isabel Marquez-E serves as Pastor of Worship and Multicultural Ministries. Originally from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, she leads the congregation's growing Spanish-language ministries and shapes worship that welcomes people of every culture and background. She is a longtime advocate for Latinx communities, immigrant families, refugees, and asylum seekers, serves on the board of Justice for Our Neighbors, and is part of the Core Team for the Thriving in Ministry initiative that supports Latinx clergy across the United Methodist Church. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and his master's of divinity from Iliff School of Theology. She and her wife, Vicky, live in Dallas with their three children and two small dogs.
Executive Pastor Rev. Ryan Wager leads operations, outreach, congregational care, stewardship, and strategic initiatives, having joined the staff in 2019 after nearly thirty years of executive leadership at AT&T. He developed much of OLUMC's current network of community ministries, including the emergency shelter initiatives, the meal programs, the clothing ministries, and Pathways to Dignity. He serves on the boards of the Reconciling Ministries Network, the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, and Safe Spaces Lebanon, and represents Oak Lawn UMC through Housing Forward. He is completing the Course of Study through St. Paul's School of Theology.
All three pastors are glad to meet newcomers over coffee. Visitors can book a meeting with Pastor Ryan through his online calendar or reach any pastor directly by email.
Sunday Worship in English, Spanish, and ASL
The Sunday schedule at Oak Lawn UMC is anchored by two weekly touchstones. Sunday AM Study begins at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday AM Worship follows at 11:00 a.m. The service is offered simultaneously in person and through a livestream on Facebook Live and YouTube, so neighbors across the city - and across the world - can join in. Worship is described as vibrant and inclusive, blending inspiring music, thoughtful preaching, prayer, and Holy Communion, with the congregation sent out each week to serve with compassion and justice.
Worship is offered in three languages. The spoken service is in English, with simultaneous Spanish translation available through listening devices, and ASL interpretation provided by Andrea Raye and friends. Visitors who want a device simply ask a Greeter. Communion is celebrated every Sunday using pre-filled cups and pre-cut bread, with grape juice so that everyone may partake; pre-packed elements are available for those who would like them. Worshippers are invited to come as they are.
The church takes the same care with its livestream that it takes with the room. Online worshippers are encouraged to create a small space at home - a candle, an open Bible, a moment of silence - and to prepare a piece of bread and a little juice for Communion. The worship bulletin is posted online beforehand so people can follow along on a phone, tablet, smart TV, or printed copy. Greeting one another in the YouTube and Facebook comments during the Passing of the Peace, and saying "Amen" aloud at home, are part of how the online community gathers.
The Sanctuary: Stained Glass, Pipe Organ, and a 2020 Restoration
Worship takes place in a sanctuary built in 1913 and carefully restored in 2020. Couples planning a wedding here often remark on the same features: magnificent stained-glass windows, a stunning pipe organ, seating for up to three hundred guests, excellent acoustics, and abundant natural light. The sanctuary sits on the second floor of the main building, with elevator access from the parking lot behind the church. A Fellowship Hall adjacent to the sanctuary hosts wedding receptions of up to one hundred fifty guests.
The church is located at 3014 Oak Lawn Avenue, at the corner of Oak Lawn Avenue and Cedar Springs Road. Visitors can enter through the front steps on Cedar Springs or through the glass doors from the parking lot behind the building. Convenient parking is available behind the church, with additional space under the Windsor Apartments off Cedar Springs for overflow; guests enter the apartment garage and take the elevator up to Dickason Avenue for an easy walk to the church.
Children, Families, and Tía Angie
The children's ministry at Oak Lawn UMC is led by Patricia Proo and centered on a caregiver everyone calls Tía Angie. Loving nursery care is provided during Sunday worship, and weekly Kids Church welcomes elementary and middle school students. Families new to the church are invited to register through the visitor and new family registration form so that Greeters can be on the lookout for them on a first visit.
The broader culture of welcome extends well past the children's wing. The staff is described as multi-lingual, varied in background, and united in wanting to make sure every guest has a good experience. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the building stays open every day until 9 p.m. for community meetings, with a staff member present while it is open.
Pathways to Dignity and the Community Meal
For more than a century, Oak Lawn UMC has been a place where Dallas brings its needs. Today that work is organized around Pathways to Dignity, the church's care-coordination and outreach ministry serving neighbors who are unsheltered. Led by the community case manager Rob Farmer and supported by the Community Faith Nurse Victor Ortiz, RN, Pathways to Dignity connects people with housing, healthcare, and other resources rather than simply providing one meal or one night of shelter.
The most visible expression of that work is the daily Community Meal, served Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone who walks in is welcome to eat. The church also partners with other organizations to provide emergency shelter during extreme weather, runs and supports clothing ministries, and hosts twelve-step and recovery groups in its Community Center spaces. Grief support gathers on Mondays at 7 p.m. The church works alongside the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, Housing Forward, and a wide network of nonprofit and faith partners across the city.
Music plays a real part in this community life. The Spanish Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9:30, and the larger choir rehearses on Monday evenings at 7 p.m., with a brief choir preparation at 10:15 on Sunday mornings. Music Director Cody Dry leads the program.
Weddings in a Reconciling Sanctuary
Weddings are a real ministry at Oak Lawn UMC, and the church treats them that way. The Weddings page opens with the line, "A Place Where Love Is Celebrated - Fully and Faithfully," and the church's own clergy can officiate ceremonies either in the sanctuary or at the location of a couple's choosing.
Three wedding packages are offered. A Civil Wedding starts at $400+ for a small ceremony with a pastor and up to twenty to thirty guests. A Small Wedding starts at $750+ and includes a pastor-led ceremony for up to fifty guests, a rehearsal, and standard decorations. A Traditional Wedding starts at $1,500+ and includes a full traditional ceremony for up to three hundred guests with rehearsal and full staff support. Additional services such as the reception hall, AV support, and required premarital counseling may apply. The church frequently partners with the Warwick Melrose Hotel Dallas, located just across Oak Lawn Avenue, so couples can plan ceremony and reception together.
Pastors take time to get to know each couple before the day. Weddings inquiries go to weddings@olumc.org or by phone to 214-271-5298 to schedule a tour and conversation.
The OLUMC Community Center: Space Rental as Hospitality
Beyond worship and weddings, Oak Lawn UMC runs a Community Center that opens the campus to neighborhood associations, HOAs, condo boards, support groups, and small arts and education programs. The sanctuary and chapel, with their excellent acoustics, are available for music lessons and recitals. Classrooms accommodate small group meetings, and large halls support movement-based classes. A piano can be requested for recurring use, and special pricing is available for ongoing programs.
The center offers ADA-accessible rooms, flexible seating and tables, AV support including a screen, microphone, and Wi-Fi, evening and weekday availability, and on-site parking with transit access. The church is proud to host recovery and twelve-step groups, grief and caregiver support, parenting and wellness classes, affirming LGBTQ+ groups, and nonprofit trainings in what it calls a trauma-informed, respectful environment. A shared workspace for local nonprofits is also in the works, offering desks, meeting rooms, and Wi-Fi to organizations doing good work in the Oak Lawn neighborhood.
Safety as a Ministry of Love
Oak Lawn UMC has been deliberate about the way it talks about safety. Campus Care and Safety Manager Robert Garcia, Jr. oversees the work, and the church frames safety as a ministry of love rather than a posture of fear. Visible measures include clearly marked exits and medical support locations, licensed and trained safety personnel during worship and large gatherings, ushers and volunteers equipped to assist in emergencies, and ongoing training for staff and volunteers.
The church grounds the work in three texts: "Let justice roll down like waters" (Micah 6:8), "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers" (Hebrews 13:2), and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these siblings of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). The goal, the church writes, is that safety never feels like a barrier but rather another way of demonstrating love for one another.
Getting Connected
Newcomers can fill out the visitor and new family registration form or the online Connect Card so Greeters can be ready to greet them. Worship bulletins are posted online before each service, and the church's weekly newsletter, the OLUMC Epistle, keeps readers current on formation opportunities, service projects, justice work, and fellowship events.
For pastoral care, the church invites people to text 405-213-8944 to reach a pastor directly. Prayer requests can be submitted online. Giving is available online through Pushpay, PayPal, or Venmo, and the church offers a yearly stewardship campaign as well as an ongoing merchandise shop that supports its ministry. Volunteers can sign up through the church's online forms.
Oak Lawn UMC holds itself to a single sentence: "Come as you are. You're not just welcome here - you're family." The rest of what happens inside the 1913 walls - three languages of worship, a daily meal, a wedding rehearsal, a Monday night grief group, Pathways to Dignity - is the long, practical work of making that sentence true.