A Neighborhood Church in Cal Young
Wesley United Methodist Church sits at 1385 Oakway Road in Eugene's Cal Young neighborhood, a quietly residential pocket on the city's south side where the streets are lined with mid-century homes and the pace of life moves a little slower than downtown. Chartered as a congregation in 1954, Wesley has belonged to this neighborhood for more than seven decades. Lead Pastor Nicole Berry, who has written the congregation's welcome message, likes to describe it simply: "We are still a neighborhood church. We are still United Methodists. We are still learning to walk in the way of Jesus."
The campus has grown along with the area. Just before the pandemic, the congregation built a community garden on the grounds. The church now hosts several community partners in its buildings and on its land, and it has become a hub for service work that stretches across the south side of Eugene.
Worship on Sunday Mornings
Wesley gathers for worship at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary. The service is a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, drawing on liturgy and congregational participation while weaving in music from the organ as well as a worship band. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month, and the church will arrange in-home communion for members who cannot attend by reaching the office.
Visitors are told to come as they are. There is no dress code, and the sanctuary makes room for everyone. Gender-inclusive restrooms are available throughout the building, and a hearing loop system is provided during worship for those who use hearing aids or cochlear implants. After the service, the congregation moves across the breezeway to the fellowship hall for coffee and conversation.
For those who cannot be in the sanctuary, the service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and a full archive of recent worship services is available there as well.
A Reconciling Congregation
In 2014, Wesley formally declared itself a Reconciling Congregation, affirming the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the life and ministry of the church. The church is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, and the affirmation shapes everything from the welcome at the door to the language used in bulletins and prayers.
The congregation's own statement of welcome, posted on its mission and values page, is unusually specific. It names people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and adds every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, family structure, economic, immigration, marital, and social status. "Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey matters to us," the statement reads. "Your presence here is a gift as we seek the God who seeks us all."
Serve the World: Partners and Outreach
Service is the third pillar of Wesley's mission, alongside seeking God and celebrating community, and the church has built an unusually wide network of local and global partnerships. Within the Cal Young neighborhood, Wesley works with local schools and the VA. Beyond the immediate area, the congregation partners with a handful of Eugene-area nonprofits: Huerto de la Familia, which supports Latino families; St. Vincent de Paul and its homeless services; FISH, a local food and emergency assistance network; and African Road, an organization that walks alongside community-led development in Tanzania.
Three additional partners share space on the Wesley campus. Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad is a Latino community gathering place. The BeLonging Space is a ministry focused on belonging and inclusion. Soko Coffee operates from the campus as well, providing craft coffee with a mission. Together these partners turn Wesley's grounds into something closer to a community center than a single-purpose church building.
Wesley also maintains the Poppen Community Garden, established on the church grounds in 2016 to give neighbors a place to grow food together. The garden is one of the most visible expressions of the church's commitment to its immediate neighborhood.
Children, Youth, and Families
Children are a visible part of life at Wesley. Kids of every age are always welcome in the sanctuary, and Sunday School is offered for children from infancy through age eleven. Children begin worship with their families and are invited to Sunday School after the opening music.
Youth Group meets in person on the first Sunday of each month, right after worship concludes. The church describes it as a chance for "lively competition, new friends, and a chance to learn about Jesus." The ministry is led by Rachel Parr, the Children and Family Minister, who can be reached through the church office.
During the year, Wesley also runs seasonal programs that have included Trunk or Treat, Compassion Camp, and a Wesley Kids summer camp for younger children.
Music and Worship Arts
Music is one of the things that distinguishes Wesley's worship. Director of Music and Worship Arts Jean Arnett oversees a music ministry that ranges from the organ to the contemporary worship band. The blended approach is intentional: the congregation values both the historic hymns of the United Methodist tradition and the newer songs of contemporary praise, and the service makes room for both.
Worship is supported behind the scenes by Ashe Bloomer, who handles live streaming and video production, allowing the service to reach beyond the sanctuary walls each week.
Care, Connection, and Pastoral Support
Beneath the Sunday schedule is a quieter ministry of pastoral care. Director of Care and Connection Caroline Langston helps coordinate the church's work with members who are grieving, hospitalized, or simply in need of a visit. Pastor Nicole is available for one-on-one conversations, and the church will bring communion to those who are homebound.
For families planning a memorial service, Wesley has put together a detailed planning guide that walks next of kin through every step, from the first meeting with the pastor to a reception in the fellowship hall. Members of the church can use the facilities for the service itself at no charge, with small fees covering custodial, coordination, AV, and music support. Non-members pay an additional hourly rate for use of the sanctuary and fellowship hall. The church can also arrange a graveside service at a local cemetery, and for veterans, Wesley will contact the Oregon National Guard to present a U.S. flag and play taps.
The Staff
Wesley's small staff reflects the congregation's priorities. Rev. Nicole Berry serves as Lead Pastor. Jean Arnett directs music and worship arts. Rachel Parr leads children and family ministry. Caroline Langston oversees care and connection, and Andrew Kronser serves as Director of Shared Ministries, coordinating work across the church's programmatic partners. Ashe Bloomer manages live streaming and video production. The office is staffed by Salone Wilkerson, and Brian McGuire cares for the facilities.
The church office at 1385 Oakway Road is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the main phone line, (541) 343-3665, is answered during those hours.
Roots and Affiliations
Wesley United Methodist Church is part of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church, the regional body that connects the congregation to the wider denomination. Wesley's own identity, however, has long emphasized its local character. Pastor Nicole's welcome message notes that the church was chartered as a congregation in 1954, that the surrounding Cal Young neighborhood has grown and developed into a lively hub, and that the congregation has changed in step with it.
Through the Reconciling Ministries Network, Wesley is also connected to a network of United Methodist and other congregations that have made a similar commitment to full LGBTQIA+ inclusion, an identity that has shaped Wesley's ministry for more than a decade.
Staying Connected
The Wesley Epistle, the church's monthly newsletter, is the main way the congregation communicates about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and the life of the church. Visitors and newcomers can join the mailing list through the church's newsletter page. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and a full archive of recent services is available on the same channel. Online giving is available through Wesley's Breeze platform, which also hosts the church calendar and directory. The office can add newcomers to the directory on request.
For those who want to get involved beyond Sunday morning, the church welcomes volunteers in the Children and Family Ministry, the Poppen Community Garden, and the various partner programs that share the Wesley campus.