About Our Community
We are a diverse community of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We are Baby Boomers, Gen Z-ers, and everything in-between. We are Queer and straight, BIPOC and White, immigrants and citizens. Some of us identify as Episcopalians, and some of us do not claim a religious label at all. We are far from perfect. Above all else, we are people on a journey, striving to be molded into love-spreading difference-makers in the city of Oakland, and in the world. In the words of the Cuban-born theologian, Justo L. Gonzalez:
We believe in the Reign of God– the day of the Great Fiesta
When all the colors of creation will form a harmonious rainbow,
When all peoples will join in joyful banquet,
When all tongues of the universe will sing the same song.
And because we believe, we commit ourselves:
To believe for those who do not believe,
To love for those who do not love,
To dream for those who do not dream,
Until the day when hope becomes reality.
Here is what people are saying about Santiago-St. James:
“We are a down-home church. We do not stand on ceremony. Everyone is welcomed, so don’t be afraid to say hi or come to coffee hour.”
“Our worship is bilingual with a Latiné flavor. We are a community that is hospitable to whoever wants to be apart of the church.”
“We are a small, but joyful and diverse church. Worship here is warm, welcoming, and devout without being pious.”
“Children being apart of the Sunday service is a blessing, and my four year-old gets to pray with me.”