A History of Two Congregations Who Became One

The community of worshippers that would one day become Melrose United Methodist Church began in 1936, with the enthusiastic spirit of Amadeo Fayloga, a student at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. The church was organized and christened Filipino Community Church, an attempt to create a Filipino church, with a vision to become independent of any denomination. The first organizational meeting was held in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Severino Fernandez in Berkeley. Twelve attendees were present, all from the Filipino Christian Service Association of First Methodist Church of Oakland. A Sunday School began, meeting in a hall above a restaurant in Oakland. Later, a vacated grocery store would become the church home until 1940.

Dr. Ernest Lyons, who had spent 40 yars as a missionary in the Philippines, became the Superintendent for the Pacific Chinese Mission in 1939. He invited the Korean Mission and the Filipino churches to join the Chinese Mission, becoming the California Oriental Mission. The others accepted the offer, and the Filipino Community Church became Filipino Methodist Church.

The California Oriental Mission Conference dissolved itself in June 1945, and reorganized into the California Oriental Provisional Conference. The Reverend Edward Lee, of Chinese Community Methodist Church, succeeded Dr. Lyons as Superintendent of the new provisional conference. The churches of the provisional conference continued to improve their ministries, so that by 1952 the provisional conference dissolved itself, and member churches integrated into the California Nevada Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. During the 1950s, Filipino Methodist Church underwent a name change, becoming the Methodist Church of Oakland.

Some 15 miles to the south, The Reverend W. F. Oglesby was 87 years old when God, and the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the Methodist Church called upon him once more. During the summer of 1954, Rev. Oglesby surveyed 3,700 homes in the part of Hayward south of Harder Road. From those house calls, he found at least 3 people interested in having a Methodist Church in South Hayward. Eight months later, on April 10, 1955, Wesley Methodist Church opened its doors for the first time. Meeting in a house on the site, the records show that 92 people, representing 17 families, were received into the Methodist Church that morning. Fifty two years later, surviving charter member Evelyn Russell is still worshipping at this address.

Peter Kostal Hall was the first building added to the site. Two years later, in 1957, plans were drawn up for a Fellowship Hall, which would better serve the growing Wesley community. Ground was broken for the Fellowship Hall, which would become the present day sanctuary.

A service of consecration was held in early 1959, and the first large wedding in the new hall took place in October 1960, joining Robert Thomas Selb and Diane Elaine Brock. During this time frame, the Fireside Room, Nursery, and Sunday School wing were added.

Wesley celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1965, and the records show a worship attendance of 211 people. Fifteen years later, in 1980, the 25th anniversary was celebrated on Palm Sunday.

To better understand the community around them, Wesley Methodist Church, Westminster Hills Presbyterian Church, and the United Church of Hayward formed South Hayward Parish in 1965. More churches haved joined this coalition, and SHP is still a strong advocate for the community, 42 years later. With the merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches in 1968, the church became Wesley United Methodist Church.

In 1969, the United Methodist Church of Oakland moved to Melrose United Methodist Church, where it shared the facilities with the Melrose congregation. Ten years later, upon the recommendation of the District Superintendent, the two congregations merged, with the name remaining Melrose UMC.

Now worshipping in what was originally planned as a fellowship hall, a Wesley UMC task force under the vision of Esther Keller, commissioned the unique stained glass window which has become the worship centerpiece for the United Methodist Church in South Hayward.

At the same time, music-minded members of Melrose UMC began the choir called The Spiritual Image to preserve and share the traditions and culture of the Filipino people. Funded by highly successful concerts, The Spiritual Image travels around the world to share their music and dance, to provide financial support for new churches, hospitals, in the Philippines and other areas in southeast Asia.

In 1993, Wesley set about envisioning the future with a Vision 2000 plan, committing by the turn of the century to becoming a more welcoming, more open, more diverse church community. Moving into the 21st century, Wesley UMC entered into conversations with Bay View District Superintendent Bruce McSpadden, about the possibility of sharing facilities with Melrose UMC of Oakland, a predominantly Filipino congregation in search of a new home.

A transition task force was formed, and communication between the two churches began in late 2000. By summer of 2001, the Melrose congregation visited Wesley for a joint worship service. The two congregations entered into a covenant and began worshipping together as a United Methodist Cooperative Parish in November 2001, led by Rev. Lee Williamson and Rev. Romeo Velasco. One year later, both congregations voted to proceed with plans to merge as one church. The newly merged, newly named South Hayward United Methodist Church opened on Easter Sunday 2004. The Reverend Dr. Alan Jones was the first pastor appointed to South Hayward UMC, and was succeeded in mid-2006 by Rev. Brandon Austin.

Both congregations have been blessed with excellent pastors throughout the years, but three of them share a special bond. Rev. Juan Ancheta served the Methodist Church of Oakland, and currently is honored as Pastor Emeritus of South Hayward UMC. Rev. Lee Williamson served both Melrose and Wesley UMCs. Rev. Ruth Cortez pastored Melrose, served as a District Superintendent, and worships at South Hayward UMC when in town.

South Hayward UMC held its first Confirmation Class in 2005, receiving twelve confirmands into membership. The combined church has one of the finest music programs anywhere, and with member Joe AyersÕ vision, offered a Music Makers Camp in summer 2006, reaching out to youngsters in the community. Educational opportunities continue to be offered, and the church sponsors a Vacation Bible School for one week each summer. A series of interfaith dialogues began between church members and men and women of the Muslim Interfaith Council (MIC), running from 2005 - 2006. Over 180 persons of various faiths and beliefs gathered in March 2006 for a Celebration of the Prophets Event, jointly sponsored by SHUMC and MIC.

South Hayward UMC has also been in mission to battered and abused Hispanic women, creating Project Open Door, where women come to learn English, computer skills, and work on crafts which are sold. We have also been in ministry with day laborers, coming together with members of South Hayward Parish one Saturday a month, to provide over 200 breakfast bags of nourishing food.

By whatever name it is known, the United Methodist Church now located at 628 Schafer Road in Hayward has served the Oakland and South Hayward communities for over 70 years. The church members have faced challenges and criticism, joys and revitalization, and still move forward to do GodÕswork, and to be GodÕs people in and about the world.

Contributors to this history include the late Agustin C. Lopez, Laddie Galang, and Jerry Wrenn.