To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Report Title: ADOPT a resolution for the 75th anniversary of The Good Table United Church of Christ
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution for the 75th anniversary of The Good Table United Church of Christ
FISCAL IMPACT:
none
BACKGROUND:
The Good Table United Church of Christ, founded in 1950, has a rich legacy of social justice and community service in Contra Costa County. Partnering with Planting Justice, the church created The Good Table, a spiritual and community hub focused on food justice, the arts, and wellness. In 2025, it will celebrate 75 years with the opening of its new home in El Sobrante.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
none
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
IN THE MATTER OF A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD TABLE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, Congregationalist missionaries first arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area during the Gold Rush, establishing the First Congregational Church in San Francisco in 1850 and founding significant educational institutions including the College of California (now U.C. Berkeley), Mills College, and the Pacific School of Religion; and
WHEREAS, Mira Vista Congregational Church was founded on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950, by seventy charter members, initially meeting in members' homes before settling at 7075 Cutting Boulevard in El Cerrito, California; and
WHEREAS, in 1957, the Congregational Christian and Evangelical and Reformed denominations merged to form the United Church of Christ, a Protestant denomination dedicated to ecumenism and social justice, and in 1961, Mira Vista Congregational Church became Mira Vista United Church of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Mira Vista United Church of Christ played a pivotal role in founding the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) in 1967 to address racial and economic injustice in Contra Costa County, and GRIP continues to serve as West County’s only family shelter for the unhoused; and
WHEREAS, in 1974, Mira Vista United Church of Christ established the West Contra Costa County Rape Crisis Center, now part of the Contra Costa County Family Justice Center, and has long supported women's rights by calling many women pastors including the Rev. Nancy McKay, the Rev. Shirlee Bromley, the Rev. Dr. Christina Hutchins, the Rev. Diane Phillips, and the Rev. Susan A. Meeter; and
WHEREAS, Mira Vista United Church of Christ has partnered with Pacific School of Religion to provide internships and field education for at least fifty seminarians, including the current Conference Minister for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Dr. Davena L. Creer-Jones; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Mira Vista United Church of Christ became an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming all LGBTQ+ persons as beloved children of God and affirming their leadership in the church, including current pastor the Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain and current Moderator, Brian Campbell-Miller, as well as serving as the fiscal sponsor for El Sobrante Pride; and
WHEREAS, after selling their Cutting Blvd. campus in 2006, Mira Vista United Church of Christ moved to Christ Lutheran, El Cerrito, freeing up time and assets for mission work, including traveling to New Orleans to aid in post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding, participating in Rebuilding Together East Bay, and contributing 15% of annual giving to community-focused organizations; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Pastor McLain since 2014, Mira Vista United Church of Christ has pursued innovative ministry models integrating spiritual practice with justice and mercy, with a focus on food justice and the arts; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Mira Vista United Church of Christ partnered with Planting Justice to purchase and renovate the historic Adachi Nursery & Florist property in El Sobrante, creating The Good Table LLC-a nonprofit entity housing a pay-what-you-can community cafe, a marketplace for local food and crafts, a gathering space for arts and education, and an organic nursery and farm store operated by Planting Justice; and
WHEREAS, on April 25, 2019, Mira Vista United Church of Christ and Planting Justice purchased 5166 Sobrante Avenue in El Sobrante, beginning extensive renovations in 2021, and in April 2020, Mira Vista became The Good Table United Church of Christ; and
WHEREAS, on April 26, 2025, The Good Table United Church of Christ will celebrate its 75th Anniversary by consecrating its new spiritual home with gratitude for the faith and generosity of past generations, ensuring a lasting legacy in El Sobrante; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby recognizes and honors The Good Table United Church of Christ on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary for its remarkable history, unwavering commitment to justice and service, and enduring contributions to the community of Contra Costa County.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 25 day of March 2025.