In May of 2011 Davis United Methodist Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. The DUMC originally met at the Davis Odd Fellows Hall. It moved to its current location in 1968. The original building was renovated and expanded in the 1980s. In 2004 we opened our new sanctuary.
Over its 50 year history, the DUMC has taken seriously the United Methodist mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In the Wesleyan tradition the DUMC has been actively engaged in worshiping God, deepening our love for God and each other, and working for God’s kingdom on earth.
Our worship services seek to praise God, bringing us closer to God and to each other. Our excellent choirs, Pastor Brandon’s sermons, Bible passages and visual displays weave together to make a meaningful worship time.
Over our history we have used small groups to deepen our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus to the cross. Chapters of the United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men and The Walk to Emmaus actively participate in the life of the church. Our adult study groups have ranged from covenant groups, disciple Bible studies, Wesleyan heritage studies, and reading groups and form series on current problems in the world. Children’s and youth’s Christian education has also been important at Davis United Methodist Church. Not only has Davis United Methodist Church offered age-appropriate Sunday school classes, we also regularly have offered Vacation Bible School. Our youth group meets regularly for fellowship, prayer and service
In addition to praying and studying together, we have developed traditions that allow us to honor special moments and to enjoying each other. For example, we hold all church baby showers for every child born or adopted into one of our families. Family game nights, dinner groups, anniversary parties and retreats have allowed us to grow into a community.
The Davis United Methodist Church is known throughout the Davis community as a church dedicated to serving all of God’s children. Members of this church helped found almost all of the social justice groups in our community. From the Short Term Emergency Action Fund to the Suicide Prevention Hotline early in our history to serving the homeless through Grace in Action, Community Meals and the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter our congregation has always sought to show God’s love to all of God’s children. In 1998 we became the first church in Davis to vote to embrace all people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
This church also was the first in Davis to go solar. Our efforts to care for God’s creation have been honored by California Interfaith Power and Light and Earth Ministries Network.
The Davis United Methodist Church also is active in missionary work outside of our community. Over its 50 year history members of this church have marched with Dr. King in Selma, sheltered political refugees and worked to bring clean water and sanitation in South America. For a number of years we have covenanted to help support a family in mission in Zimbabwe. We also have pledged to support three young girls in Mumbai, India over 10 years to ensure they have shelter, food, medical care and education. Our church regularly participates in VIM trips. Our service outside of the community is not limited to just adults. For example, our youth group spent a week helping rebuild houses after Hurricane Katrina. The youth group makes a service trip every summer. In addition to helping in New Orleans, they have also worked on Native American housing and substandard housing in Los Angeles.
This overview gives a taste of how the Davis United Methodist Church has lived its mission to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. Our church has always been more active than this summary can reflect. We encourage you to spend time on our website, so that you may realize what a vital congregation this church is.
We are an inclusive community committed to
living and teaching the love of Jesus Christ.
To see more of our church history, please visit our Historical Notes section.