City Church has been been a home for me since my first visit to SF and then immediately once I…read moremoved to SF 20 months ago. They are so intentional about inclusion of ALL people regardless of your background. They have such a diverse pastoral staff, and each of them get a chance to speak throughout the year. I absolutely love the Community Groups here and the fair they have each season to provide each person with every option of CG that could be a good fit for them. I've had the chance to sit down with the Head Pastor, Pastor Fred, multiple times and he has such a genuinely caring and loving heart for all people. He has a great vision for the church and is intentional about getting to know every person who comes through the doors every Sunday. Furthermore, their partnership with City Hope, is an obvious demonstration of their care for the city of San Francisco especially the most in-need and vulnerable members of our society. I've really come to love every Sunday morning here, and every Sunday I just feel home and can take a deep breath when I arrive. I'm thankful for the genuine community here which is so rare to find these days in churches especially in the big cities. Coming from DC, I was very involved in my last church there and my closest friends ended up being all people in my community and volunteer groups. City Church SF has been a tremendous place for me to challenge and endure in my faith, and I'm very thankful for it. As an openly gay man, I haven't found a church yet that so authentically welcomes and affirms who I am as a gay Christian, and I encourage any person regardless of where you are in your faith and life journey to give City Church SF a chance.

I posted previously about the lack of transparency and sketchy financials at City Church, and on a…read morewhim, I decided to check out if things were getting better, since a friend recently told me they were launching a big fundraising push to plug a potential $1.2M hole in their budget. Email is attached. I was really surprised that they could be running so large of a deficit because the Paycheck Protection Program should have been available to them to help plug any deficit that they could have had. So I went and pulled their annual financial report on their website for Sept 2020- Aug 2021 (https://citychurchsf.org/Give) and I was surprised that nothing was mentioned in the report about taking PPP money, given the deficit that they claimed to have. But then I checked the government databases, and saw that they actually were able to get $858,200 from the PPP in two tranches, one on April 9, 2020 for $429,100 (see https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/city-church-san-francisco-a-congregation-of-the-reformed-ch-san-francisco-ca) and the other for the same amount on April 9, 2021 (see https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/city-church-san-francisco-a-congregation-of-the-reformed-chu-san-francisco-ca) Given how much they got in PPP money, I find it hard to believe they could be on pace to run a $1.2M deficit, especially since most churches in the city have seen giving stay very constant during COVID. I find it even more problematic that City Church did not even disclose that they took PPP money in their $1.2M fundraising push, instead only disclosing that GIVING is on pace to be $1.2M below budget.

Visited this church over a few months following a good recommendation (from someone who later…read morestopped going here too for the same reasons I am about to share). There is much to like about the community on first impression, but it quickly fades away. They have all kinds of banners outside their place of worship welcoming all kinds of people, people who you would not find as part of a significant chunk of their actual congregation because the attitude of the community beyond their lipservice turns the same people they claim to welcome away. People here are touchy, spiteful, unhealthily woke, and very vindictive. They are more concerned with foisting any minority person that wanders into their midst to the forefront of their pageantry with barely any care to meaningfully know, let alone accept, those people as distinct individuals beyond the stereotypical narratives they prefer the person represents for them. Once you've served your purpose in picture appearances, their PR choreography, or become unuseful to their optics, they drop you like a worn mascot and find the next minority person to hoist. It's all about appearances and symbolism in this community. The whole spiritual thing is a charade over a close-mindedness the community doesn't even try to hide. Their pastor for spiritual care will lead you straight out of your spirituality and faith. He is the epitome of the congregation: sweet initially, ignorant of both scriptures and emotional intelligence over people, projects his immaturity onto you, then turns arrogantly rude and temperamental, passes extremely presumptuous and juvenile judgments about you, then acts repentant, soft, and back to sweet again. That is the definition of an unhealthy, psycho-dysfunctional relationship. Put simply, if you are looking for ways to nurture and grow in either faith or spirituality, this is probably not the place to do it. ** Just a thought: churches that truly possess the values on those banners in their ministerial and operational DNA do not merely state them on endless banners or need banners to do the talking for them. No, the inherent composition of their congregation speaks for itself and word spreads out. ** ____ Update: Fix the problem; stop suppressing reviews. My Yelp account has been repeatedly targeted unfairly for closure since I first published this review in April 2024. Have had to repost it multiple times since then and will continue to do so until enough new reviews report that my experience at your church no longer happens. You don't resolve honest feedback by heavy-handedly quashing reviewers. Stop the systemic censorship and silencing of real people's voices that detail their experiences if what they say is not to your liking. You are making the very point I describe in my review. Raises questions about the integrity of your present high rating and how much of that is merely from censorship and curation, which in turn misleads those researching where to worship - the opposite of what a truthful church should be. Stop the tyrannical choreography. Do the right thing instead, FIX THE PROBLEM NOT THE REVIEW. ____ Reply to Response: Thanks for the kind response after multiple unsuccessful attempts over the past year to take down the review and my account. I'm always touched by double-face. Now may you find the courage to build a more wholesome community. Godspeed.

Went here for years when Laird was here and the other Pastors. Not sure what I think now…read more This seems very odd. No processional for the most part, The new minister is ok and then the other associates are ok. Dont really appreciate this, take a deep breath in" stuff. If I wanted to be at some kind of guru or some kind of New Age event" I would be there. I am at Church. Even the Benediction is odd. There is no Kyrie sung anymore and I don't know, it just seems sort of changed and not the same. I would rather go to a church that is not so full of politics and more of being centered on the message of Jesus Christ. The other political mumbo jumbo does not really belong in church if you ask me. People want hope and love etc. I guess I am wanting the service to be more as it had been years ago, it is not and for that reason I am sad and it does not feel like home. :(

I graduated from St. James school long ago and this used to be my church for the longest time…read more Despite priests coming and going, the church has maintained the same structure for the most part. Nice painted murals around the front/tabernacle of the church and well maintained stained glass windows that haven't change since I've 1st step foot in that church. What I like about the sermon's with Father Jerome Foley is that it isn't overbearing and long winded. It's to the point and relevant to what's going on now.

This is the perfect church for all the left leaning Catholics who may have misgivings about The…read moreChurch. Father Jerry's sermons leave you feeling that there is hope and that we can change this world for the positive.

Sunset Church really help me grow my faith in God. I have made many friends and the food is so good.read more

Jared, who recommended me to this church, is an awesome Christian. I came to attend earlier…read morebecause of a conflicting schedule but I'll be back next weekend. I met Lucy here, who is absolutely wonderful. She took the time to listen to my rap song lol! Recommend this church wholeheartedly. Family and friends environment. God bless this Church!

This is the Catholic parish I call my "home" although I am not living in the neighborhood. But it…read morehas become my spiritual home. It is something as unusual as a LGBT friendly and accepting parish. The greeting words from Fr Steve on the church's website are true: "You will find the good people of our parish old, young, married, gay, lesbian, transgender, affluent, homeless, blue-collar, converts, cradle Catholics, radical, traditional, questioning, fervent. What you're least likely to find here is complacency or indifference." As a newcomer to the city a year ago, I immediately felt welcomed. People in the pews showed an interest in you and made you feel a part of the church. Over the year, I have learned to love the liturgies, the choir, the singers, and the homilies. The masses on Sunday mornings always make me feel blessed afterwards. And after that, the 8th sacrament is approaching: the brunch! For more about the parish, read Donal Godfrey's book: "Gays and Grays", published 2007.

I absolutely love this church. They feed the poor of The City every week, they provide daily mass…read morewith some of the most friendly people, and they have one of the sweetest and kindest Parrish priests, ever. This is an inclusive, affirming Catholic church that makes you feel like you have really gone into the House of the Lord and into His presence. I have been going to church my whole life, and this one is definitely one of the more loving congregations. However, hospitality does not follow up with those not attending. Phone calls to the home bound are important. It may be they are understaffed. They have missed opportunities for outreach that could increase non-seasonal attendance. Just because money is pouring in does not mean needs are being met. We cannot assume things. We parish for our lack of knowledge. It's important for people to speak up in a good way and be absolutely honest with each other. Magnanimous means we address each other with two positives to each negative. This can only be done when staffed with volunteer coordinators who run phone ministries. But, this is the number one problem in most churches. We all make assumptions, based on limited information and being overly busy. As my aunt used to say before she left this earth, "you have to put yourself out there. and you never bow down to anything but God's truth. That truth is feeding the poor; visiting the sick, shut ins, and weak faithful and unfaithful; and addressing evil with goodness while speaking truth to injustice. All this I see done in the Catholic Church. Hospitality to strangers just might be the stranger next to you in a pew for over 40 years because you are both too shy to say "hello." And when people need each other's time, their is a reason for it. There is no shame in our game. Only forgiveness. God is the God of second, third, and fourth chances. Once we had a homeless man come into a church that stunk to high heaven. Why someone did not approach him and ask him to shower I will never know. This is a public safety issue. Offer food, explain that he cannot smell himself but everyone else can and then ask him if he stays we have to protect the health of everyone. Bacteria is dangerous to the very young and very old. A care package and shower can help. Those who could sit through that smell without vomiting are living saints. MHRP is a no "guilt trip" Parrish. We say it like we see it in love. If we are wrong, we correct it. Spiritual vision is one thing, what we do and how we treat others with that vision is another. We can have all gifts and powers, but if we don't have the loving kindness and compassion, we need to rethink the material we cloth ourselves in.

My stars are more about the experience my oldest child and I had with Pastor Alex. It was my desire…read moreto visit because I was married to a pastor. We lived in SF for 4 years early in our marriage back in the 1960's. Two of our three children were born in SF when Jim was the minister for Portola. The youngest one will soon be 59. It seems that divine order was in command as we met Pastor Alex unexpectantly. He was most gracious and kind. I believe one could find a meaningful spiritual home in this church. Blessings!

I attended this church as a child and had fond memories of the people and the events that were held…read moreto bring people closer together. It's nice to hear that pastor Elias is still part of the church as he was when I was a child. My youth group was called the Morning Stars and was led by a woman named Betty and sometimes her husband Mauricio. I attended this church from very young until about 13 years old and then I stopped abruptly. Sometimes I would see my parents before attending my midweek evening group that was held weekly. When I would see them, I was able to ask for offering and sometimes I wouldn't see them and would come to the group without offering. For the most part, Betty and Mauricio were very nice until one day Betty said something inappropriate in front of the group. For three weeks in a row, I didn't have money to tithe and she noticed and said, "don't come to the youth group unless you bring an offering". Shocked by this I replied that I hadn't seen my parents to collect. Angrily she replied, "but you have money to put makeup on?". This was embarrassing and is the reason why religion/churches gets a bad name. It's a few bad people that can ruin it, it's not the religion itself that's bad. After years of being a member, I attended only 3 additional times. On the third visit, she accused me of using a swear word during choir practice and proceeded to scold me. Because of that experience with her, I never returned to this church, and I always remembered how her actions made me feel. Because of that experience, I stayed away from churches for over a decade until I decided to find another that didn't have people like that in it. It's unfortunate because I'm always having to defend Christianity and it's because of judgmental people like herself.

This church is welcoming, inclusive, musical. There are children, teens, parents, grandparents,…read moresingles, couples - and they are all engaged and they care about each other. The senior minister is a gifted woman, and different people with different insights preach on many Sundays. The music is always good, always high quality. It is rewarding to sing in the choir. You can attend church in person or online. Recordings of Sunday services are available every week. There are also online Taize worship services (contemplative, with chants and silence) on first and third Wednesday evenings. In an era when many have left church, this is one that people are joining.

My new Sunday tradition…read more I love how welcoming and diverse the community here is and I also love how this place allows you to just be you. People are friendly and kind here - but if you prefer to slip out right after the service - that is perfectly fine too. I always leave feeling lighter and more energized. Trust.

I hosted a baby shower for my best friend and I rented the Parrish hall for the shower. My mom…read morefound the space and it was reasonable compared to other venues in the city. The rental included the kitchen it is not commercial but it is enough to prep food. The space is big, it doesn't feel so big when you have a small group. Originally there was 22 people who were suppose attend the shower, but there was 14 of us. There was plenty of room for games and there are five round tables and long tables for the gifts, candy bar, food, drinks as well as for photo booth props.

Really lovely neighborhood Episcopal Church in the heart of SF's Inner Richmond area…read more Small ancillary building hosts 12 steps meetings during the week. Marvelous needlepoint on the church pillows and kneelers. A true cross section of SF's mainstream Protestants worship here. There's no parking lot, but street parking in Da Hood on California Street early morning on Sunday ain't too dire. You might need to try out a cross street. Just give yourself a little time.