United Church of Christ

Great place to worship the Lord. Its a small church with a big heart and open arms.

They are one of the first church in Ventura county who are open to the LGBT community. I have been attending their bible studies for more than two years now. Its fun and enlightening for those who are seeking love and acceptance. No matter who you are.

Come and see for yourself.

I attended this church for over a year, and actively supported most of the events, both social and service oriented, which are offered to all several days every week. Recently I became a member, mainly because the congregation as well as the pastoral staff ever strive to be helpful, unbiased, kind, and are daily active in spiritual as well as social services such as supporting one another, or feeding the hungry, or helping the needy, or by expressing respect for every person's choice or condition, and by flat-out working every day for justice and fairness wherever there is oppression of spirit, mind, or body. Why do they do that? Partly because "God is still speaking." (That's what they say here.) And they should know, because they listen very well indeed. That's just a few of the reasons why, wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

I have been a member for ~20 years because it is truly a place of love where people try to walk their talk daily and seek knowledge from all sources and traditions with an open and inquisitive mind. We take Jesus’ challenge to do justice very seriously.

You know those churches that are the reason that you lose your faith altogether? This one is it.
Pastor Stacy played a gigantic part in it with her behavior. Church council and her gaslighted my mental health issues. This a supposed to be a liberal church where people heal from these very issues; however, they have not learned from the mistakes of those that hurt them and they cause this damage onto the community. She went as far as to tell me not to message church higher ups. I hope that people reading this can separate the people and what they know from the behavior because I was surprised she was capable of this myself after working with her. THIS IS A PLACE THAT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON HEALING PEOPLE AND NOT ONE THAT CAUSES PEOPLE HURT.

I was a member here for 5 years. I served as a council member, interim moderator, deacon, educator, and numerous other positions. I have seen too much toxicity here to recommend this place.
In my time at the church, I have seen this place torn apart by things that should bring together a church. Numerous pastors have been stabbed in the back and threatened to sue. Church tithes were wasted on paying these reparations. I say this, after only being there for five years. The church was fractured by the very act of helping homeless people because of raging narcissism and negligence by church council members.
I don't even want to talk about how it is during the church service. Prayer time is an absolute joke as it turns into gossip time.
While the values here are great, I suggest looking at other church's locally. While others are not as open about their open and affirming values, many are accepting.
This place is too toxic from the inside. The member misbehavior that has forced numerous members and pastors away, will ultimately push you away in a few months. On paper this place is the place to be, but there are better options.
After being there for a few months, they will try to rope you into being on church leadership. I have seen family's torn apart by this as it has caused strain on relationships. This is something that one member council member in particular boasted about doing such behavior. This is the kind of toxicity that is bragged about during council meetings. The church is run by a select few members and not the pastor. This is what is causing the downfall.
I myself, was pushed to the point of trying to commit suicide. After giving so much, I was abandoned at a time of need, and gossiped behind my back and called 'soft,' by a very member that has commented here; during a council meeting, no less. I understand that people make mistakes but Carla Ritter went above and beyond with the personal attack. Nothing was ever done. I was not the only one who left for mental health reasons.

Ultimately I feel this place has too much to overcome for it to be welcoming to anyone anymore. I don't think that anyone is doing anything maliciously. It is rooted in being overwhelmed. I feel that the problems are rooted in being a small church. The values should allow this to be a megachurch but once you get to know these people in a meeting setting, you will see where the problems lay and why this place cannot grow. People are rooted in old school ideas and refuse to change. There are people there who have caused so much damage that they need to leave. People cannot see past their friendships.
Save your energy, look elsewhere.

The "pastor" has owed me a hundred bucks for about a year. I attended for a little while. Im homeless and asked for work and gave him the hundred bucks to buy some Bible study materials online having to do with addiction. I came up with a plan that would have given a Christian alternative to AA, put homeless people like me to work, and get their parking lot paved in the process.

He "wasn't interested...😵

"Progressive?" On a plaque in their worship area they brag about using the resources God has given them wisely. 🤣

He did try to give me a check. It costs me ten dollars to cash a check. 😠I left messages and emails that he never returned.

Overall I give it an enthusiastic two thumbs down.

This is not a biblical church.