Dear President C.L. Max Nikias, Provost Michael Quick, and the USC Board of Trustees,

We, a concerned group of USC students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and religious directors, along with local churches and the greater Christian community of Los Angeles, have learned of USC’s intent to purchase and repurpose the only remaining historical Christian landmark and sacred religious site left on USC’s University Park Campus- the beautiful Methodist / Presbyterian Church building originally founded over a century ago in 1881.

First, we believe that the University of Southern California has a rich Christian heritage that should be preserved, protected and, in fact, honored.  While few are aware of this fact, USC was originally founded in 1879 in the Christian Methodist tradition.  Dr. Marion McKinley Bovard, the first president of USC, was also the first pastor of the University Church on campus.  Other early presidents were highly influential Christian Methodist ministers.  As USC’s founding plaque states, USC was originally dedicated “to the glory of God… to the development of manhood and womanhood for Christian service and loyal citizenship.” As devout Christians, we are proud of the Christian heritage of this great university and believe that its rich 130 year history should not be lost in the quest for more income-generating classrooms and modern administrative spaces on the campus.  To us, this historic church building is more than just an inconvenient old building with little profit margin for USC; its noble architecture and vintage beauty represent the centuries-old character and traditions that are deeply embedded in our faith.  Desecrating and repurposing this historic religious structure will destroy the century-old history that we greatly value.

Second, this stately historic building, erected in 1931, is almost a century old and is one of the most unique architectural structures on campus.  However, because it has never been registered as a historical landmark in the California Register of Historical Resources, this sacred historical religious site could easily be demolished, and thereby, taking with it the last footprint of Christian heritage on the USC campus. Of note, many other newer and less prominent buildings on campus have been registered as California historical landmarks.  Thus, we implore USC to lead the efforts to preserving this historic church building as a historical landmark in the state of California.

Third, as with any other sacred religious site, such as a Muslim mosque, a Jewish synagogue, or a Buddhist or Hindu temple, we believe this historic church building is a sacred religious site for Christian worship.  Not surprisingly, as recorded in Los Angeles County records in 1984, there is a religious use restriction clause included in the church’s Grant Deed which states that the church site, specifically including the land upon which the church stands, is irrevocably restricted for “religious use” and “divine worship” in accordance with “Methodist and Presbyterian disciplines.”  USC’s attempt to purchase the church building and repurpose it for non-Christian and non-religious use, in spite of these restrictions, is shocking and disturbing to our Christian community.  While the exact interpretation and religious clause could technically be argued away in the courts, we believe the meaning of the church’s religious clause is simple: let the campus church remain a place of sacred Christian worship for generations to come.

Fourth, with over 50 Christian student organizations on campus, the most on any campus in America, USC has little available space for Christian worship, prayer, and meditation.  As a result, numerous Christian student organizations, as well as Christian groups in the surrounding community, currently use the Methodist/Presbyterian Church building for worship, prayer, meditation, Bible study, and fellowship on a daily basis.  The USC student organization, United House of Prayer (UHOP), has been leasing space in the church building for the last 18 months which is being used as a collaborative Christian prayer room, a united space for students, faculty, and staff to drop in, pray, meditate, and worship anytime during the day. UHOP, and other Christian groups using the church building, have been notified by university officials that the prayer room and other ministries will no longer be allowed to remain in the church once the building is purchased by USC.  However, we respectfully request that USC reconsider its dismissive stance toward the Christian groups using this historic church building, and fully support the benefits of a Christian prayer room and worship space for the many Christian groups on the USC campus.

Fifth, we understand the current church that owns the building, The United University Church, is no longer interested in maintaining, or able to maintain, ownership of the building.  However, we are interested in finding a private buyer who will preserve the church's historic and architectural integrity, and maintain the site as a true community benefit and asset to USC students, faculty, staff and the surrounding neighborhood.  We envision the church building being used as a Christian student center and remaining a community house of worship, in honor of its Christian heritage and roots.

Lastly, we are aware that over the last 5 years, USC has raised upwards of 5-6 billion dollars to expand the footprint, influence, and prestige of the university.  While we proudly applaud USC’s vision and success in its financial campaign, expansion that nonchalantly destroys centuries-old history and culture in the name of modernization and prestige is tragically myopic and self-centered.  It leads us to ask, “Why does a university with countless billions of dollars need to confiscate a tiny 28,000 square foot century-old campus church for administrative space when it can build and expand anywhere (and is rapidly building and expanding both horizontally and vertically everywhere) in the surrounding vicinity?”

In light of these concerns, with the utmost respect, we kindly ask President Max Nikias, Provost Michael Quick, and the USC Board of Trustees to protect and honor the Christian roots of our beloved university by preserving the Methodist/Presbyterian church building as a sacred religious site for Christian worship.  We implore USC to help us preserve the historic church building in the California Register of Historical Resources as a historical landmark.  As Christians on campus, alumni, and friends of the university, we request that USC respect this Christian religious site as it would any other sacred religious site.  We ask that Christian student organizations at USC be allowed to continue using the church for generations to come, as a sacred place for prayer and worship, according to the intended purpose of this Christian church building. 

We now call upon the greater Christian community of University of Southern California, the surrounding neighborhood, and greater Los Angeles community to help us save the Methodist/Presbyterian Church building and its rich heritage.  Together, we possess the creativity, wisdom, and resources needed to maintain this irreplaceable gift entrusted to us by generations past!

Thank you for lending your voice and influence to this cause!  

Sincerely,
Friends United to Save the Campus Church at USC