First Christian Church of Tacoma sits on the corner of 6th and Orchard, in the North End of Tacoma, Washington. The congregation is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is recognized as Open and Affirming, hosts a Tiny House Village on its campus in partnership with the Low Income Housing Institute, and runs an arts ministry called The Orchard on 6th that brings resident artists into the rhythm of the church.

"No Creed but Christ": A Disciples Identity

Senior Minister Rev. Doug Collins opens the welcome to First Christian with an invitation rooted in the congregation's tradition: "There are no prerequisites for being considered a part of the community. We are non-creedal, meaning we embrace difference of opinion, theology, and belief. While we may not always agree on the specifics, we believe that embracing our differences is an expression of the rich diversity of God's people. One of our founders' favorite slogans was 'No creed but Christ.'"

That slogan is more than a historical phrase at First Christian. The congregation's own mission statement gathers it up: "Welcoming one another into God's shalom, we cultivate refuge, creativity and hope as we work for God's justice." Grounded in Micah 6:8, the statement points in three directions at once: refuge, creativity, and justice. The church tries to live all three out through its worship, its housing work, and its arts. As a Disciples congregation, First Christian operates with congregational polity in covenant with the broader Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainline Protestant body in the United States and Canada.

Sunday Worship at Eleven

Worship is central to life at First Christian. Each Sunday at 11 a.m. Pacific, the community gathers in person at the church and online through Facebook Live and YouTube. The service is described as "a joyous, creative, informal occasion with a variety of music and liturgical elements from both contemporary and ancient traditions." There is no formal dress code, and newcomers are invited to come as they are.

As a member congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), First Christian celebrates the Lord's Supper every week, and the table is open to all who wish to partake. Communion is part of the Sunday rhythm rather than a monthly or quarterly observance, reflecting the Disciples tradition of weekly Eucharist.

Music is led by Joshua "Sam" Bero and Plum Royal, with Director Ben Smith contributing as a musician, alongside a hand bell choir and a vocal choir. The Artists in Residence of The Orchard on 6th frequently shape the visual and sonic experience of the seasons. During Advent 2022, for example, the season centered on the theme "Living Peace." Tori Fields designed sanctuary adornments that evolved throughout the four weeks, and Sam Bero composed a series of original songs to accompany the project; the choir sang his settings under Ben Smith's direction. A Blue Christmas service offered space for remembrance and comfort in the midst of the season. On the third Sunday of Advent, when the joy candle is traditionally lit, members were invited to bring their brightest pink accessories, and the whole congregation helped hand-tie a baby quilt for a family from the Village at 6th and Orchard.

A Host Site for the Tiny House Village

The same corner that holds the sanctuary also hosts a community of small homes. In partnership with the Low Income Housing Institute, First Christian serves as a host site for the Village at 6th and Orchard, one of Tacoma's Tiny Housing Villages. The village is designed to equip residents who are housing-insecure with the resources, support, and shelter needed to move toward permanent housing.

The partnership has drawn attention from local and state leaders. On October 19, 2021, the church welcomed Councilmember John Hines, Mayor Victoria Woodards, and Governor Jay Inslee for a tour of the village and a conversation about the importance of community-based solutions to houselessness in the region. The church makes the case in plain words: "As it turns out, it really does take a village."

Donations for the village, whether money or goods, can be dropped at the church at 602 North Orchard or made online through LIHI. Volunteers can learn about opportunities through the church's Facebook page. Case managers and special-needs coordinators are part of the daily life of the village, and the church lifts the village up in prayer each week alongside its other concerns.

The Orchard on 6th: Where Art and Spirit Meet

The church's campus is also home to The Orchard on 6th, an arts ministry where creativity, spirituality, and community intersect. The space is directed by Ben Smith and hosts a roster of Artists in Residence whose work shapes the congregation and reaches into Tacoma at large.

Tori Fields is the visual artist of the group. In addition to her liturgical work at the church, she has been commissioned to create a large installation for the Woolworth Windows in downtown Tacoma through Spaceworks Tacoma's Artscapes program. She designed a community-painted triptych mural composed by Mindy Barker that lives in the worship space, and she is at work on a stairway mural in the Education Wing paired with what she and Nate Dybevik call the "Pew Wall," a craft installation that combines construction and visual art.

Walker Sherman is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has performed at Tacoma's Brew53 festival, ran sound at the Salt Conference, plays drums with the Keith Music Jazz Quartet, and released new music in collaboration with producer Bryson Foster that blends 1970s country with hip-hop sampling. He also served as a guitar tech at the Sunbanks Festival.

Janelle Gordon is a Creative Transformational Guide certified in yoga, doula support, Reiki, life coaching, fitness instruction, and art therapy. She teaches Yin Yoga and Sound Baths at The Orchard on 6th on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. and leads The Full Circle, a mothers' support group meeting the first and third Tuesdays. She serves as Planning Committee Chair for The Conversation 253's annual MLK Day event, a multi-ethnic, intergenerational gathering for equity and justice held at The Evergreen State College's Tacoma campus. Closer to home, she leads wellness classes at the local YMCA on Pearl Street.

Adam Martin founded Stars 4 Peace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses music and illuminated art installations to raise support for at-risk youth and women in need. The group's illuminated stars have been displayed at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, Odd Otter Brewery, and the Tacoma Santa Parade. He organized recent collaborations with Marlene's Market for ornament-making events and led a clothing and needs drive for at-risk youth.

Mindy Barker is a muralist whose work can be seen at the refurbished Tropical Reef Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. She is creating a 17-by-2-foot mural for the Lakewood Historical Museum that depicts the history of Lakewood. Greeting cards featuring her designs are available at the church for donation or free of charge.

Nate Dybevik, also known for his work as Puget Sound Pianos, is a pianist and teacher who runs the Cosmic Piano Academy out of the church, tunes the practice pianos at the University of Puget Sound, hosts annual Halloween recitals, and is launching a scholarship program in collaboration with the Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center. He is co-founding the South Sound Piano Society.

The Orchard on 6th hosts sound baths, open studios, Artist Monthly Dinners known as Stardust Dinners, and ongoing arts programming that the congregation and the wider Tacoma community are invited to take part in. Donations to the arts ministry are tax-deductible, and the church invites volunteers and supporters to reach out to Ben Smith at ben@fcctacoma.org.

Bible Study, Prayer, and Pastoral Care

The church's Bible study ministry takes two forms. A Zoom group meets Mondays at 5 p.m., and an in-person group meets Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Education building. The Thursday group is described by Pastor Doug as "a great chance to get some kisses from Anderson and Petunia," his two dogs. There is no prep required; the only goal is honest conversation about the coming week's text.

The church maintains an active prayer life through a weekly Joys and Concerns list that lifts up members and friends on healing journeys, the homebound, the village on 6th and Orchard, and a rotating Global Ministries partner country. Recent prayers have named Haiti, Palestine, India, Angola, and Tuvalu, among others. Anyone can submit a joy or concern to Pastor Doug at doug@fcctacoma.org, indicating whether they wish it shared publicly or kept private.

In January 2023, Pastor Doug launched a youth group for middle and high schoolers that meets on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. with pizza and conversation. A book study group has also formed around Mihee Kim-Kort's Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Can Transform Your Faith, with copies available through the church.

Nursery care is provided during worship under the coordination of Kathryn (Katy) Mundy, who also works full-time at a hospital-based midwifery clinic. Pastor Doug is available for pastoral conversation by phone at 253-752-7734 and by email at doug@fcctacoma.org.

Open and Affirming in Practice

First Christian is an Open and Affirming congregation within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The congregation's statement reads: "As an O&A congregation, we welcome all to full life and participation, including those of the LGBTQIA+ community. We affirm each child of God as beloved, celebrated, and beautiful. We strive to be a place that lives into Christ's commandment to serve the 'least of these,' including those experiencing houselessness, differently-abled folx, refugees, immigrants and those experiencing poverty."

The congregation has committed to being an anti-racist body in its governance and policy, engaging in continuing education, theological reflection, and action on issues of systemic racism in the church and the wider community. The work of Disciples Home Missions' pro-reconciliation and anti-racism initiative is one touchstone for that commitment. The scripture that anchors the statement is from 1 John: "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

Easter and the Year at First Christian

Easter at First Christian begins with a Sunrise Service at 6:20 a.m. in the church gym, continues with the regular 11 a.m. Easter Worship, and concludes with a Children's Egg Hunt at 12:15 p.m. The season is observed with the liturgies and music that mark the wider church calendar, including Lenten programming through The Orchard on 6th and special musical offerings through Advent and Christmas Eve.

The church fields a Relay for Life team each year, placing luminaria at the Mount Tahoma High School Track, and participates in the regional Hunger Walk. In 2025, the Relay for Life team raised $1,335.35 and the Hunger Walk team raised $830 across three laps.

Visiting First Christian

The church is located at 602 North Orchard St., Tacoma, WA 98406, in the city's North End. The office can be reached at 253-752-7734 or info@fcctacoma.org. Pastor Doug invites newcomers to email him or to call the church office for a coffee or a phone conversation. Worship is livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube for those who wish to join from home. Giving is available online.