Re-Wilding the Church at FUMCSD

First Church San Diego is adapting how we respond to the shifting needs of the community.

What is Re-Wilding?

There are constant shifts in how people interact with the world the people around them. But we're not always good at adapting as a church. So we're taking a hard look at what we do to identify the tradition worth preserving versus the structures that exist simply because "we've always done it that wany."

As a community, we're committed to looking beyond the boundaries of our buildings, Sunday mornings, established programs, and familiar structures, and ask: Where is God moving? Who is missing? What needs are emerging? Where are we being called to respond?

This as an ongoing posture rather than a completed initiative, so we remain curious, adaptive, responsive, experimental, and willing to venture beyond what is familiar.

The Impact of Re-wilding

Hear from First Church San Diego about how they found our church, their first impressions, and ultimately what led them to get more involved. All three came and stayed thanks to shifts made through Re-Wilding efforts!

Danica's Story

Jesús' Story

Danielle's Story

How We're Doing Church Differently

Here are some of the ways First UMC of San Diego is Re-Wilding our church.

  • Affordable Housing Initiative: We're exploring the dream of providing affordable housing for our neighbors by converting part of our property through a long-term land lease with a property developer.
  • Community Partnerships: We've cultivated relationships with schools, community organizations, and others that allow us to respond to needs beyond our congregation, and we encourage our church family to serve through these and other organizations in the neighborhoods where they live and work.
  • Digital Discipleship: We’ve created a growing library of on-demand sermons, theological conversations, explainer videos, and other helpful content to support spiritual exploration.
  • Dream School of the Arts: Our community-based program provides free enrichment, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for young people through the arts and other disciplines.
  • Hybrid Groups & Learning Opportunities: We intentionally cultivate community both in person and online, recognizing that people connect, worship, learn, and serve in different ways.
  • Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast: Our pastors engage in weekly conversations covering Scripture, theology, culture, and everyday life, and invite listeners to reflect and continue the conversation.
  • Tapestry: Our contemplative worship experience that integrates Scripture, music, art, media, questions, and reflection for a different way to engage with faith and the Divine.

Learn More About Re-Wilding

September 2026 Re-Wilding Presentation

Learn what Re-Wilding is all about, what prompted the effort, progress we’ve made, and what’s still to come.

MyCom Podcast

Pastors & staff share the Re-Wilding process and results with Ryan Dunn of United Methodist Communications.

The History of Re-Wilding FUMCSD

Coming out of COVID, we took a hard look at our membership, attendance, and giving numbers and recognized that we had been part of the larger ongoing trend of church decline.

As a result, we declared 2023 a year of discernment. As a church community, we gathered in a period of cultural learning and deep assessment to determine what was working, what was missing, and what needed to change. This included the creation of several taskforces that brought forth thoughtful recommendations on ways to realign to meet our greater community’s needs.

Read the Taskforce recommendations

Read TF Recommendations

Watch the Taskforce Presentations

Watch TF Presentations