WE ARE A
COMMUNITY
BUILT ON THE GOSPEL

 
 

WE ARE CHANGED - Above all things, we are in process. As God works in the life of our church, who we are is ever-changing. But so far we are changed. We all have different stories, but we all share one thing in common:  we are being transformed by Jesus. 

WE ARE FAMILY - We share generously. We serve one another sacrificially. We pursue one another. We work together. 

WE ARE SENT - When Jesus called His disciples, He promised one thing:   If they followed Him, He would make them "Fishers of Men." He did just that. He took ordinary people, transformed them into conduits of His love and grace, and sent them out. As He sent them, He sends us: to care for the poor, to love the community around us, and to proclaim the life-changing message that Jesus' death and resurrection changed everything. So we go.

 
 

OUR STORY

OCEC has a history of worship and service in Oregon City dating back to 1885 when Josiah Bowersox held the first meeting in the home of John Deireinger. Since beginning in a house, the church is now in its third location and is home to two services each Sunday morning with classes for all ages. While OCEC started as a church for German immigrants, we now speak the language of many generations who are seeking to find and build a relationship with God.  We are proud of our legacy and history but we know that the future of the church lies not in what we've done but what we do next. We know the church is not just a building (we've met in many different buildings over the years) it's not just one pastor (we've seen pastors be raised up here, serve here and even retire here to other ministry beyond OCEC) and it's not just one group of people (we've seen generation after generation serve as a core of our church body).  We've even planted a church right here in Oregon City because God has called us to do more than could be done with just one church. 

Because we love our city we serve our city. We have helped at homes, schools, city facilities and care centers. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, we provide food boxes and gifts for needy families. We are blessed to provide food for 30+ children at Gardiner Middle School weekly through the Back Pack Buddies program.  Even if you don't know where you stand with God, the Bible or the Church we want your help as we seek to make an impact in our city.

OUR AFFILIATION

We are a part of the Evangelical Church.  In 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodists to form the United Methodists, many of the Evangelical United Brethren Churches in the Northwest, Montana, and North Dakota withdrew from the merger.  Interestingly, the actual decision to form our own denomination happened right here at OCEC with a gathering of leaders and pastors. 

These churches subsequently formed a fellowship which now numbers over 120 churches across America and Canada. They share a common theological heritage in the Wesleyan-Arminian movement. The Evangelical Church has always been mission-minded, with board relationships with OMS International, World Gospel Mission, and Wycliffe; and just recently their own Evangelical Mission Board with work in Bolivia, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Liberia and among the Navajo.