Walker Church: a gathering place for worship, community and social justice

Walker Community United Methodist Church was built in 1909 in south Minneapolis at 31st Street and 16th Avenue South. Named after Thomas Barlow Walker, a lumber baron who helped finance its construction, the church is synonymous with community and acceptance. In 1967, Pastor Bryan Peterson took over the parish and served for 22 years—transforming Walker Church into a gathering place for grassroots work, social justice, activism, art and new worship forms. Accepting diverse communities, the church became a center of activity that attracted countless political and arts groups. After Pastor Peterson died, Walker Church went though several leaders until 2006, when Pastor Walter Lockhart arrived. Today Pastor Lockhart continues to guide the church with love and creativity in its religious and community based initiatives. On May 27, 2012, a fire destroyed Walker Church—devastating the community that mourned the loss of the building’s rich history. Today Walker Church members continue to meet and worship, and are planning to build a new structure. Produced by Dixie Treichel.