Voice for the poor, rejected retires

In a neighborhood marked by crime and poverty, an old brick church has become a refuge.

Literally, and figuratively, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is a sanctuary – for the poor and mentally ill, for gays and lesbians, for people who have suffered rejection and many others who had nowhere else to turn.

Over the years, the church at 1620 N. Monroe has served as a home for the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant, a meal delivery program for AIDS patients and a clothing bank for foster children. It has provided rehearsal room for musical groups and office space for nonprofits, most recently the Interfaith Council.

One of the driving forces behind St. Paul’s continued commitment to social justice has been its pastor, the Rev. Homer Todd.

“It’s about seeing Jesus in the face of the poor,” he said, referring to the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my children, you did it to me.”

Todd, 65, is retiring this week after 12 years at St. Paul’s and more than four decades in ministry. Many in this congregation of about 100 people are sad to see him go, but expressed their gratitude for the legacy he leaves behind.

Throughout his years at St. Paul’s, Todd never shied away from controversy. Instead, he encouraged his parishioners to always be open and welcoming, to show hospitality, especially to people who have experienced the pain of exclusion.

Three years ago, St. Paul’s was one of only a handful of churches in Spokane to sponsor the Shower of Stoles, a traveling exhibit that described the sorrow of 150 gay Christian pastors, many of whom were defrocked by their denominations.

The church has also been the place where people over the years have observed the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade with programs that included music and prayer. Todd, who supports abortion rights, is among several clergy members in the area who belong to the interfaith support group at Planned Parenthood.

Members of St. Paul’s have also encouraged their pastor to get involved in the community by serving on numerous boards, including the Spokane Community Housing Association and the Spokane Area Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition.

“Homer is a very, very caring man,” said Eloise Phelps, who first attended St. Paul’s in 1929. “He has been very involved in the needs of the West Central neighborhood. He does so much to help people with their problems.”

Besides his community involvement, Todd has also provided emotional support and spiritual guidance, church members say.

“I’ve tried to give them my understanding of the Scripture and of God’s love for all of us,” Todd said. “They’ve taught me what it means to love and to be loved.”

Born in Portland, Todd was only a year old when he lost his dad, a Navy seaman who died during World War II. His stepfather was a lay pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), so church was always an important part of his family life. When he was only 10 years old, Todd knew he would be a church pastor someday.

A graduate of Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore., Todd was ordained in the Christian Church in 1962. Seven years later, he graduated from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He didn’t become a Methodist until 1976, when he was almost 40 years old. He was drawn to the United Methodist Church for its polity. Everyone in the congregation – not just the pastor – is held accountable for ministry, he said.

Until Todd came to St. Paul’s, he had never worked in an inner-city church. His experience had been in rural settings, with congregations that include those in Nespelem, Grand Coulee and Port Hadlock on Puget Sound.

St. Paul’s has seen some drastic changes since the church was built in 1913. There was once a time that this church, like many others in Spokane, had a congregation of well over 1,000 people.

Phelps was 7 years old when she first went to St. Paul’s, after two classmates invited her to come in 1929. Back then, the West Central neighborhood was a middle-class residential area, recalled the 82-year-old.

Over the years, the large houses were split up into apartments and a more transient population moved in. Businesses started opening along Monroe Street. As the neighborhood changed, so, too, did the church’s mission. “We just try to reach out and help wherever we can,” said Phelps. “We aren’t affluent, but we want to serve.”

The congregation’s tradition of service was a perfect match for Todd, who has always been known for his outreach to the poor. Members of St. Paul’s immediately welcomed his sense of humor, his optimism, his passion for justice. They also love listening to him sing, especially during the services. When the church organist passed away earlier this year, Todd not only preached the sermon on Sundays; he also started playing acoustic guitar and leading the hymns.

St. Paul’s pastor has been denounced several times by more conservative voices in the Letters to the Editor page of the newspaper. Todd acknowledged that his work with Planned Parenthood also has put a potential “bull’s eye” on the side of the church. But despite occasional public criticism, his congregation continues to support him. These members, after all, are activists themselves, the kind who have “Peace Now” and “Stop the War on the Poor” bumper stickers on their cars parked outside the church.

“He’s very liberal,” said Virginia Riedinger, a St. Paul’s member for about six years. “He’s not judgmental. He tries to make everyone feel welcome, wanted and loved.”

Todd’s wife, the Rev. Phyllis Todd, is also retiring, as pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hillyard. They want to spend more time with their five children and 11 grandkids, who all live in Washington state. Phyllis Todd first retired two years ago, but was called to work at the church part time.

This time, however, “we’re both pulling the plug,” said Homer Todd. “It’s a 42 1/2 -year-old habit we’re breaking. … It’s been a great run, a really terrific way to spend one’s life.”