Church for sale: Who will buy the historic Wilshire Christian in Koreatown?

Outside the Wilshire Christian Church, west of downtown Los Angeles, you may notice big, bright yellow “for sale” signs. The congregation has placed its building on the market. That means that soon, members may have to find another place to worship. During this challenging time, they’re relying on faith. So is the realtor.

After a recent Sunday morning service, 85-year-old member Lewis Holmes joked that he and the church building are the same age. Standing in the 1,300-seat sanctuary, Holmes recalled that when he was a member in the 1950s, the balcony and the pews below would be packed. It's a lot different now, he says.

“The area has changed so much from the past with all the homes disappearing and just apartment houses," said Holmes.

That’s a reason he said attendance has dwindled, especially in the last decade. But people are showing up to talk with congregation president Robin Winternheimer about the church building’s potential sale.

“I’ve actually had people, since that sign’s been put up, that have never stepped foot in this place, tell me how terrible it is and we’re gonna do something," said Winternheimer. "And I’m thinking ‘This is a building we can’t afford, and you want to make me keep it? Come in and join us — that would be a different story... ‘cause we’re a small group of people.’”

Nearly a century ago, the Chapman family — the namesake of Chapman University in Orange County — donated the land for this church. The three-story structure that arose on the northeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Normandie Avenue includes enough offices, meeting spaces and chapels to accommodate more than a thousand people.

But only about 50 members are left — and only half of them usually attend Sunday services. Because it’s such a small group, the remaining members say they feel like a family.

Lorraine Morland of Los Angeles lost her husband to pneumonia last month. She’s thankful that fellow congregants are helping her through the grief. She wonders where they’ll all end up if a sale goes through.

“A building don’t stop nothing when it comes to God. But we do appreciate this place because it’s a part of our lives," Morland said.

South Korean native Ayoung Yang kept an eye on her energetic 1-year-old son Micah as she recalled how she felt when realtors put the church on the market. “When I saw the big, big huge sign, I was crying. It make me sad.”

A similar sorrow has touched many religious institutions, according to Mary Backstrom of Altadena. She helps to run Wilshire Christian along with the interim pastor, who’s also her husband.

“If you look at mainline congregations, this is not different from many of our churches," Backstrom said. "If you interviewed many of our sister congregations — Christian Disciples of Christ — you would find that we have a number who have... their membership, their participation has limped.”

Although its membership still numbers in the thousands, the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove offers a high-profile example of a congregation that couldn’t maintain its landmark building. A bankruptcy judge recently paved the way for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange to buy the financially-strapped complex for $57 million.

“Gee, I’m sorry that they didn’t ask for my help in marketing it for them. I’d love to have been involved in that," said realtor Thomas Morgan with a chuckle.

Church property sales are Morgan’s specialty. His office, the Grubb & Ellis Religious Properties group, put Wilshire Christian Church up for sale in July. In the mid-1920s the property was worth about half a million dollars.

And now?

“Listing price is $10 million. We have received several offers. We have not received a full-price offer," Morgan said.

Morgan hinted that a religious center may make an offer, although it’ll be a difficult deal to hammer out. Congregations usually want to sell their own building first, before they put up the cash for another.

The seven foundation members who own Wilshire Christian Church may have made the realtor’s job a little easier. They didn’t make demands or set limitations after they voted to sell the property.

“This is a time where finding buyers with ready cash is the difficulty," said attorney Rodney Gould, the representative for the church board’s president. “[With] any buyer you want to have proof of funds and to make sure that they could make a down payment or qualify for any kind of financing that they would need.”

And maintaining the place — current members have tried. They say it costs $8,000 to $10,000 a month for utilities, cleaning and repairs. The church’s staff hopes to find other groups, along with the day care center and a few smaller congregations that share the building now, to help handle the space and its maintenance costs.

Realtor Morgan, who said he’s a Christian, is holding out faith that he’ll close a great deal. Church foundation members will have the ultimate say on a potential buyer.

“Obviously it’s their decision on whether they select any, all or none of the above," Morgan said, "but at least it’s our desire to give them kind of a one-stop shop.”

Officials won't divulge who's in the running. They said negotiations are in the initial phase and hope perhaps to make a deal by early next year.

On Sundays, pastor William Backstrom continues to keep the church doors open as he preaches. In last week’s sermon, Backstrom told the congregation how thankful he was to be there.

A few months ago, he had open heart surgery.

“I don’t know," Backstrom said as he walked from the pulpit and closer to the congregation. "At some points through that, I thought you know, maybe it just’ve been better off if I had of died, and not gone through all this misery and struggle... but we are called upon.”

Backstrom was eager to get back to Wilshire Christian Church after his hospital stay. His flock has rallied to his side. These days, he appears to stand strong, just like this tiny congregation.