Church Origins
Most of the leadership of the church moved to I.V. in the late
1960s and early 1970s. In a series the UCSB Daily Nexus ran
on the church in 1979, a church leader is quoted as saying that
"Our Lord Jesus Christ told us to come to Isla Vista and
to get involved."
According to the Nexus series, "the church draws its funds
from a 10-percent tithe (and)... the tithe is actually paid
by all members." Also according to John Sommers in the
Nexus series, there were about 150 families in the EOC, a total
of about 375 members who live in Isla Vista and Goleta. However,
during the County hearings on their proposed new building, the
church said it now consists of 64 families, 48 of which live
in Isla Vista, and about 250 total members.
Most EOC families are homeowners, but not all. Many own income
property in I.V. Almost all are involved with the Isla Vista
Association, a middle-class homeowners group that is much aliented
from the majority community.
The philosophy of the church is strongly flavored by the Eastern
Orthodox Church, but with some influences from Luther and other
reformers. "Basically, they are fundamentalists,"
the Nexus series stated.
It is widely held that leadership within the church is male-dominated,
with women having no say in establishing church policy. However,
this could not be confirmed.
It was in the late 1970s that Church members began to run for
community offices. One member is quoted in the Nexus as saying
that, "We feel that the Holy Spirit spoke to several of
us" about getting involved in community politics.
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