APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
___________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBERS ZAC UNGER & ROWENA BROWN
RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMME MORATING THE
CEREMONIAL ANNIVERS ARY OF MEMORIAL TABERNACLE
CHURCH AND HO NORING ITS FOUNDERS, LEADERS, AND
GENERATIONS OF SERVICE TO OAKLAND DISTRICT 1 AND THE
CITY OF OAKLND AT LARGE
WHEREAS, September 21, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of Memorial Tabernacle Church, a faith institution whose leadership and membership have demonstrated steadfast commitment to the North Oakland community and its environs; and WHEREAS, in 1925, Bishop Judge King and his wife, Mother Sarah King, established a mission church in Oakland after moving from San Francisco, beginning in a two -story house on Seventh Street in West Oakland; and
WHEREAS, under their ministry, the church grew and relocated to 1711–7th Street in the 1930s, where it remained until 1960 when the congregation was forced to move due to eminent domain by the U.S. Postal Service; and
WHEREAS, for 100 years, Memorial Tabernacle Church has remained rooted in Oakland, serving as a leading pillar of the classical Pentecostal church tradition; and WHEREAS, the church’s evolution reflects its commitment to faith, service, and community leadership, from its beginnings as Seventh Street Mission (1925), later Christ Holy Sanctified Church, Oakland, to its formal name Memorial Tabernacle Church (MTC) in 1985; and WHEREAS, Bishop Ulysses S. King, Sr., together with Mother Tryphosa King, advanced the church nationally and internationally, serving as spiritual leaders, administrators, organizers, and preachers and musicians; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Bishop Ulysses Stephen King, Jr., Memorial Tabernacle Church has grown into an influential center of community engagement and service in Oakland, within its denomination, and in the broader faith community, recognized for its compassion and responsiveness to the needs of residents while guiding seven generations of members in partnership with the church’s ministerial leadership; and as he builds upon the foundation established by his grandparents and father in 1925, Bishop Ulysses continues to provide thoughtful leadership, vision, and planning; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ulysses and Lady Tiffany Grant King stand firm in their commitment to community, and the call for MTC to be a beacon of light and hope for all; thus the Oakland community has benefitted from the community outreach this church has exerted through the years, and the many facets of its outreach and practical assistance to those in need; and WHEREAS, Memorial Tabernacle Church has continuously demonstrated its deep commitment to the well-being and empowerment of the Oakland community by leading programs such as the YGG recycling initiative to promote environmental stewardship; organizing outreach efforts to serve the unhoused with food, clothing, and essential supplies; partnering with local education administrators to uplift and inspire youth ; hosting vibrant street fairs and summits to promote health & wellness, entrepreneurship, community collaboration while celebrating local businesses and organizations; supporting anti-human trafficking efforts through partnerships with “Love Never Fails” and similar organizations; providing critical civic education by hosting voter information forums; and cultivating a comm unity garden, Garden of Joy, that promotes food preservation and mental wellness; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That the City of Oakland honors Memorial Tabernacle Church’s 100 th anniversary; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City of Oakland recognizes and honors the 100th anniversary of Memorial Tabernacle Church on September 21, 2025; congratulates the church for its century of faith, leadership, and service; commends its leaders and members for their continued dedication to Oakland.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
3436988 / BXS