By Carla Thomas

On Sunday night, February 19 a 3-alarm fire ripped through the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church, near Telegraph and MacArthur in Oakland.

Flames engulfed the rooftop and much of the interior of the oldest church in Oakland. Firefighters said it was such a challenge to put out the fire from the inside, that they retreated to the exterior while extinguishing the fire for five hours.

FAME Church was established in 1858, serving as a spiritual and cultural center for the African American community in Oakland for over 160 years. The church was a sanctuary of hope and perseverance for many who had faced discrimination, segregation, and racism.

On President’s Day, the following morning, many church members, clergy and community members — still in disbelief — stood outside the charred structure where pieces of debris, and black ash surrounded the front entry and side street of the church.

While the Oakland Fire Department investigators observed the damage to the church, onlookers drove by to view the remains of the building while some parked and chatted with congregation members to offer support.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and is under the investigation of  OFD as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive.

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A homeless neighbor says he witnessed another homeless person light a fire for warmth or drug use, that smoked up the block. An hour later, he said, the church was on fire.

Congregation member Tasion Kwamilele was saddened to see the devastation but felt confident the church would be rebuilt. “I’m still in shock, but our pastor’s sermon yesterday entitled, “Shrink,” meaning decrease so that God can increase gives me hope,” said Kwamilele. “My faith teaches me that God will strengthen us as we rebuild and God will provide us with a place to worship.”

Harold R. Mayberry, presiding elder of the Oakland/San Joaquin District of the AME Church who has served as the senior pastor of FAME for 24 years, said the fire was tragic and impacts the community deeply.

“Not only does it displace the oldest Black congregation in the East Bay from the home that they have worshipped, witnessed and worked from, for over 68 of its 165 years of existence, but it also displaces a portion of the community.”

Mayberry further described the Oakland congregation as resilient and experienced in overcoming previous challenges like those caused by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

“The congregation understands the magnitude of the hurdles that they face, however, they also understand the power of God who has never let them down,” said Mayberry.

For the past 30 years, FAME has been distributed much-needed supplies throughout the neighborhood. With a homeless encampment just a block away, the church has regularly provided food, clothing, and shelter. Oakland District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife plans to help the church continue its meal giveaways.

The denominational district leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Clement Fugh, said he stands in “unity and total support” of Dr. Rodney D. Smith, FAME’s pastor and the historic congregation.

A GoFundMe page with a goal of $1 million has been set up by the FAME treasurer to raise funds to rebuild and support the church. To access the link visit: gofund.me/4f586f89

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