First United Lutheran Church

First United Lutheran Church
San Francisco, CA
Sanctuary of First United Lutheran Church 1890-1944
Reflective. Open. Passionate. Daring. Playful. Engaged.
37°46′44″N 122°26′36″W / 37.7789°N 122.4434°W / 37.7789; -122.4434
Location2097 Turk Street (at Lyon)
San Francisco, California
DenominationEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
Websitewww.FULC.com
Clergy
Pastor(s)Rev. Anders Peterson

First United Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located in San Francisco, California. Formed in 1886 as the Women's Memorial Church, it was the first Lutheran congregation in California to use English as its primary language for worship. In 1990, First United was suspended, and later expelled from the ELCA for ordaining an openly gay pastor, against the wishes of the denomination. The ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to approve openly gay clergy in 2009, and in 2012, First United rejoined the denomination. Presently a "church without walls," First United meets in St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, located at 2097 Turk Street, near the main campus of the University of San Francisco.