Black Congregation Buys The Forum In California Making Structure One Of The Largest Churches In U.S

Jet, April 16, 2001

When Faithful Central Bible Church of Inglewood, CA, recently bought the Great Western Forum, L.A. Arena Co., former home of NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers, it tread new ground for faith-based organizations.

Already one of California's largest churches, in acquiring the Forum--a deal valued at $22.5 million--the 17,500-seat, 29-acre arena becomes one of the largest houses of worship in the country.

The church, functioning as a for-profit organization during the week, will continue to book sporting and entertainment events for the venue. The purchase makes the former sporting facility the only Black-owned venue of its kind and the first- owned entertainment venue by a faith-based organization.

The church, whose membership is predominately Black, hopes to build a hotel and conference center at the Forum and market the complex as a center for religious revival meetings, Christian-oriented conventions and crusades. Regular activities of the Great Western Forum will include Faithful Central's full worship service on Sundays.

Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer was called to pastor the church in 1982. From that time, through spiritual messages and implementing sound business management principles, the congregation has grown from 200 to more than 10,000 in its membership and ministries. Ulmer says he was prompted to bid on the Forum because it provided an opportunity for all tenants to worship under one roof.

"We needed the space," Ulmer told JET. "We needed a place that would allow us to come together as one. The only place in town was the forum. So we rented it for one day." During the services, Ulmer says he offhandedly joked to the congregation, "This feels good. I could get used to this." Ulmer, 53, who in 1969 received his Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Broadcasting/Music from the University of Illinois, was ordained to ministry in 1977. In 1986, he received the Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Grace Graduate School of Theology in Long Beach, CA. In 1999 he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary. He is a devoted husband and father who has been married for 24 years to his wife Togetta and has two daughters, RoShaun and Keniya, a son, Kendan, and son-in-law Reverend Jodie Moore.

Concerning the need for more worshipping space, Ulmer said it started with an issue of meeting the church members' needs: "It was some time afterwards we learned that the building was up for sale. The person who was to buy it was going to tear it down, but had difficulties with the city getting the project through, so it was on hold." Ulmer said it was the combination of faith, patience, money and city politics that allowed for the purchase of the building.

"Naysayers were having a field day ... They didn't think we could do it; the banks didn't think so and the community didn't think so," Ulmer said of fellow pastors, bankers and politicians who told him that his church would never be able to possess the famed structure. "One day we marched around the Forum seven times, just like they did the walls of Jericho. People called us fools. They thought (we were) crazy!" exclaimed Ulmer.

The church has set an example of self-sufficiency and ownership for its membership and its surrounding community that will contribute to the development of sustainable projects in the city of Inglewood via enhanced revenue and employment.

The immediate plan for the Forum is as a family entertainment venue that houses ice-skating productions and musical concerts, as well as faith-based conventions, according to Ulmer who says, "We want to touch people's lives ... minister to the whole person. This project moves the church into the fabric of our community, providing a place of worship, employment, business development and gathering for family and communal purposes."