One California church building a brewery as the hub for its congregation plans to donate some of its business proceeds to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.
For five years, Greater Purpose Community Church in Santa Cruz met in a traditional church building, but recently decided to sell the property. Instead, the congregation has been meeting at a local food lounge complete with beer taps.
This Is Real: California Church Plans to Build Brewery, Offer Beer During Services
The church’s pastor, Chris VanHall, who admits to preaching a “progressive take on theology,” said congregants’ alcohol consumption during his sermons inspired his idea to blend a church facility with a money-making business.
VanHall’s church purchased a hollowed-out bookstore in downtown Santa Cruz, planning to turn the property into a restaurant and brewery. Church services will also be held there. He said between 30 and 60 percent of the profits will be donated to charity.
‘Jesus was a Palestinian, Jewish rabbi, he was a person of color that was killed by white supremacy’ — This progressive, inclusive church doubles as a brewery to raise funds for Planned Parenthood pic.twitter.com/goC8fNUYLT
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) August 21, 2018
Apparently, one of those “charities” is the local Planned Parenthood chapter.
“We found an awesome spot [for the brewery],” VanHall said in a video shared by NowThis. “Consequently, [it] happened to be right below Planned Parenthood in Santa Cruz, which we adore and support their efforts for giving health care to women.”
In mid-July, he told the Santa Cruz-based Good Times newspaper that giving church money to Planned Parenthood is a “really exciting” prospect to him.
VanHall, it should be noted, ascribes to some fairly liberal theological ideas, noting Jesus was — in his understanding — a Palestinian and Jewish rabbi “killed by white supremacy.” He also said the California congregation is “open and affirming” of the LGBTQ lifestyle, among other things.
The pastor said the restaurant and brewery is scheduled to open sometime in the summer or fall of 2019.