About Us

About COR

Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church (COR) is the largest A.M.E. Church in Orange County. Presently, over 1750 multi-racial members belong to COR, seeking to shape their behavior in line with their belief in Jesus, Christ as Lord and Savior.

COR has ministries to meet the "felt needs" of its congregation and the community, including: Music and Worship Arts – featuring various choirs: The COR-ale, Sanctuary, Young Adult, Teen Worship Arts, Men's, Children's, and Lady Praze; Word Became Dance Ministry and Dramatic Arts; myriad Bible studies – Bible University, Men's Ministry, Women's, Interactive, Africana, and Singles Bible Studies; Youth and Young Adults Ministries – comprised of Children's Church and New Generation Praise during worship services, Club 18:30 Bible Study, COR Sessions (tutoring), Rite of Passage for males: Sons Of Success and for females Daughters of Destiny, and Imani Phi Christ sorority; Women's Missionary Society; Usher Board, and Multi-Media Ministry.

COR collaborates with Angel Food Ministries to serve as an Orange County distribution site. COR also provides free meeting space for community based organizations, such as the Orange County NAACP, 100 Black Men of Orange County, 100 Black Women of Orange County, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Orange County Alumnae Chapter, and the Oden Commission

On Sunday, February 3, 1991, COR was founded on the University of California, Irvine (UCI) campus by Gwen Oden, 25 other members, and former UCI graduate, Rev. Linda Parker, under the auspices of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fifth Episcopal District.

In 1992, COR moved to a bowling alley in Irvine.
In 1993, COR moved to a hotel in Irvine under the leadership of Rev. Doug Patterson.
In 1994, Rev. Hector Parcel was assigned to COR.
In 1995, COR moved to an elementary school owned by the Church of the Latter Day Saints under the leadership of Rev. Crystalline Weaver.
In 1996, COR moved to a Seven Day Adventist church in Costa Mesa under the leadership of Rev. Edgar Jones.
In 1998, COR moved to Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Irvine under the leadership of Rev. Mark Whitlock.

COR's then worshipping congregation of ten held weekly service at 3:00pm from August 1998 to January 2000. Pastor Mark's wife, Hermia, was the choir. Mark and Devin, the Whitlocks' sons, set up audio equipment every week, and Pastor's mother Evelyn instituted financial controls. Long-time friend, Charleen Adams, provided church administration. Rev. Whitlock taught strategic planning for the sacred through church retreats, governing board meetings, and Biblical preaching. In January 2000, COR's congregation -- Dr. Joyce Boykin; Keith & Mara Murray; Bill & Alisa Covington; Eric & Daisy Barnum; Charleen Adams; Patrice Adams; and Evelyn, Mark III, and Devin Whitlock -- returned to UCI with the assistance of Dr. Thomas Parham, UCI Assistant Vice Chancellor. Inspired by the late Ronald Alexander and designed by Karla Guyer to augment its worship location on the UCI Campus, in 2003 COR leased office space in Irvine to house Bible studies, choir rehearsals, youth programs, board meetings, and administrative offices.

1 Corinthians 3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (NIV)