Anchor Gaslamp
Encyclopedia
The Anchor Gaslamp is a Christian
community in downtown San Diego, California
. It is missional
in intent and incarnational in practice. Since the first gathering on Easter
Sunday in 2008 the group has attracted a diverse congregation.
located on the corner of 5th & F St.). On the other Sundays, the Community joins together for Anchor in Action which are mission-driven events all over the city, with the sole purpose of "not just going to church, but being the church." These Sundays have ranged in activities from homeless barbecue
s to delivering truckloads of donated goods to orphanages and women's recovery homes in Baja California
.
The larger community is made up of other smaller communities that meet throughout the week. All other meetings, services, or mission-events are derived out of these communities, which meet in various locations throughout the city.
group under the direction of Pastors Karlton Edison and Vince Larson in 2007. During this time the group met in the Downtown San Diego area, in locations which varied from restaurants to hotels to coffee houses until its first Sunday Gathering in a nightclub
on Easter Sunday, 2008.
Anchor Gaslamp is a nondenominational church, whose doctrinal view is in alignment with the Nicene Creed
.
For the sake of accountability and authenticity, Anchor Gaslamp adapted a Biblically-based eldership
model. The two founding pastors are Karlton Edison and Vince Larson, both Pentecostal ministers in their 20s.
Karlton Edison, a native San Diegan, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Christian Life College in 2004. Since then he has attended Bethel Theological Seminary (The San Diego-based campus of Bethel University
), working toward a Master’s Degree in Theology. After receiving his ministerial license in January, 2007, Edison joined the United States Air Force
as a lieutenant, and plans to become a licensed chaplain as soon as his Master’s Program is completed.
Vince and Nancy Larson have been married for seven years and have served as Administrative Pastor and assistant for three years at a large church in town. After founding Anchor Gaslamp, Vince Larson began teaching high school
at a local private school as a day job. Vince received his ministerial license in January 2007, and is enrolled at a local college where he is working towards a double major in Psychology and Communications. Larson was described by the San Diego Reader
as "looking every inch the hipster".
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community in downtown San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is missional
Missional living
"Missional living" is a Christian term that describes a missionary lifestyle; adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message. The missional church movement is a church renewal movement predicated on the necessity of...
in intent and incarnational in practice. Since the first gathering on Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
Sunday in 2008 the group has attracted a diverse congregation.
Gatherings
Anchor Gaslamp meets on the first three Sundays of the month in the heart of downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. The gatherings are held upstairs in The Keating HotelThe Keating Hotel
The Keating Building is located at 432 F Street, in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, at the corner of 5th Avenue and F Street, San Diego, California. This building is listed as a historic building number 31 on the Gaslamp Quarter Historic Buildings registry....
located on the corner of 5th & F St.). On the other Sundays, the Community joins together for Anchor in Action which are mission-driven events all over the city, with the sole purpose of "not just going to church, but being the church." These Sundays have ranged in activities from homeless barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
s to delivering truckloads of donated goods to orphanages and women's recovery homes in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
.
The larger community is made up of other smaller communities that meet throughout the week. All other meetings, services, or mission-events are derived out of these communities, which meet in various locations throughout the city.
History
The Church began as a church planting project of The Anchor Church, formerly Revival Tabernacle, located in the Oak Park area of San Diego. It was initially established as a Bible studyBible study (Christian)
In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
group under the direction of Pastors Karlton Edison and Vince Larson in 2007. During this time the group met in the Downtown San Diego area, in locations which varied from restaurants to hotels to coffee houses until its first Sunday Gathering in a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
on Easter Sunday, 2008.
Anchor Gaslamp is a nondenominational church, whose doctrinal view is in alignment with the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
.
Leadership
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
model. The two founding pastors are Karlton Edison and Vince Larson, both Pentecostal ministers in their 20s.
Karlton Edison, a native San Diegan, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Christian Life College in 2004. Since then he has attended Bethel Theological Seminary (The San Diego-based campus of Bethel University
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
), working toward a Master’s Degree in Theology. After receiving his ministerial license in January, 2007, Edison joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as a lieutenant, and plans to become a licensed chaplain as soon as his Master’s Program is completed.
Vince and Nancy Larson have been married for seven years and have served as Administrative Pastor and assistant for three years at a large church in town. After founding Anchor Gaslamp, Vince Larson began teaching high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at a local private school as a day job. Vince received his ministerial license in January 2007, and is enrolled at a local college where he is working towards a double major in Psychology and Communications. Larson was described by the San Diego Reader
San Diego Reader
The San Diego Reader is the largest alternative press paper in the county of San Diego, distributed free in stands and private businesses throughout the county, funded by advertisements...
as "looking every inch the hipster".