Committee recommends landmark designation for Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples

The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors designate the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples at 2041 Larkin Street as a city landmark, moving the proposal to the full Board.

The nomination, sponsored by Board President Aaron Peskin, highlighted both architectural merits and the church’s historical association with theologian and civil‑rights figure Howard Thurman and his wife, Sue Bailey Thurman. Planning Department staff said the Historic Preservation Commission initiated the nomination and adopted a resolution recommending approval.

Planning staff presented a case report that traced the congregation’s history at the site since the 1940s and emphasized Howard Thurman’s national prominence as an intellectual influence on nonviolent civil‑rights strategies. Dorsey Blake, presiding minister of the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, told the committee the designation has been “a dream” for the congregation and thanked staff and supervisors for advancing the effort.

Public commenters who served the congregation or grew up attending the church described its cultural and community role and urged the committee to proceed. The committee took a roll call and recorded unanimous aye votes to send the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for final consideration.

The matter will next appear on the Board agenda; sponsors and staff said they will provide the full Board with the Planning Department’s report and the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation.