who we are
- We strive to glorify God through our worship and praise, with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper central to each Sunday service.
- We find unity through our faith in Jesus Christ—and have no other doctrinal tests for fellowship.
- We the members of First Christian Church of Torrance believe that a church is a place where all people are valued. We are called to welcome others as we have been welcomed by God. We commit ourselves to be an open and affirming congregation and embrace all who seek to follow Jesus regardless of age, ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or national origin.
- We welcome a diversity of views, personalities, and life-experiences, knowing that the whole body is stronger when its parts work together to build one another up.
- Some of us interpret the Bible literally, many do not—but we all seek to take the Bible seriously as a guide for Christian living and church mission.
- We baptize with the powerful symbol of full immersion, but we also readily recognize the baptisms, by whatever means, of those who transfer from other traditions.
- Though we are happily joined to a larger body called the Disciples of Christ, each local congregation makes its own governing and financial decisions.
- We look beyond our own walls and seek to minister to the needs of the world God loves, both locally and globally.
WATCH OUR LIVESTREAM
Livestreams at 9:30 am on Sunday Mornings
Staff & Leadership
Ryan Thrasher
Rev. Ryan Thrasher has served congregations in Texas, Missouri (as a Lilly Clergy Resident), North Carolina, and Washington D.C. before being called to serve First Christian Church of Torrance as their Senior Pastor. As an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Ryan deeply enjoys preaching, teaching, and the continual practice of building relationships in the church and in the community. However, more broadly, Ryan sees his larger call as one of exploring and embodying the deep connections between worship, the arts, and God’s call for wholeness, justice and reconciliation. Before earning his Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School-TCU, Ryan worked as a professional musician and teacher, earning degrees in music from Michigan State University and the School of Music at Yale University and performing as a bassist in orchestras in Texas, Michigan, and Connecticut. Ryan shares his life with his spouse, the Reverend Monica Banks, and with Jojo, the cutest English bulldog in the world!
Andi Capoziello
Andi is a long-time resident of the South Bay, mother to a son (26) and two daughters (24 & 20) and is the proprietor of her own concierge gift service, Allow Me…
Andi treasures her family and her tight-knit circle of supportive, long-term friends. Having had a career for many years in the entertainment industry (she associate produced a John Hughes film in the early 90’s), she enjoys binge watching quality television, watching films and lives for her Sunday morning New York Times crossword puzzle with a cup of coffee.
20Jill Teruya
Jill is a psychology major at El Camino College.
During the week Jill works at TUSD elementary and middle schools at the After School Club run by the city of Torrance. Over the summer Jill volunteers at our Regional camp Loch Leven.
Jill has been an active part of FCC Torrance for the past 15 years. Taking the role of Nursery Attendant because Jill wishes to help make going to service more accessible and stress free.