"I could go into any coffee shop in Los Angeles and go up to any artsy, crazy guy and feel totally comfortable inviting him to this service," said J.C. Cornwell, 34, a church member who volunteers to produce CUE each week. "It's just a really cool service -- but it's still the truth."
Some traditionalists have embraced the new service as a way to save their beloved church. For others, however, it represents a threat to the faith and a fall from grace.
"I would be very sad if it became demographically oriented or age-oriented, where there would come a day when the sanctuary was abandoned and all worship moved down to the warehouse," said Sparky Jamison, a 20-year member of Hollywood First and a church elder. "I come from a tradition of loving to sing and perform classical music."
The building tension over worship style exploded this spring when members discovered an $856,000 budget shortfall that Meenan had not disclosed. The pastor has not been accused of fraud -- simply poor management.
The Presbytery of the Pacific, a regional governing body for the denomination's churches in Southern California and Hawaii, received more than 100 letters and calls from disgruntled members. They complained about Meenan's dictatorial management style, his disregard for Presbyterian tradition and his decision to put money into overseas missionary trips and youth outreach while criticizing the cost of the traditional services.
On May 3, about 500 parishioners attended a five-hour meeting during which dozens both for and against Meenan addressed the presbytery.
Meenan acknowledged he had not been a perfect pastor but blamed dissension on traditional members who were unwilling to embrace his new direction. He said the church gained 728 members under his eight-year leadership, including 350 at the alternative service and 300 to 500 who attend the weekly Bible study.
"There are those who sense a loss of involvement in their church and target me as a result," said Meenan, who has been a pastor for 32 years. "Change is essential to our future, and change is working for good in Hollywood."
The presbytery voted to seize control of Hollywood First and appointed an administrative commission, which immediately placed Meenan and his executive pastor, David Manock, on indefinite paid leave.
Many members worry that the congregation will not be able to bridge the generational gap even with outside intervention.
"I would like to see our church learn how to embrace these separate styles of worship. How can we do that and merge together and remain merged together as a congregation?" asked Jamison, the church elder.
