The University Baptist Church (UBC) of Seattle, located on Northeast 45th Street and 12th Avenue Northeast, announced that it is selling its property and building as soon as possible.

Built as a 13-year process from 1925 to 1938, the historic church has been used by many people for occasions such as weddings, education and worship.

The choice to sell the property depended on many factors, said Rev. Tim Phillips, the church’s pastor since 1996.

“The property was built for another time, another place and for a different culture. We’ve been able to do a lot of good things with the building, but it has become too expensive,” he said.

In 2006, the church held several meetings to discuss the quality of the building and the decision was made to seek alternative property or possibilities.

Selling the property is the quickest and surest way to give the church a strong financial base and will help in deciding how it can use its resources for other work, such as more missions, Phillips said.

“The church has for a long time been involved in peace and has been used as a sanctuary since the 1980s,” he said. “We hope to focus on the issues that face the world and people in the world that are the objects of an unjust system.”

The UBC was the second church in the United States to declare sanctuary for Central Americans during the violence of the 1980s, according to the church’s Web site.

Tom Neilsen of the UBC’s Property Sales and Development Team said the revenue from the sale will be used for obtaining another meeting place for the congregation and other ongoing expenses.

Neilsen said they have been talking with a couple of churches in the area about renting some spaces with them.

The sale will also allow the UBC to have flexibility in choosing a new location, Phillips said, while staying in the area.

“The congregation wants to remain in the vicinity of the University,” he said.

Some organizations, including another church and office developers, have shown interest in the building and surrounding property.

“We are just now finalizing a contract with a realtor,” Phillips said.

[Reach reporter Lia Pittman at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]