building was found in violation of several fire codes by the Denver Fire Department in July 2010, and SOTEC was forced to decamp, and hold services and other activities at His Love Fellowship Church, two blocks away. On December 18, 2011, the congregation was able to return to their building. , the Denver church was led by pastor Mike Sares. Seattle sister church A sister church, Scum of the Earth Church Seattle, is located in Seattle, Washington. As told by Zach McCauley to Hayat Norimine of The Daily in 2012, John Swanger, a member of the Denver church, moved to Seattle in 2003 "when he felt he had been called to the Northwest by God." After an experience with another Christian church, where he describes himself as having been "kicked out because he wore earrings," he founded the "Seattle Scum church." As described by McCauley, to whom Swanger "passed the torch" of church leadership at the Seattle church, six years later (and as of 2012 is the current pastor), Elsewhere, the church is reported as having been co-founded by Denver pastor Mike Sares and Reese Roper. The Swangers have subsequently moved back to Denver. Teaching and programs A variety of past and ongoing programs characterise SOTEC's approach to local church function in the context of the groups that it aims to serve. In 2006, Mike Sares described the methods of communicating the church's spoken message to include bible study groups and podcasts (e.g., which include a wide selection at iTunes); its artistic expressions to include exhibitions of congregant poetry and art, classes on creative writing, and a photographic gallery of its activities; and various other activities including a comic book club, and cooking and sewing classes. The church has had a wide variety of visiting teachers over the years, the list of whom includes: Jay Bakker, of Revolution Church; Randy Stonehill, a Christian music recording artist; Trevor Bron, former pastor of The Next Level (TNL) church; Craig Blomberg, a Denver Seminary professor; Douglas Groothuis, a Denver Seminary professor; Bob Beltz, of Walden Media; and Margaret Feinberg, and author and speaker. Notable congregants A number of individuals attending the Denver congregation have been newsmakers in their respective fields. Band members of Five Iron Frenzy, a band described both as "punk" and "Christian" has a long association with SOTEC, with Reese Roper being mentioned as a co-founder of the Denver location, and