St. John UCC unanimously voted to become an Open and Affirming congregation at our Fall Congregational Meeting on November 16, 2025.
On Thursday, January 15, 2026, St. John UCC was welcomed as an ONA church in the Wisconsin Conference!
As ONA church #1,948, St John UCC is now part of the largest and fastest-growing LGBTQ-affirming church movement in the world! Thank you to all who put in the hard work that led to this milestone in our church history. A special thank you to our committee members: Gary Holz, Colleen Holz, Karen Kuhn, Lucretian Ferhmann, Carol Maynard, Jeanette Johnson, Chris Bushman and Julieann Bushman.
The church’s ONA Covenant reads:
Since 1894 St John UCC has served the community through worship services, fellowship activities, volunteer service and church ministries. Sharing joys and challenges together over the years has nurtured a caring church body, committed to living God’s unconditional love. We believe that Jesus’ examples and teachings encourage us to listen to each other across our differences and build understanding. As a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition, our church values and celebrates diversity. We strive to provide an extravagant welcome to people of all ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, as well as; all physical, cognitive or emotional abilities, and education. Every aspect of our church–worship, communion, programs and fellowship– are accessible to all. As all of us are growing and learning in our varying spiritual paths, we encourage questions and conversation about finding God in scriptures and in our everyday lives. Our commitment to prayer for members and their extended family and friends affirms and strengthens them through difficult times. Following the way of Christ, we engage in compassionate service through both collection projects at church and volunteering at organizations in the community.
