University Lutheran Chapel
Community SubscriberChristian worship services that welcome families and children
University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley is a community of faith at work in the world, actively engaged in social justice ministry. We are committed to being an inclusive and hospitable Christian community with Word and Sacrament at the center of our life together.
Wee Worship (first Sundays of the month) - 9:30 AM to 10 AM
This is a fun worship service for families with young children. This service is filled with storytelling and singing, a perfect chance for children to be themselves and celebrate.
Godly Play (during the service the rest of the month) - after children's time
This is a Montessori based time for storytelling and crafts during the regular service.
During the summer months, these programs are on break.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
January 2002
Re: ELCA Lutheran Church
We are off-and-on members of University Lutheran Chapel (at Haste and College), and you ccouldn't find a more liberal church or congregation that is still Lutheran. The pastor is gay, the language of the liturgy is inclusive, there has been a big focus on social justice issues, particularly in the past (the pastor who retired a few years ago, Gus Schultz, was awarded the first Berkeley Peace Prize for work either in El Salvador or North Korea, or both, I forget). There are many young children there now, and Sunday school for 3 - 6 year-olds is just getting going again post-Christmas. There is childcare for infants and young toddlers offered in a newly remodeled nursery below the sanctuary. Feel free to contact me personally if you want to know more about the history of this church, approach to worship, etc. Pamela
If you want a little closer to home, try University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, corner of College and Haste. Jeff Johnson is pastor there. He, too, is gay, and was ordained illegally and is not recognized by the ELCA. Campus community is diverse. I don't know about active children's program. Tell Jeff I say HI.
B Avalon
Lutheran churches: You might want to know that it is unclear how long University Lutheran will be ELCA affiliated, if that is really important to you. Their senior pastor retired not long ago and the congregation called a wonderful pastor who happens to be an out gay man, and as you probably know, ELCA is not exactly progressive. So University Lutheran will likely be cast out. (Personally, I can live without the cheesy magazines they send to the house, but it does affect the congregation financially, because things like group health insurance for the staff disappear.) Ann
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