We start each worship service by reciting aloud our Welcome Statement. In doing so, we reaffirm God’s command to Love All People.
Holy Covenant is a Reconciling Congregation — whatever your race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic situation, background or belief, age or ability, whether single or partnered, you are God’s beloved and are welcome here!
Holy Covenant UMC has a long history of welcoming, celebrating, and being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We are honored and proud to be a Reconciling Congregation.
Since the early 1980s, we have been celebrating same-gender marriage, back when it was called a ‘civil union.’ During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we presided at funerals and ministered alongside partners & families at time when most churches would not. We became one of the first Reconciling Congregations in 1990 and we were actively involved in the Marriage Equality movement. Today, we continue to advocate for the full-inclusion & participation of LGBTQIA+ folks at every level of the Church.
We acknowledge that our ministry to treat all equally is in conflict with the United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline. We are also clear about our mission as followers of Jesus Christ to Seek God, Love All People, & Change the World. We affirm our commitment to the United Methodist Church and we continue to work within the denomination to change the Church’s position on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQIA+ people. We continue to affirm that God’s love and grace are available to all.
Holy Covenant's pastoral and administrative staff are committed to supporting the vision and purpose of our church and the ministries of those with whom the church shares covenant, individually and collectively.
Rev. Jennifer Stephens
PASTOR
Jennifer received her Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School. She entered ministry in 2016 in the Central Texas Conference, where she received the Harry Deeman Evangelism award. She felt called to leave Texas and move to Chicago after graduation so she could be free to be her fully true queer-self in life and in ministry. Jennifer began ministry in Chicago as the church-planting resident for Urban Village Church in 2019 and then in 2020 explored the possibilities of an Urban Village site in Cincinnati. She returned this past summer and rejoined UVC in Chicago as the Interim Digital Pastor.
Jennifer views ministry through the lens of Queer, Liberation, and Disability theologies and believes her calling is to holy imagine ways to remove barriers that keep people from knowing the love of God. to share that all are loved, seen, known, and valued by God for who they are right now. She considers herself to be a mystic in training, by practicing contemplative prayer and developing a prayerful attentiveness to God’s presence and movement in her life and to bring about centering of mind, body, and spirit. She values diversity, inclusiveness, and affirming safe and brave spaces for the lgbtqia2s+ community. Jennifer is committed to creating antiracist institutions and to social justice activism and advocacy for human rights. Her commitment to restorative justice and removing permeant punishments in the state of Illinois comes from a place of lived experience of incarceration. Part of this work includes co-leading a monthly Peace Circle for individuals impacted by the justice system, serving on the governing board of the Fully Free Campaign, and on the Civics Coalition board for Chicago Votes. She also served as the Faith & Religion Chair for HRC (Human Rights Campaign.) While in Texas Jennifer served with Justice for Our Neighbors, Races, and Dreamers providing spiritual care and support for immigrant communities.
Prior to pastoral ministry, Jennifer worked as the Assistant Director to a Day Resource Center for individuals experiencing homelessness and individuals struggling financially to provide for themselves and/or their families. She over saw the mission’s programs that include emergency food, food pantry, clothing, infant formula, financial assistance, and case management services. As well as services for those experiencing homelessness: sack lunches, a clothing bank, medical clinic, laundry services, and the Start-Up Kit program for those who are moving into supportive or transitional housing programs. She oversaw the church’s overnight emergency shelter during the hottest months of the summer and the coldest months of the winter.
Jennifer is also a certified personal trainer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Sport Science; she loves to exercise, run along Lake Michigan, and learn new moves for my pole dance workouts. She loves the outdoors, to listen and watch waves from the sea and listen and watch the birds while on the trails. She has two adult daughters - Stephanie and Sarah and two grand-dogs, Shotzy - the German Shepherd and Kora - the Husky. She added a new member to her family this past November, a 5-month-old Lab mix named Joy (And she is a lot of JOY)!
A life-long Chicagoan, Andrew was born three blocks away from Holy Covenant, and as a child even attended Sunday school here. He has been the music minister since 1997 and served as ensemble leader for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston from 2004-2015. Through his leading, singing and playing, Andrew helps the congregation and choir praise God through music. When not at the church, Andrew works as a professional musician playing parties and events.
Kristen manages the everyday business of Holy Covenant including social media, finance, and answering all of your emails. As a creative problem-solver, joyful collaborator, and prolific knitter and crocheter, she considers herself an untangler of knots and tier of loose ends both personally and professionally. Kristen is devoted to matters of social justice and loves crafts of all types, music, plants, hanging out with her daughter, and drinking iced coffee year-round.
Rachel is a custodian for Berry UMC and Holy Covenant UMC. She also works for Chicago Public Schools as a recreational recess coach and volunteers for a little league organization helping manage parent and players teams and game schedules.
HOLY COVENANT UMC
Our History
On January 30, 1894, a widow—Helena Bergman—sold her plot of land for $5,000 to build the Diversey Parkway Evangelical Church. The cornerstone was laid on March 4, 1894, and the new building was dedicated on July 22, 1894.
Beyond our beautiful building, Holy Covenant UMC believes that the faith of a Christian community should express itself in the world. Since the very beginning, social justice has been vital to the expression of our faith and how we strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Our church has always been a small but mighty congregation that responds effectively to the social injustices of the day:
Year: 1973, restored by Weber & Bernard Williams 1996
Once called the “most hopeful mural in the city of Chicago”, the mural on the west side of our church building does not shy away from showing the world’s evils.
This was an early Chicago Mural Group work and the mural’s three sections represent the flow of our worship service:
Confession depicts police brutality, killing, and repression.
The Word shows the promise of a new world, where all people—men and women, young and old, gay and straight, all racial groups—will live in light, peace, and harmony.
Offering urges us to dedicate our lives to bringing about a new world of justice through our daily work.
