Minister Once Defrocked For Marrying Gay Couples Joins Lake Street Church

Stephen Van Kuiken has taken over as senior minister at Lake Street Church. His long commitment to marriage equality, among other social issues, is part of what made him a good match for the liberal congregation.

Lake Street Church’s new senior minister, Stephen Van Kuiken, was once charged with heresy and defrocked by the Presbyterian Church for officiating same-sex marriages.  That unwavering commitment to marriage equality is one reason why the liberal congregation brought him to Evanston.  “I came here because of their vision, their perspective, which is very inclusive,” says Van Kuiken says. “I kind of say, this is a church for heretics.”  Earlier: Longtime Pastor of Lake Street Church Retires The Michigan native gave his first sermon on Jan. 27, not long after moving to Evanston from Tucson, AZ. He joins the congregation after a multi-year search process following the retirement of Rev. Robert Thompson, who headed Lake Street Church for 30 …

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Jennifer Fisher

12:35 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013

Paul, we have removed the word "NONDENOMINATIONAL" from the story. Thank you for clarifying.   more ›

Social Justice Pioneer To Head Lake Street Church

Reverend A. Stephen Van Kuiken joins Lake Street Church as its senior minister after a multi-year search. As an advocate of same-sex marriage, he was formally accused of heresy by the Presbyterian Church.

Meet Reverend Sharp of Lake Street Church

Evanston Patch is talking to local religious leaders throughout June. Our first conversation is with Lake Street Church interim minister Douglas Sharp. "No matter what people think about Baptist churches, we don’t look like one," he says.

During the month of June, Patch will be chatting with religious leaders throughout Evanston. This week, we caught up with Reverend Dr. Douglas Sharp, interim minister at Lake Street Church of Evanston. The former professor of theology came out of semi-retirement a year ago to oversee the 400-member congregation, which is midway through its search for a permanent minister. The process typically takes 18 months to three years, according Sharp, and the church is “closer to completion than to the beginning.” Patch: Can you tell me a little bit about the history of Lake Street Church? Sharp: The congregation was founded in 1856…The current building we inhabit is the oldest public building in the city of Evanston. Nov. 21, 1875 was the day this …

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