We're a Campus Ministry Congregation of the ELCA.
We gather weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm, plus Sunday mornings at 10 am.
Affectionately called the Gay Jesus Group, University Lutheran Campus Ministry is unique because we're the only LGBTQ+ affirming Christian campus ministry serving Stanford University. Students from Palo Alto University, Menlo College, Foothill College, De Anza College, and Cañada College are also warmly welcome.
We come from many backgrounds. Some of us are Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical, UCC, or UU. Some come from other traditions, or none at all. What matters here isn’t where you come from, but whether you want to be part of a thoughtful, caring community.
This is a place where you can show up as yourself. We care more about people than performance, and more about care than achievement. Together we build friendships, share meals, and make space for the kinds of conversations you don’t often get to have elsewhere. Things like:
•Death and dying
• How queerness and Christianity totally go together
• What salvation might even mean (and whether it’s really a thing)
• Whether you hear God in your life…or don’t
• The complicated moments of discernment and direction that shape life
All of it approached with honesty, depth, thoughtful conversation, and often a good deal of laughter. Students have always helped shape the life of this community. At times, university-affiliated group participants seeking leadership experience have served on church council, and our campus and buildings are available as a gathering place for student life.
We come from many backgrounds. Some of us are Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical, UCC, or UU. Some come from other traditions, or none at all. What matters here isn’t where you come from, but whether you want to be part of a thoughtful, caring community.
This is a place where you can show up as yourself. We care more about people than performance, and more about care than achievement. Together we build friendships, share meals, and make space for the kinds of conversations you don’t often get to have elsewhere. Things like:
•Death and dying
• How queerness and Christianity totally go together
• What salvation might even mean (and whether it’s really a thing)
• Whether you hear God in your life…or don’t
• The complicated moments of discernment and direction that shape life
All of it approached with honesty, depth, thoughtful conversation, and often a good deal of laughter. Students have always helped shape the life of this community. At times, university-affiliated group participants seeking leadership experience have served on church council, and our campus and buildings are available as a gathering place for student life.
Ways To Get Together
Here are a few easy ways to gather with fellow students, as well as recent former students weekly:
Monday Evenings, 6:30 pm: We meet virtually (on Zoom) to read and explore scripture together. You'll need to email Rev. Sam for the Zoom link.
Wednesday Evenings, 6 pm: In person dinner + conversation or spiritual practice. Typically we do a church service with communion once a month. Usually we gather at the University Lutheran Parsonage (it's a little more spacious and comfortable!). You can drop in any time announced or unannounced. Though, if you text Rev. Sam we can make sure you know where we're meeting and how to get there, and be on the lookout for you.
Sunday Mornings, 10 am: Sunday morning church is low key, and comes with communion every week. Rev. Sam is typically the pastor leading the service. You have the option to join us through Zoom if remote is easier than in person (email for the link). We try to keep the service to about an hour, and there are always some good snacks afterwards! When it comes to church here, we are a progressive, thoughtful community who welcomes people as they are. You can read more about what to expect on the church service page.
There are also a range of special events scattered throughout the year. We typically email about those, and try to also post about them in Social Media spaces.
Monday Evenings, 6:30 pm: We meet virtually (on Zoom) to read and explore scripture together. You'll need to email Rev. Sam for the Zoom link.
Wednesday Evenings, 6 pm: In person dinner + conversation or spiritual practice. Typically we do a church service with communion once a month. Usually we gather at the University Lutheran Parsonage (it's a little more spacious and comfortable!). You can drop in any time announced or unannounced. Though, if you text Rev. Sam we can make sure you know where we're meeting and how to get there, and be on the lookout for you.
Sunday Mornings, 10 am: Sunday morning church is low key, and comes with communion every week. Rev. Sam is typically the pastor leading the service. You have the option to join us through Zoom if remote is easier than in person (email for the link). We try to keep the service to about an hour, and there are always some good snacks afterwards! When it comes to church here, we are a progressive, thoughtful community who welcomes people as they are. You can read more about what to expect on the church service page.
There are also a range of special events scattered throughout the year. We typically email about those, and try to also post about them in Social Media spaces.
FAQs
- Do I need to be Lutheran or Episcopal to join?
No. You don't even need to be sure that you're Christian. Just the desire to meet people and engage with a caring community as your full self is all that is needed. - Is this group really LGBTQ-affirming?
Yes we sure are. And that's not a "well, love the sinner, hate the sin" kind of statement. The Queer community has always belonged and it's been downright wrong of Christianity to ever exclude queer bodies or queer love. We aren't afraid to say things like "God is a queer black woman" and mean it (and we recognize that speaking about God in this way does not minimize God). So bring your queer self, and know the you that is you now, and whoever you are becoming, is loved and beloved here. - What happens at a Wednesday dinner?
We'll gather at 2080 Bowdoin St. for some good food (Pr. Sam or Chaplain Travis typically cook, but sometimes students come in and help). We keep it low-key and high-fun. We'll chat, we'll laugh. We'll do a whole variety of different things throughout the year. Think spiritual practices that help you find stability and calm, games, fun arts or crafts, discussions about tough stuff (like death and dying, or salvation, or even just looking at parts of the bible we aren't comfortable with and challenging them). The list could go on and on, but mainly what you can expect is welcome, warmth, laughter, some honest vulnerable sharing, and a built-in group of people who consistently become friends and support one another in and outside of our gatherings. - Is it free?
Yes indeed. No surprises, tricks, qualifiers, or sly marketing schemes. - I'm not sure I even believe in God — is that okay?
Definitely ok. Several people who gather with us are not sure they believe in God, or are pretty sure they don't. And that is 100% acceptable. We're not here for conversion or proselytizing. We're here for care, community, and good support.
University Lutheran Palo Alto is one of hundreds of Lutheran Campus Ministry sites across the US affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, giving us a relationship to several Lutheran Campus Ministries in California and across the country.