Walking the Talk of Welcome

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mt. Horeb welcomes Rev. Javen Swanson. Pastor Javen will preach for 9:00 a.m. worship, then following worship will lead a discussion in fellowship hall about how we can grow in our practices of welcome to all people as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a time for youth in the congregation and community to meet with Pastor Javen to explore issues of faith, welcome and identity.

The Rev. Javen Swanson (he/him/his, pronounced JAY-ven) has served since 2014 as Associate Pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he has been called to assist parishioners in developing caring relationships with one another and the community, expanding and enhancing their outreach and service, and putting their gifts to use for the sake of God’s mission in the world. Prior to his ordination, Javen was a community organizer, first with OutFront Minnesota and Minnesotans United for All Families, the campaign that defeated an anti-gay marriage amendment and went on to legalize marriage for same-sex couples in Minnesota, and later with the National LGBTQ Task Force. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and Yale Divinity School, Javen now lives in Saint Paul with his husband, the Rev. Oby Ballinger, their cat Amos, and their dog Ruthie.