What Is Associated Church in Owatonna, MN?

Updated

Associated Church is a Christian congregation in Owatonna, Minnesota, that describes itself as "a warm and welcoming place to meet God." It is an inclusive faith community affiliated with the Open and Affirming Coalition and More Light Presbyterians, and it states plainly that LGBTQ+ individuals and their families have an equal place in God's church. The site is useful if you want to understand what the congregation believes, read its monthly newsletter, give online, or find out what to expect on a first visit.

What the Church Says About Itself

The homepage frames the church around four actions: meet God, be in community, serve one another, and "be loved, be you." Rather than presenting a building or a service schedule first, it presents a people — the site notes that it is "more than just a place."

Its welcome is not just a slogan. The congregation adopted a Covenant of Welcome and a supporting resolution by congregational vote on November 20, 2022. The resolution cites scripture (including Gen. 1:27, Gal. 3:28, and Mt. 5:6–10) and includes a confession that the Christian church has often condemned, marginalized, and excluded people. That covenant is described as binding — an agreement between the church and all people, not a casual statement of friendliness.

Who It Is Affiliated With

Affiliation What it signals
Open and Affirming Coalition A public commitment to the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in church life
More Light Presbyterians A Presbyterian network of congregations working for LGBTQ+ inclusion

Both affiliations appear on the site as the basis for the church's claim that "ALL are welcome here. YOU are welcome here." If full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people is a deciding factor for you in choosing a church, these memberships are the concrete, checkable markers to look for.

What You Can Find on the Site

The main sections are few and clearly labeled:

  • Our Faith — an explanation of what "our diverse community of Christ followers believes," linked as "What We Believe."
  • Newsletter — the latest issue of the monthly newsletter, The Pulse, plus a subscribe option.
  • Online Giving — a way to make a one-time gift or manage regular giving.
  • Visitor information — a "We Want to Meet You!" section that acknowledges going to a new church can be intimidating and offers a "What Can I Expect?" page.

If You Are Considering a First Visit

The site directly addresses the most common hesitation — that visiting a new church feels intimidating — and routes you to a "What Can I Expect?" page before you arrive. A practical way to use the site:

  1. Read Our Faith to check whether the congregation's beliefs align with yours.
  2. Read the Covenant of Welcome text on the homepage to see the inclusion commitment in full, including the 2022 vote.
  3. Skim a recent issue of The Pulse to get a sense of current congregational life and activities.
  4. Check What Can I Expect? for visitor details before attending.

The site does not publish service times, a street address, or staff contacts in the material available here, so those specifics would need to come from the newsletter or by contacting the church directly. Online giving is offered through the site, but no cost, account requirement, or payment details are stated — treat giving as voluntary and confirm any processing specifics on the giving page itself.