Our Story

Liberation UCC began in 1993 when a small core group of people, appointed by the Western Reserve Association (WRA), began meeting regularly to lay the groundwork for an exciting and innovative church in the Greater Cleveland area. Liberation was to be an Open and Affirming, Just Peace Congregation of the UCC for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, their families and friends. On June 1, 1993, the WRA called Rev. Dan Geslin to be the founding pastor of the new church start. Then after months of hard work, diligent prayer and strategic preparation, as well as an extensive marketing campaign the founding worship service was held at the Hillel Foundation on the campus of Case Western Reserve University on September 12, 1993. 101 people were in attendance. Full standing as a UCC congregation was gained at the WRA meeting held at First Congregational Church in Oberlin, Ohio on May 14, 1994.

Liberation continued to meet at the Hillel Foundation until January, 1999 when the congregation moved to a building in Lakewood gifted to Liberation by Parkwood Congregational Church, UCC, when the Parkwood congregation voted to dissolve. Liberation continues to meet and minister to the LGBT community in Greater Cleveland in this building to the present time.

Following Rev. Dan Geslin’s time at Liberation, Rev. David Shackle served as interim until the congregation called its first called pastor, the Rev. H. Kurt Wieser. Additionally, Rev. Kate Huey and Rev. Patti Verde served as Associate Pastors during this time. Rev. Wieser continues to serve Liberation as pastor.

God has truly helped us deliver on the vision we established from the beginning, and the journey has just begun. In 2010 Liberation is beginning a major renovation of the sanctuary to enhance its appearance and make the space more adaptable to new and unique programming being developed and implemented by the church.