LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

What LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST does

Lakewood United Church of Christ is a progressive, Open and Affirming Christian congregation located at 100 Carr Street in Lakewood, Colorado, operating as a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination since 1960. Founded on June 14, 1953 by Pastor Martin Murray Jr. and 35 charter members as the Lakewood Community Congregational Church, it has delivered continuous worship, faith formation, and community ministry for over 70 years. The congregation voted to become Open and Affirming in 2001, renewed and expanded that commitment in 2021, and adopted a Care for Creation covenant in 2018, positioning itself as an inclusive, progressive alternative within the local faith market.

The church provides weekly Sunday worship at 10:15 am in-person and via YouTube livestream, faith formation for all ages, a music ministry encompassing traditional and contemporary choral and handbell programs, and small groups including Bible Study, Book Group, Sacred Circles, and youth programming. Its technology stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS: Breeze for member management and directory, Tithe.ly for online giving, Zoom for Bible Study and meetings, and Google Workspace for collaboration — there is no proprietary technology platform and no AI/ML capability disclosed. Pastoral leadership comprises Senior Pastor Rev. Curtis Preston (since 2008) and Associate Pastor Rev. Mollie Landers Hatt (since 2018), supported by an 11-person staff including a Director of Communications, Finance Manager, Music Director, Bell Choir Director/Organist, and Nursery Caregiver.

The revenue model is donation-based: voluntary tithes and offerings (given in-person or via Tithe.ly), supplemented by periodic fundraisers (e.g., Pick-A-Party events) and facility rentals to outside organizations including Summit Early Learning Academy, Blue Spruce Yoga, Music With Mallory, and a BNI chapter. Membership is free with no giving requirements. The church maintains a network of mission partnerships with The Action Center, Rose Stein Elementary, the Delores Project, Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, Casa de Paz, The Gathering Place, African Community Center, and Re-Member on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Financial data is not publicly disclosed; the only public capital figure is the 2022 "A Good Foundation for Our Future" campaign, which raised $217,651 against a $190,000 goal.

Name

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Legal name

Lakewood United Church of Christ

Website

https://lakewooducc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lakewood United Church of Christ is a progressive, Open and Affirming UCC congregation in Lakewood, Colorado offering in-person and online worship, faith formation, music ministry, and community outreach programs serving congregants through traditional and contemporary services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Christian worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Religious community outreach
• Youth ministry programs
• Progressive christian church

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Members and visitors are invited to give financially to support the church's mission and ministry. Offerings can be given in-person during worship or through online giving platforms. No specific giving requirements are mandated - members support the mission in whatever ways they are able.
2. Fundraising Events: Periodic fundraisers such as Pick-A-Party events where congregants plan parties, invite others, and the fees support the church budget. Also ice cream fundraisers and other special collections.
3. Facility Rentals: The church building is rented to outside organizations including Summit Early Learning Academy, Music With Mallory, Blue Spruce Yoga, and BNI Mutual Gain chapter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lakewood United Church of Christ is a progressive, Open and Affirming Christian congregation providing weekly Sunday worship services both in-person at its Lakewood, Colorado sanctuary and online via YouTube live stream. The church complements worship with faith formation programs for all ages, music ministry (traditional and contemporary choral, handbell, and organ offerings), small-group ministries, and community outreach through mission partnerships with local nonprofits addressing hunger, housing, gun violence, and refugee resettlement.

Product overview

Lakewood United Church of Christ is a vibrant, inclusive, progressive Christian church offering worship services, faith formation programs for all ages, music ministry, and mission/outreach initiatives. The church provides both in-person and online worship experiences, with a mix of traditional and contemporary elements including choral offerings, handbell performances, and relevant sermons. The church's ministries include Care for Creation environmental initiatives, Faith In Action outreach programs, youth and children's programming, adult education, small groups, and special seasonal services. The church also maintains partnerships with community organizations for social justice and service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Morning Worship Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 60,000 families annually through The Action Center partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence (CFCU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Lakewood UCC is a member congregation of this faith-based organization dedicated to ending gun violence in Colorado. The church participates in advocacy efforts and supports the organization's mission to protect and preserve human life.
• The Action CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Lakewood UCC members were instrumental in founding this organization which offers food, clothing, counseling, job training, and financial assistance to local people in need. The church maintains an ongoing donation collection for The Action Center and has seen a 300% increase in requests for assistance since 2019, now serving over 60,000 families annually.
• The Delores ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with individuals experiencing barriers to housing by providing safe, reliable shelter and housing with onsite services. Lakewood UCC team members cook, deliver, and serve meals monthly at this organization.
• Rose Stein Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Jeffco public school in the neighborhood that Lakewood UCC partners with throughout the year. The church conducts an annual school supply drive (July-August) to support students and teachers. The school serves approximately 68% economically disadvantaged households.
• Re-MembercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvery other summer, church members travel to the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation to volunteer with this organization, participating in activities ranging from skirting trailers to cultural immersion experiences. The church also holds periodic donation drives for essential items (socks, underwear, shoes) for the community.
• Denver PridefestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLakewood UCC participates in Denver's annual Pridefest Parade as part of its Open and Affirming identity, marching in solidarity with LGBTQ+ friends and community members.
• United Church of Christ (UCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLakewood UCC is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ, a Christian denomination formed in 1957. The UCC is known for championing social justice issues like marriage equality. Lakewood UCC is part of the Rocky Mountain Conference and Metro Denver Association.
• African Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA non-profit resettlement agency that helps refugees and immigrants rebuild lives in Colorado. The church has conducted Lenten donation drives collecting linens for refugee families resettling in apartments.
• La Foret Conference and Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe church's affiliated conference and retreat center in the Black Forest near Colorado Springs, where Lakewood UCC offers summer camps for all ages.
• Summit Early Learning AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRents space in the church building for early childhood education programs.
• Blue Spruce YogaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRents space in the church building for yoga classes.
• Casa de PazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that welcomes guests released from the ICE detention center in Aurora, CO. The church has conducted letter-writing sessions (Cartas de Paz) and collected donations (men's shoelaces, underwear) for detainees.
• The Gathering PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only agency in metropolitan Denver dedicated to serving women, transgender and non-binary individuals, and children experiencing poverty and homelessness. The church collected travel-sized toiletries during Lenten donation drives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Congregational United Church of Christ: Another UCC progressive congregation with similar worship, social justice, and Open and Affirming commitments. Directly comparable as a mainline Protestant church operating with similar programs, staffing model, and member-funded revenue structure.
• All Souls Church Unitarian: A progressive, inclusive congregation emphasizing social justice and welcoming theological diversity. Comparable in inclusive faith positioning, community partnerships, and reliance on member donations for funding.
• St. Paul's United Church of Christ: A UCC congregation with similar progressive Christian identity, Open and Affirming stance, and community mission focus. Comparable in denomination, worship style, and member-funded operating model.
• Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC): A progressive UCC congregation with a long history and similar hybrid worship approach. Comparable in theological positioning, community outreach orientation, and member-supported operating model.
• First United Church of Christ (various congregations): Member congregations of the UCC denomination sharing similar governance structure under the Rocky Mountain Conference/regional associations. Comparable in denominational affiliation, progressive values, and congregational polity.

Broad incumbents

• Glide Memorial Church: An iconic progressive church known for social justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and serving marginalized communities. Comparable in progressive Christian identity and community service orientation, though serving a much larger urban constituency.
• Riverside Church: A larger, historically progressive interdenominational Protestant church with strong social justice programming. Comparable in progressive theology and community engagement, though operating at a substantially larger scale.

Others

• La Foret Conference and Retreat Center: UCC-affiliated retreat center where Lakewood UCC holds summer camps. Comparable as a UCC denominational institution serving member congregations, though offering retreat/event services rather than weekly worship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lakewoodunitedchurchofchri7598/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakewood-united-church-of-christ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST