Urban Village Church

What Urban Village Church does

Urban Village Church is a non-profit, multi-site Christian congregation affiliated with the United Methodist Church and designated as a Reconciling Congregation, operating primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area. Founded in 2007 by Trey Hall and Christian Coon, the church launched its first worship site in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood in spring 2010 with 150 attendees and has since expanded to four physical sites (Edgewater, Hyde Park/Woodlawn, River Forest, Wicker Park), each with a dedicated site pastor. The congregation explicitly positions itself around progressive Christian values including LGBTQIA+ affirmation and anti-racism, and operates as a deliberately inclusive community welcoming people across spiritual traditions and identities. UVC's core 'products' are its weekly worship services (delivered both in-person at each site and online via YouTube and Facebook livestream at 10:30 AM), small groups, family ministries (Kids Church ages 3-11, Youth Confirmation Program grades 6-12), justice and service programs (Faith in Action teams in partnership with Community Renewal Society), pastoral counseling through Connect Cards, and online giving infrastructure. There is no proprietary technology underlying the ministry; the operational stack is built on standard non-profit tools including Squarespace (website), Church Center (giving, pledge management, forms), Podbean (sermon podcast), and social platforms.

The business model is that of a traditional congregational non-profit: UVC charges no fees for worship, small groups, or ministry participation and derives all revenue from voluntary tithes/offerings and annual financial pledges made by congregation members. Giving is facilitated through the Church Center platform (online giving), text-to-give (844-539-1538), and in-person donations. The church develops an annual budget funded primarily through recurring member pledges, with governance provided by a 'ONE Board' composed of Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Finance Team, Anti-Racism Team, and Site Representatives. There are no investors, no public stock listing, and no external ownership structure; the organization is privately held within the United Methodist denomination. The headcount is small (11-50 employees), consistent with a mid-size multi-site congregation relying heavily on volunteer leadership and lay participation. Distribution is regional (Chicago metro) for physical sites and global for online streaming, and marketing relies on content (sermon archive, blog), email newsletter, social media, community events, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Urban Village Church

Legal name

Urban Village Church

Website

https://urbanvillagechurch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Village Church is a non-profit, multi-site United Methodist congregation operating four worship sites across the Chicago metropolitan area plus online livestream, serving individuals and families seeking an LGBTQIA+-affirming, anti-racist Christian community through worship, small groups, family ministries, and justice programs funded by member pledges and offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Worship services
• Religious community
• Faith formation
• Pastoral care
• Multi-site ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

River Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Church members and attendees give tithes and offerings through online giving via Church Center platform, text-to-give (text 'GIVE' to 844-539-1538), and in-person donations during worship services.
2. Annual Pledges: Members make annual financial commitments (pledges) to support the church's budget and ministry activities. The church develops comprehensive budgets funded primarily through these annual commitments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Village Church is a multi-site, inclusive United Methodist Christian congregation offering weekly worship services at four physical locations (Edgewater, Hyde Park/Woodlawn, River Forest, and Wicker Park) plus online livestream. The church delivers spiritual community through small groups, family ministries (Kids Church and Youth Confirmation), justice and service programs, pastoral care, online giving, and connect cards for new visitors.

Product overview

Urban Village Church is a multi-site, inclusive Christian congregation offering worship services at four physical locations (Edgewater, Hyde Park/Woodlawn, River Forest, Wicker Park) and online via YouTube and Facebook livestream. The church provides spiritual community through Small Groups, Family Ministries (including Kids Church and Youth Confirmation), Justice & Service Programs, Online Giving via Church Center, and Connect Cards for visitor engagement. The organization operates as a Reconciling Congregation affiliated with the United Methodist Church, emphasizing LGBTQIA+ inclusion and anti-racist values.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly in-person worship gatherings held at four physical locations (Edgewater, Hyde Park/Woodlawn, River Forest, and Wicker Park) for congregants and visitors seeking Christian worship.
• Online Worship Stream Digital worship experience including YouTube and Facebook livestreaming at 10:30 AM and sermon podcasts via Podbean, available globally to remote attendees.
• Small Groups Community groups meeting seasonally in homes and community spaces to deepen faith and belonging, including study groups, fellowship, and family-focused groups.
• Family Ministries Faith formation programs supporting families, children (Kids Church ages 3-11), youth (Youth Confirmation Program grades 6-12), and family retreats.
• Justice & Service Programs Community service and social justice initiatives including partnerships with Night Ministry, Chicago Bridge Project, South Loop Community Table, and Faith in Action teams working with Community Renewal Society.
• Online Giving Digital donation and tithing platform via Church Center, including online giving, text-to-give (844-539-1538), and annual pledge management for supporting members.
• Connect Card Digital intake form for new visitors to get connected with pastors, schedule one-on-one meetings, or learn about church activities and involvement opportunities.
• Prayer Requests Digital prayer request submission system for pastoral care and community prayer support offered to members and visitors.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• River Forest United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2024Following years of partnership, River Forest UMC and Urban Village Church officially merged in spring 2024. Both congregations voted to combine, creating a unified ministry with shared leadership and resources, marking a significant expansion of UVC's west suburban presence.
• Night MinistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for serving the hungry and homeless in Chicago. The Night Ministry provides outreach services to homeless youth and adults, and UVC participates in serving these neighbors through volunteer support and advocacy.
• Chicago Bridge ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving Chicago communities. UVC engages with Chicago Bridge Project as part of their justice and service outreach efforts.
• South Loop Community TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community partnership for neighborhood engagement and service. UVC serves neighbors through this collaborative initiative.
• Community Renewal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing partner for Faith in Action teams. UVC works with Community Renewal Society to take direct action to change policy and circumstances in Chicago and Illinois. This is a key partnership for the church's justice advocacy and systemic change efforts.
• The Edge TheaterminorOthersRental partnership for Edgewater worship site at 5451 N Broadway St. UVC holds Sunday worship services at this theater venue.
• Center On Cottage GroveminorOthersRental partnership for Hyde Park/Woodlawn worship site at 6323 S Cottage Grove Ave. UVC holds Sunday worship services at this community center venue.
• The Den TheatreminorOthersRental partnership for Wicker Park worship site at 1331 N Milwaukee Ave. UVC holds Sunday worship services at this theater venue.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The United Methodist Church (denomination): The parent denomination of Urban Village Church. UVC operates within UMC polity and benefits from denominational support structures, even as the denomination itself is undergoing internal realignment.

Direct peers

• University Temple United Methodist Church (Seattle): Progressive United Methodist congregation with a long-standing commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion and social justice. Comparable to UVC in theological stance, UMC affiliation, and justice-focused programming.
• St. Paul's United Methodist Church (Houston): Large, historic downtown United Methodist church with multi-site presence and substantial community programming. Comparable to UVC as a multi-site, mission-driven UMC with active outreach.
• Church of the Village (New York): A multi-site, progressive United Methodist congregation in New York City with an explicitly inclusive, justice-oriented identity and a multi-neighborhood campus model. Closely comparable to UVC in theology, multi-site structure, and urban progressive positioning.
• Broadway United Methodist Church (Indianapolis): Urban, progressive United Methodist church in Indianapolis with active justice and community outreach programs. Comparable to UVC in UMC affiliation, urban setting, and reconciliation/affirming orientation.
• Foundry United Methodist Church (Washington, DC): Affirming United Methodist congregation in DC emphasizing progressive theology, justice work, and community partnerships. Comparable to UVC in UMC affiliation, progressive posture, and urban context.
• Wildwood United Methodist Church (Woodstock, GA): Large multi-site United Methodist church known for contemporary worship and family ministries. Comparable to UVC as a multi-site UMC operating across several locations with digital giving infrastructure.

Regional players

• Holy Covenant United Methodist Church (Chicago): Chicago-area United Methodist church sharing UVC's progressive theological commitments and Reconciling Congregation designation. Comparable in geography and inclusive identity, though smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM0wq0dSDdvEEQYQZeyS_ng?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanvillagechicago
• Xx.com/uvchurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urbanvillagechurch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Urban Village Church