About Us

You are welcome here, whether you are a lifelong Christian looking for a progressive Christian church, someone longing for intergenerational community, or someone passionate about justice and peace.

Two men holding hands and smiling at a public protest or march. One man is dressed as a clergy member or pastor and holding a sign that reads 'I'm not tariff-ified, I'm in-fuh-hrer-tated!' The other man is wearing sunglasses and a T-shirt.

I’m originally from the Midwest, where open skies and wide horizons sparked my love of adventure and possibility. Over the years, that spirit has taken me across the country and around the world, from small towns to big cities, each place shaping me into who I am today. That spirit moved me to Seattle to serve as Lead Pastor of University Lutheran Church, which I have done since September 2023. For me, faith has never been about memorizing scripture verses or creeds. Rather, it’s about curiosity, courage, and the willingness to step into mystery. At ULC, you will find a community that believes faith should move, stir, disrupt, and inspire.

I share life with my husband and best friend, Justin, who is a licensed medical massage therapist. Together we’ve built a life that thrives on stories, history, good food, and travel.
 
I believe following Jesus means living with arms wide open. Embracing strangers, lifting up the broken, and crossing boundaries we too often draw around ourselves and others. My calling is to help make that welcome real, to speak honestly about injustice, and to nurture a community that dares to hope even when hope feels risky. While there is a lot I don't know, I’ve found the church is most alive when it listens with empathy, acts with courage, and lets love set the direction.

Hi, everyone, Pastor Andy here!

We are a progressive Christian congregation rooted in God’s radical love and called to live that love out loud.

For decades, we’ve shown up for peace, for justice, and for one another, and we’re still showing up, still reaching out, still saying yes to the Spirit’s stirring.
 
We are proud to be part of the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA. We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation, where LGBTQ+ people are not just welcomed: they are celebrated, cherished, and called into leadership.

We worship with depth, we sing with joy, and we gather at tables, potluck tables and communion tables alike, because we know that faith is meant to be shared. We practice open communion. No matter who you are or where your faith has wandered, you are welcome here.

The Spirit is calling us into bold, creative ministry in the heart of Seattle’s University District. We don’t have a map, but we trust that God is already out ahead of us, making a way where there was none, dancing just around the corner and inviting us to join the movement. And we will. With joy. With courage. With open hearts and open hands.

You are wanted here.

Because above all else, We Choose Love.

A group of fifteen smiling older adults gathered in a kitchen, some wearing glasses and name tags, celebrating together.
A group of clergy and choir members dressed in white robes participating in an Easter worship service at University Lutheran Church, with candles, flowers, and religious symbols on the altar, during a service on April 20th, 2025.
A group of 16 people gathered together at a banquet table, smiling at the camera, with a large screen displaying a photo and text in the background, in a well-lit indoor venue.
Four women standing together indoors in front of a wooden door, holding a pile of colorful folded blankets or quilts, with a man in the background looking into a box.
A group of people singing in a church choir with some holding black songbooks, set against a wooden background with candles and a cross. Text overlay reads 'OFFERING SONG' and 'Bind Us Together by Cora Jackson'.
A group of fifteen diverse people gathered inside a church or community center, posing for a photo in front of a wooden altar with green plants and candles, smiling and dressed in casual and semi-formal attire.
Group of smiling people, including an elderly man in a wheelchair, posing in a hallway with wooden walls decorated with artwork, celebrating at a social gathering.
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Group of diverse people smiling and posing for a photo inside a wooden church or chapel, with a piano in the foreground.

Our Team

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Rev. Andy Flatt-Kuntze

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Pastor

Darren Hochstedler

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Music Director

Carly Squires Hutchison

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Office Operations Manager

Will Francis Griffin

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Facilities Manager

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Child Care Coordinator

Gia Alfieri

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Open Positions for AV/Techs

Colin Ernst

Custodian