St. Paul Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Ridgefield, NJ
stpaulsteaneck@gmail.com
(201) 837 - 3189
Rev. Patt Kauffman, Pastor
pastorstpaulteaneck@gmail.com
If you’re looking for your grandma’s church, you won’t find it here.
Here, you find people seeking to live honestly in the light of the love God has for all people, species, and creation.
You will find people who are persistently and lovingly involved in this world for the sake of this world that God loves - with their time, their treasure (that means money) and their talent.
Our worship is inclusive and you won’t have to guess about what happens next - you will catch on quickly - and EVERYONE is welcome to receive Holy Communion (even if you’ve never worshiped with us, never worshiped, period, aren’t quite sure what you believe, aren’t baptized - EVERYONE MEANS EVERYONE).
This church is a safe place. We will not insult your intelligence with platitudes. We will not expect you to suspend your intelligence. We will introduce you to God, who loves unconditionally, and calls us into relationships with each other and with God, through Jesus Christ.
When Sunday school returns, children will be encouraged in their creativity and to use their imaginations. (Not a lot of memorization for a faith that remains on a shelf that a child spits out when called upon). Here, they will learn a living and active faith that has space and time for them. They will see in the Sunday school materials diverse and non-comforming people, and families that reflect the wonderful diversity that is human love.
We are a church that reflects the world that we live in: we are gay, straight, married, single, homeless, working. We have disabilities. We are teachers. We are white and Black and everything in between.
We believe there is a place for you here.
lgbtqia+ welcoming, open, and affirming church to worship, membership, baptism, and full participation. We officiate same sex, gay, lesbian, and transgender weddings.
ICE Violence
St. Paul Lutheran Church strongly condemns the violence and fear being inflicted on our neighbors, in the random stops by masked and tear gas carrying officers. We deplore and are appalled and saddened by the shootings of unarmed persons in Minneapolis.
We remember what Jesus said about our harming and not seeking the best possible outcomes for our neighbors. (Luke 10: 25- 37)
We are horrified that children are being subjected to these scenes of violence and fear deportation of themselves and/or their parents. (Luke 18:16)
God has never decreed anyone, any person to be illegal, as all humanity bears the image of our Creator God. (Genesis 1:27)
We remember our mandate to love by helping and advocating for our neighbors. (Matthew 25: 31- 46)
We call for a vigorous and non violent response, and a commitment to do what we can to love as Jesus loved us. (John 13: 34, 35)
How would Jesus respond to the marginalization and intimidation and the violence? To this breaking apart of civil protections and moral laxity?
(John 11:35)
And Jesus reminds us as he reminded Peter when Jesus was being arrested: “Put your sword back into its sheath….” (John 18:11)
We pray, we advocate, we accompany, we bear witness, we will not grow weary.
Season after the Epiphany
2026