Rev. Al Schon

Rev. Al Schon

United Church of Christ

St. Louis, MO

Al’s Schon’s call to ministry began early in his life and so too the circuitous path towards ordination. As he describes the journey, Al laughs gently and says that God is surely a man, because a woman would have asked for directions.

Born and raised in one of the United Church of Christ’s predecessor denominations, Al’s early call to ordained ministry was postponed with the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood. His spiritual pilgrimage led him to the Roman Catholics and a brief sojourn as a Franciscan candidate before returning to the United Church of Christ. Consistently his path included service within and beyond the institutions of the Church.

Following many years of serving as a lay leader, Al’s gifts for ministry were affirmed with a call, first to licensed ministry in 2008 as a Pastoral Associate with Peace UCC and now to ordination. As a gay man in the church, Al knows the definition of dissonance and the value of standing in the gap. Patiently and intentionally, he has words to create safe space in the church for all those who sojourn.

The Reverend Albert Schon
Ordained on May 19, 2012
Peace United Church of Christ
St. Louis, MO