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Our Story

In 2021, The Presbytery of Scioto Valley decided to partner with Jacob’s Porch in shared ministry at The Ohio State University.

Jacob’s Porch is a collaborative ministry between the the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Mennonite Church (USA), and the United Methodist Church (UMC). JP draws from each of these faith traditions to make space for all people to wrestle with questions and grow in faith regardless of their faith tradition or non-tradition.

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In 2023, the OSUkirk Board, which oversees the Presbyterian Ministry at Jacob’s Porch, received a three year grant from the Presbytery to call the Reverend Taylor Barner to serve as the full time Presbyterian Campus minister at Jacob’s Porch.

What makes OSUKirk unique from other campus ministries?

Imagine a place where healthy and productive conversations about faith really happen. Where people truly listen to each other. Where humility and honesty reign. Where authentic community actually happens.

We welcome healthy & serious discussion among all ends of the spectrum of faith and personal convictions. We avoid shame and guilt here.

We welcome all people to the table of faith and we believe that Jesus calls us to be authentic community to those around us.

We believe that following Jesus calls us to stand in solidarity with voices of oppressed and marginalized communities. We work towards reconciliation with each other & in the world.

We don’t tell you what to believe.

We don’t prescribe codes of living to be a part of our community.

We agree to disagree.

We support each other in all walks of life.

Won’t you join us?

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What our Students are saying:

Gem Resendes - Active Student

“A space like Jacob’s Porch is important because there are a lot of students, especially queer students, that don’t feel like they have a safe place to explore faith. It is vital to show people that they are welcomed and loved and that happens here.”

Andru Pettit - JP Alumnus

“What kept me coming back to Jacob’s Porch was a feeling of family and familiarity. I had a connection to the community and a desire to gain a better understanding of God and build a better relationship with Jesus Christ.”