Rev. Kyle Delhagen
Biography
Rev. Kyle Delhagen was called to be the pastor at Hamilton Union in May of 2021, along with his wife, Rev. Elena Delhagen, and their two children, Jumah and Atticus, is overjoyed to be serving this community.
Rev. Delhagen grew up the son of a pastor, the late Rev. Dr. Harold Delhagen, in many places, but he calls Pultneyville, New York, along the shores of Lake Ontario outside of Rochester, home.
A graduate of Hope College (Holland, Michigan) and New Brunswick Theological Seminary (New Brunswick, New Jersey), Pastor Kyle has a deep passion for preaching and teaching, and is deeply committed to issues of justice and reconciliation. Part of what drew him to HUPC is its commitment to becoming a Matthew 25 congregation and being a voice for the voiceless. In sermons, Pastor Kyle regularly lifts up marginalized communities like the LGBTQIA+, advocates for dismantling systems of racism and white supremacy, and disrupting oppressive economic patterns.
“I know that the Church has something to say in our nation and our world about the systems that are damaging families and communities around the globe. Jesus calls us to lean into these hard conversations, and to challenge old ways of thinking. I think people are yearning for something deeper and more expansive in their faith, and community is where change begins.”
Pastor Kyle is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Pastoral Care and Counseling through New Brunswick Theological Seminary, focusing on the ways congregations can aid in healing traumas inflicted upon LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, as well as becoming open and affirming spaces for diverse groups. In his free time (which is rare these busy days!), Pastor Kyle enjoys reading, re-watching past seasons of Dr. Who, and spending time outdoors hiking and fishing.
Rev. Kyle Delhagen
Statement of Faith
Christian life and faith begin, for me, at the table. When we gather for communion, we meet God in the body and blood of Christ, made visible in the bread and the cup. At the same time, it is a community gathering that affirms the Spirit’s presence among us. Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, is not something we can take, but something we must be given. When we are invited to partake of the body and blood of Christ, we are taking part in something that is both known and mystery; present with us and beyond our understanding.
Christian life and faith find its fullness in our baptism. When we are baptized, we marked with the sign and seal of God’s love and mercy. While baptism is appropriate for anyone of any age, I love infant baptism precisely because it demonstrates that baptism is not something we do or ask for ourselves, but something that is done to and for us. It is God’s action of claiming us as God’s own, as well as the community’s commitment to raise and grow the child in the faith.
Finally, Christian life and faith are expressed in community worship and service. Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says, “You shall put these words in your heart and soul… Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” We are called to live with the Word of God on our lips, but also in our every action. We are called to walk hand in hand with our brothers and sisters, serving those in need: the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and all those who are vulnerable. When we put our faith into action, coupled with worship and study of God’s word, we find the fullness of our life together.
I believe that God loved humanity so fully and so deeply, that He sent Jesus Christ to us, to walk with us, to struggle with us, to love us so passionately, that he was willing to die a very human death, that we might be made new. I believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected that we might rise with him into new life. I believe that the Spirit of God continues to bind us together with our siblings around the world, working in and through us to actively bring God’s kingdom to earth. I believe that the Church, at its best, is a vehicle of hope, bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to all who need it most, inspiring us to greater faithfulness and hope in God.