Our Story

Haven Berkeley began in 2014, when a small group of newcomers to the East Bay gathered in the home of Leah and Jason Martens. United by a longing for a spiritual community centered on Jesus and radical inclusion, these early members dreamed of a place where everyone could encounter God’s love, no matter their background.

Our lead pastor, Leah Martens, first felt called to start a church back in 2001, while living as a rock musician in Chicago. Over the next thirteen years, that dream grew and took shape, eventually leading to the birth of Haven Berkeley Faith Community, a community dedicated to welcoming all and pursuing authentic faith together.

Our Mission

At Haven, our mission is simple:

To create safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can build meaningful relationships, with each other and with God.

We believe these relationships are the key to a life of fullness and purpose. Jesus is our guide and companion, inviting everyone—regardless of religious affiliation or past experience—toward greater wholeness and hope.

What Makes Haven Distinct

Labels like “liberal,” “conservative,” or “evangelical” often create more confusion than clarity. Rather than defining ourselves by categories, we invite you to get to know us by the ways we seek to follow Jesus together.

Open-Minded Orthodoxy

We honor the rich heritage of Christian faith, affirming the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds alongside centuries of tradition. Yet, we recognize that faith is lived out in diverse contexts, and we approach our beliefs with humility and curiosity. At Haven, we value both the wisdom of Scripture and the insights of science, seeing them as complementary sources of truth. We encourage sincere, thoughtful faith that is always open to learning and growth, with willingness to change our minds when necessary.

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion

Haven is committed to being a safe and welcoming spiritual home for all people, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and everything in between. We fully affirm and include LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families in every aspect of church life. We acknowledge the harm that has been done by faith communities in the past, and we seek to embody the healing, inclusive love of Jesus.

Emotional Health and Maturity

Faith at Haven is about the whole person—spiritual, emotional, and relational. We strive to grow into healthy, mature people who honor God and one another in all areas of life. We think our faith should help us grow as parents, as friends, as life-partners, and as neighbors. We value authenticity, mutual support, and the freedom to be real about both joy and struggle, emphasizing wholeness and the whole person, while honoring and respecting people’s choices.

Sometimes being healthy and mature also means having the freedom to laugh and to not take yourself too seriously.  We're not afraid to be silly, self-depracating, even a bit irreverent when needed. We're pretty sure Jesus is with us in that.

Our Core Values

At Haven, we’re guided by three core values that shape our community and our journey together:

Creating Safety:

We strive to be a place where everyone can participate fully, free from judgment or exclusion. Safety means you can bring your whole self to Haven.

Honoring Diversity:

We celebrate the rich tapestry of human experience—race, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith background, and political beliefs. Everyone’s story matters here.

Centering Around Jesus:

While our roots are grounded in the Christian faith, we value diverse interpretations of the Divine and believe that Jesus uniquely helps us connect with God. In practice, this means:

• We find Jesus uniquely helpful in connecting with God,

• We interact with the Divine through the Holy Spirit, and

• The Bible plays a significnat role in informing our faith.

We know that living at the intersection of these values is a work in progress, but it’s the journey we’re committed to. Together.

Understanding the Intersections

Creating Safety + Honoring Diversity (Justice Organizations)

These groups understand the need to address intersectional and structural inequalities to create safety for all.

Creating Safety + Centering around Jesus (Monocultural Churches)

The majority of the population is from one group. Often this feels safer for marginalized groups who become the majority, but can feel uncomfortable for some who don’t feel they fit in.

Honoring Diversity + Centering around Jesus (Many Multiethnic or LGBTQia+ “Welcoming but Not Affirming” Churches)

All are welcome, but must assimilate into the majority culture. 

Creating Safety + Honoring Diversity + Centering around Jesus (the goal of Haven)

• We are actively pursuing diverse inclusion at all organizational levels. 

• We recognize the impact of trauma in spiritual communities and seek to create a space that brings healing to past wounds.

• We invite everyone into personal growth as we share the work of creating safety for the whole group, rather than expecting only some of us to adjust.

• We follow Jesus into radical inclusion, believing we connect with God more when we honor different points of view. This includes learning from our brothers and sisters of other faiths and traditions.

Haven is a work in progress, and we’re glad to be on the journey together.