Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Ahrens has served as senior minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus since 2000. A lifelong UCC member and graduate of Yale Divinity School, he leads a historic abolitionist congregation known for its deep commitment to social justice. Under his leadership, the church has doubled in size even as other downtown churches have closed.
In Columbus since 1985, Rev. Ahrens is a prominent voice for justice, working across faith and civic communities to address poverty, education, labor, housing, health care, and equal rights. He co-founded and twice co-led B.R.E.A.D., a local faith-based justice coalition, and launched We Believe Ohio in 2006 to advance compassion-driven policy statewide. He has also spoken out against gun violence and the death penalty.
Rev. Ahrens holds a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary, where he focused on developing new generations of prophetic leaders. He and his wife, Susan Sitler, have been married since 1985 and are parents to four adult children and grandparents to two.