Our Motto

Freedom of faith expression is a hallmark of Moravians, and it is reflected in our motto:
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.”

Essentials: Christ as Savior is the one big essential. Baptism, communion, the Trinity are other essentials to the Moravian faith.

Non-Essentials: Variety of worship forms, musical selections, clergy styles, the manner of baptism, method of communion are all non-essentials at the heart of our liberty in the faith. We go beyond tolerance to acceptance of diversity.

In all things Love: Love affirms our unity rather than our divisions. Love has the power to overcome our differences by refocusing our concern on all that we have in common. Love not only brings us together in God’s family, but keeps us together as a community of faith.

(from “The Moravian Church is…” by the Moravian Church in North America)

Who are the Moravians?

The Moravian Church is the oldest Protestant denomination, serving Christ since 1457. The church originated as the Unitas Fratrum (Unity of the Brethren) after the Czech priest John Hus was burned at the stake for his revolt against the Catholic Church. It was driven underground in the early 1600s and renewed in the 1720s in Germany by refugees from Moravia and Bohemia. From there, missionaries went out to serve in diverse places and among many races.

Although small in number, only about 700,000 throughout the world, the Moravians are truly an international congregation, with churches in North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe, and with specialized ministries in Palestine and India. North American Moravians make up less than 10 percent of its total membership; three out of five Moravians worldwide live in Tanzania and South Africa. Approximately four of every five Moravians worldwide are black. We with white skin and middle-class lifestyles are very much a minority.

Our faith identity is as Christians, as followers of Christ who happen to be affiliated with the Moravian Church as a way of being Christian. We are Christians first, not Moravians first. In the midst of political, economic, cultural and racial diversity, the worldwide Moravian Church embodies the vision of Paul expressed in his letter: “You are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now fellow citizens with God’s people and members of the Family of God” (Ephesians 2:19 TEV).

(from “The Moravian Church is…” by the Moravian Church in North America)

History of Ephraim Moravian Church

The Ephraim Moravian Church was founded by Reverend Andreas Iverson, an immigrant Moravian evangelist. Born in Norway, Iverson felt called to ministry as a young adult and he was trained and ordained as a Lutheran minister at the Norwegian Mission Society. It was here that he learned about the Moravian faith, to which he eventually gravitated and served as a minister for many years.

In February of 1853, he and a few others walked north over the ice from Green Bay to the wilderness area that later became Ephraim. After exploring the horseshoe-shaped bay and forested land, Iverson used a $500 loan to buy 425 acres of government land for his parishioners. His home was the second constructed in the village (it remains, in original condition, now operated as a museum by the Ephraim Historical Foundation). Church services and school classes were held in the Iverson home until the construction of the church began in 1857. Designed by Iverson and built by him and the congregation, work was halted several times by lack of funds. When completed and the doors opened on December 18, 1859, it became the first church on the Door County peninsula.

The church was originally located on the shore (paintings done by Iverson himself show it right next to the water), but it was moved to its present location on the hill in 1883. Ephraim Moravian Church remains the historical center of the village, and along with the Bethany Lutheran Church (founded in 1882), the twin white steeples form the distinctive and often photographed view of the Village of Ephraim.

Staff

The Ephraim Moravian Church bid farewell to Pastor Dawn Volpe as she retired in July 2025.
We are currently in the call process for our next pastor.

Colin Welford, Music Director

Colin Welford joined us as Music Director for the church in 2020. Born in Manchester, England, he was an organ scholar at Oxford University, where he discovered conducting, becoming President of the Oxford University Opera, and other orchestras. After a year studying orchestral conducting at the Royal College of Music in London and assisting Maestro Leonard Bernstein, he moved to Miami in 1990, studied and taught, and was quickly drawn to the story-driven music of ballet, opera and musical theatre (including Broadway and many touring companies). He served as worldwide Music Supervisor for The Who’s “Tommy,” Disney’s “The Lion King” and “Billy Elliot.” While music director/conductor for Chicago’s company of “Wicked,” he discovered Door County in 2008 and worked with what is now Northern Sky Theatre. After three years conducting “Hamilton” in Chicago, Colin made the move here in May of 2019. He rediscovered the organ at Ephraim Moravian, having not played for 28 years, and can be heard every week on our livestreamed services (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.), as well as on postings of his extraordinary organ pieces with commentary!

Leadership

Trustees

Tad Dukehart
Marcia Ellis
Hal Halvorsen
Ryan Sherman
B.D. Thorp

Elders

Paul Flottman
Barbara Meyer
Rob Moore
Liz Opitz
Penny Schultz

Erin Bristol, Secretary/Treasurer

Erin took over Treasurer duties for Ephraim Moravian Church in 2022 and as Secretary in 2023. She was Ephraim’s Village Treasurer for six years as well as Treasurer for Zion Church for a few years (until Covid). She is married to Brent Bristol, Village Administrator and Zoning Administrator, and they have three children: Henry, Mathilda, and Winfield. She can be contacted at the church office Tuesdays and Fridays 920-854-2804.

Kathleen Harris, Cemetery Superintendent

Kathleen Harris joins us as Cemetery Superintendent as of September, 2022. She also serves Educator at the Ephraim Historical Foundation. Before that, Kathleen worked for nearly 25 years as Peninsula State Park’s full-time naturalist. If you have questions about the Ephraim Moravian Cemetery, phone the church office at 920-854-2804 or email worship@ephraimmoravian.org

Location

Ephraim Moravian Church
9970 Moravia Street
Ephraim, WI 54211

Services

Sunday Worship: 10:30am

Join us in person or livestream!

Contact

Phone: (920) 854-2804

In essentials, unity;

in non-essentials, liberty;

and in all things, love.