About JJ

A Life in Ministry

Rev. Dr. Johnathan Jones — known to his congregation and community as "JJ" — is an ordained minister with over twenty years of pastoral experience across Australia, Scotland, and the United States. Originally from Australia, he trained at Sydney College of Divinity before serving in LGBTQ-affirming and ecumenical ministry contexts on three continents.

He is currently the Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Anchorage (FCCAK) — an open and affirming congregation affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC), guided by the motto "Guided by Love, Open to All." He was formally installed in that role in September 2024.

JJ holds a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary, where his thesis — "Honest, Healthy, and Whole: Queer Inclusion and the Body of Christ" — examined the practical and theological dimensions of genuine LGBTQ inclusion in Christian congregations. He also holds a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology from Adler University, with a concentration in gender and sexuality. His MA thesis investigated the causes of the decline of the Catholic Church, confirming through original research what many have long suspected: that the clergy sexual abuse scandal and its subsequent institutional cover-up is the primary driver behind dwindling membership, priestly vocations, and public influence. He also holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Sydney College of Divinity, with a concentration in pastoral theology.

In 2025, JJ was presented with the Charles R. Rush Award by the NACCC — an honour given to minority persons working with Congregational Christian churches toward worthwhile social and personal goals, exemplifying the spirit of Christian social involvement.

Beyond the pulpit, JJ co-founded Amundsen Youth Services, a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing housing assistance for LGBTQ and allied homeless youth in Anchorage. He has served as Alaska Pride Co-Chair, Regional Director for InterPride, Equality Project Manager at the Alaska Civil Liberties Union, a member of the Scottish Parliament Roundtable on Human Sexuality, and a volunteer with Identity Inc. throughout Alaska for over two decades.

He has spoken at churches, universities, colleges, schools, and training programmes on LGBTQ sensitivity, faith and sexuality, and queer youth issues. His published works include contributions to When Our Children Come Out (Finch Publishing, 2005) and Ministry: In and Out (Gahan & Jones).