First Congregational United Church of Christ
Staff & Leaders

Eldonna Hazen

Eldonna was raised in the American Lutheran Church, but after coming out and getting disconnected from the Church, she sought a different church where she and her partner, Cathy Noth, (pronounced with a long o) could be open and rekindle her relationship with the Church. When she decided to pursue the ministry, she and Cathy looked for a denomination where their sexuality would not prohibit either of them from being both open and supported. The United Church of Christ has been not only welcoming but also matches their beliefs in other areas, such as social justice. Eldonna answered her call to ministry in 2002 and attended United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, completing her Master of Divinity degree in May, 2005. Eldonna and Cathy have an elementary school-age son, Spencer, and twin toddlers, Aiden and Carlyn. Eldonna is proud that she is able to sleep through the night and gets up at 2 a.m. to do a paper-route side job. This isn’t your child’s paper route, we’re talking a thousand papers delivered to vendors all over south central Madison. Reflecting her Midwestern roots, you can always find butter, eggs, pepper jack cheese, bleu cheese salad dressing and soy milk in her fridge. Finally, Eldonna loves to bowl, starting in a mother/daughter league and later bowling with Cathy. Her favorite activity is being on the boat in the middle of the lake with her family.