Our team
Rev. Jonah Overton
LEAD PASTOR - (THEY/THEM)
Rev. Jonah P. Overton (they/them) is a queer and trans communuity organizer, and the lead pastor and planter of Zao MKE Church. Zao started in their living room before it grew into a local theater -- and now resides in a historic church building on the East Side of Milwaukee.
Jonah loves being part of a church that is being recreated and reimagined by people who were historically denied access to traditional Christian leadership. Their favorite thing about Zao MKE Church is experiencing what church looks like when those of us who were left out get to be in charge.
Jonah is extremely passionate about the Bible and reclaiming Christian scriptures for liberation and for the Kingdom. They are so passionate that they started two podcasts: Jonah & the Peacock and Christian Queeries. In Jonah & the Peacock, Jonah interviews others about their relationship to faith and scripture, retelling the texts through a more inclusive and trauma-informed lens. Christian Queeries is a podcast that Jonah and Cameron have together where they answer listener questions about Christianity.
Jonah has been married to Cameron since 2018 and recently became Baba to their 1-year-old daughter Micah. Jonah’s free time is currently filled with fantasizing about paddle boarding and reading, instead of actually having the time and energy to do it.
Cameron Overton
EXECUTIVE PASTOR - (HE/HIM)
Pastor Cameron Overton (he/him) is a social work professor and the executive pastor of Zao MKE Church. As a young, Black, queer and trans person, Cameron's ministry calling is to build the church into an intersectional and queer liberated space.
At Zao, Cameron keeps the church running by managing the operational details, builds community partnerships, provides pastoral care, and leads worship every week with the Zao band. While Jonah might have come to Milwaukee with the first visions for Zao, Cameron is the one who makes sure that vision gets executed.
Cameron’s favorite part of ministry is getting to be authentically himself as he attempts to create a space that is available for others to live authentically free themselves. He also loves the opportunity to jam out to fun songs and run around Milwaukee having one-on-ones and meeting the coolest people around.
When he’s not playing with Micah, or one of the six instruments he loves, Cameron is a closeted nerd who loves to play board, card, and video games. He also loves to cook, as eating delicious food is one of his favorite pastimes.
Vision Team
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Peter Clare
(THEY/THEM)
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Taylor Staples
(SHE/HER)
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Emily Veto
(SHE/HER)
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Kian Lewis
(SHE/HER)
Meet the other the folks who help us run Zao Mke.
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Dave Vander Molen (he/him)
building@zaomke.org
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Andie Vander Molen (she/her)
Treasurer and Building Team Member
building@zaomke.org
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Dave Vander Molen
John Holm
Luciana Fitzgerald
Mara Schwartz
Tom Courtney