About Bloom in the Desert Ministries

Bloom in the Desert Ministries is an open and affirming United Church of Christ and Reconciling Ministries congregation that worships weekly and connects daily with our community for good.

All are welcome.

Our Vision:
Bloom chooses to build a loving, safe, inclusive faith community that is intellectually challenging, emotionally supportive and filled with the strength, integrity and social responsibility that spirituality inspires.

Our Mission:
Guided by teachings of Jesus Christ, Bloom is a community of believers that strives to uplift and heal one another.  We gather to worship God, witness our faith in the living of our lives and uphold one another in Christian living.  United in our diversity we are inclusive and embracing.  We agitate for God's peace and justice in our community and around the world.

Our Core Values:
We are a people of God's extravagant welcome.
We are a people of covenant.
We work toward a just and loving world through service and generosity.
We listen for the still-speaking God.
We encourage a life of inquisitive and thoughtful searching.
We are grounded by Christian faithfulness.
We celebrate the joy in life.

For More About the United Church of Christ - Click Here

Bloom in the Desert Volunteers and Project - Photo 10

Our Ministry Groups

      • Welcome
      • Worship
      • Education
      • Social Action and Missions
      • Church Growth and New Member Involvement
      • Nurture and Community Life
      • Pastor Parish
      • Facilities
      • Fund Development & Sunflower Legacy Circle
      • Permanence

Co-Founder and Called Minister

The Rev. Dr. Kevin A. Johnson is pastor and co-founder, with husband Michael Shear, of Bloom in the Desert Ministries, which first gathered in Bible study on September 18, 2002, for Sunday morning worship on March 9, 2003, and became a United Church of Christ on October 29, 2005. He graduated magna cum laude from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in December 1975, with a speech education degree and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, with a Master of Divinity degree in June 1978. He was ordained an Elder in Wisconsin in the United Methodist Church in June 1979. Later being dismissed from a local church for coming out of the closet, he worked as a Chicago small business executive from 1982 to 2002. Through Bloom, he gained full ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ in 2013.

“Rev. Kev” is active in community interfaith groups, social justice campaigns, volunteer hospital committees, and regional church leadership. He was awarded a 2007 Peace Day Award by local Veterans for Peace for leadership in planting the Palm Springs Peace Pole in the Village Green. Previously, Rev. Kev was a volunteer national coordinator of the Church Within A Church Movement, with a mission: “To BE church in a fully inclusive way.” In June 2018, Rev. Kev was honored as one of 80 “OUTstanding Voices from Palm Springs,” celebrating persons in the LGBT community known to be dedicated advocates for equality and justice. He was one of six recipients of the 2019 Palm Springs Human Rights Commission “Promoting Universal Human Rights Close to Home” Community Service Awards.

In May 2020, he was conferred the Doctor of Ministry Degree by the University of Redlands Graduate School of Theology, which is the home of San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California.  During his six-year study, Rev. Dr. Johnson was guided by the seminary's Advanced Pastoral Studies program with an emphasis in executive leadership.   His dissertation project was entitled, "Making the Covenant Work: A Web-based Resource for Welcoming Gay Pastors."  You can access this online resource at www.gaypastorwelcome.com.

Kevin in Rainbow hands stole

Music Director

Ken Forney, Music Director

Ken Forney is Bloom’s on-staff music director, overseeing Sunday music and directing our BloomTones choir. He has an extensive and varied background in church music. He’s worked as a director of music and church organist in Lutheran, Moravian, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches throughout southern Wisconsin. Additionally, Ken recently retired as the managing artistic director of City of Festivals Men’s Chorus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and, for a period of more than a decade concurrently, was the artistic director of Perfect Harmony Men’s Chorus in Madison, Wisconsin. Upon his retirement from the chorus in Milwaukee, the group granted him the title of founding director emeritus. He also received a proclamation from the city of Milwaukee council and mayor for his contributions to the LGBTQ community and the Milwaukee community overall. Ken says his objective is to “create music that is a medium by which God speaks to and through people in many ways, with a combination of word and music blended to enrich the worship of the gathered community.”