About Our Logo

How the Jerusalem Cross Came to King Avenue

At King Avenue United Methodist Church, the Jerusalem Cross was chosen in the 1980s as both a theological and architectural symbol for the congregation. A committee in 1986 selected the cross for the sanctuary wall behind the choir.  The large central cross represents Christ, while the four smaller crosses originally symbolized four major areas of King Avenue’s ministry and outreach at the time — 

• Missions

• University Students

• Music Ministry

• Community Outreach

The committee also believed the design beautifully complemented the architecture of our 1924 sanctuary. The cross was designed and crafted by King Avenue member and architect Tom Belcher and generously gifted by the Heber family.

How the Symbol Has Grown With Us

Over time, the meaning evolved within the congregation. King Avenue’s historical reflections say the Jerusalem Cross has come to represent “that ALL are Welcome  — even to the four corners of the world.”  

Historically, the Jerusalem Cross itself is an ancient Christian symbol, sometimes called the “Five-Fold Cross.” It originated in association with the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and has traditionally symbolized things like Christ and the four evangelists, the spread of the Gospel to the four corners of the world, or the five wounds of Christ  

At King Avenue, though, the symbol has taken on a distinctly congregational meaning centered on

• Outreach

• Hospitality

• Inclusion

• Reconciling Ministry

—which fits closely with the church’s identity as a reconciling congregation today.

Rooted in Tradition, Reimagined for Today

King Avenue’s new logo draws deeply from both the church’s history and its mission for the future. At its center is the Jerusalem Cross — a longtime symbol of the congregation that has been present in the sanctuary and church identity for decades. Historically at King Avenue, the large central cross and four smaller crosses came to represent the many dimensions of the church’s ministry, outreach, and welcome to the wider world.

The new design reimagines that familiar symbol in a fresh, modern way. The overlapping circles create a sense of connection, movement, and community — visually expressing how diverse people, experiences, and ministries come together in one body of Christ. The blending colors symbolize inclusion, vibrancy, and the beauty found in difference and intersection.

The rainbow-inspired palette also reflects King Avenue’s longstanding commitment to hospitality, justice, and affirmation, particularly as a Reconciling congregation that seeks to welcome ALL people fully into the life of the church.