Yet Another Unitarian Universalist

Well, it's official -- last night, it was announced at the Council meeting that Rev. Jennifer Innis will be coming to UU Society of Geneva as the interim minister next year. Jennifer is currently serving as the assistant minister of religious education at the Greenville (South Carolina) Unitarian Universalist Fellowship [scroll down the page for a picture of Jennifer]. She has been there for the past three years, and one of her recent accomplishments there has been to introduce "Spirit Play," a Unitarian Universalist church school curriculum based on Montessori methods, to that congregation. Prior to serving in Greenville, she was the interim parish minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa (Alabama) [scroll down the page for mention of Jennifer's interim ministry there]. So she will arrive with exactly the kinds of skills UUSG needs -- experience as an interim minister, and experience in lifespan religious education.

Jennifer did her seminary work at Harvard Divinity School. I met Jennifer when we were both serving as youth advisors for district youth conferences (cons) in Mass Bay District back in the late 1990's. And she's from New England originally -- yes, that means this nice little Midwestern congregation is going to have yet another New England minister.

Jennifer will be visiting UUSG next week. There will be a pizza dinner open to the whole congregation on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. -- Board members will be taking a count for this pizza dinner during worship services this weekend, so if you can't make it to church this week be sure to call the church office and leave a message telling how many people from your family plan to be there. That way, there will be enough pizza for everyone. Jennifer will be meeting with the Board Tuesday evening, and the Interim Search Committee has lined up a number of other meetings for the three days she will be here.

(As for me, I have to be out of town when Jennifer visits. The New Bedford, Mass., UU church has invited me to be the candidate as minister in their congregation, and I will be visiting with them from May 7 though May 15. They will vote on May 15 whether or not to call me as their settled parish minister. I will be back in the office on Monday, May 16.)

Be sure to turn out and welcome Jennifer on Tuesday, May 10. Bring the kids andthe whole family. I think you will enjoy meeting her!

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