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JPD COMMITTEES 

JPD Conferences Committee

The JPD holds a Spring Conference in March or April of each year. The conference is rotated among conference hotels in the District. The Annual Meeting of the JPD is held in conjunction with the Spring Conference.

The JPD Conferences Committee works closely with the District Administrator and the District Executive in developing conference budgets, programming and the scheduling of the conference theme and location.

The Growth and Extension Committee and
JPD Chalice Lighters

The JPD Growth and Extension Committee supports intentional growth of congregations and the development of new congregations. It sponsors development of growth-related training workshops for JPD congregations and is the grants-making panel for the JPD Chalice Lighters Program. The Committee works closely with the JPD Director for Growth and Extension, Pat Infante.

Rev. Sandra Fees (Co-Chair)
1560 Argonne Road
Reading
, PA 19601
610-372-0928
sandrafees@verizon.net

Gail Donkin
(JPD Chalice Lighters Treasurer)
714 Pond View Drive
Audubon
, PA 19403
gdonkin@aol.com

Nancy Green (Co-Chair)
209 South Ivy Street
Arlington
, VA 22204
703-521-9152
nfgreen@verizon.net

Del & Sally Tweedie
(Chalice Lighters Co-
Administrators)
218 Chester Road
Devon, PA 19333-1627
610-964-8408
sddevon@verizon.net

JPD Chalice Lighters is a District-wide program, administered by the Growth and Extension Committee, for the purpose of promoting the growth of Unitarian Universalism in the JPD through grants. In 20 years, Sep 1987-2007, 47 societies have been aided with grants totaling over $1,682,000. These grants are made possible by individual Chalice Lighters across the district who voluntarily contribute 3 times a year, in order to strengthen our UU community. Although there is no minimum contribution, so all can take part, we are suggesting $20 or more each “call” to answer the need. With respect to our recordkeeping and measurement of participation, we list couples contributing $20 or more per call letter as 2 donors (new couples are being asked to consider $40). Chalice Lighters Sunday is celebrated in October of even years, and planning materials are mailed to each congregation in the summer to enable recruitment of new Chalice Lighters during October (or at a date of choice). JPD Chalice Lighters grants can be awarded to any size congregation that fulfills the criteria, (JPD Chalice Lighters cont. from page 10) which can be found at http://www.jpduua.org. The grant may be for: 1. minister, RE professional, staff; 2. building, land; 3. new congregation organizing; 4. innovative growth. The grants support all kinds of growth: growth in size; maturation; organizational structure and processes; and growth in impacting the surrounding community based on UU values.
• Contact Cristina Sanchis (see pg. 5 for contact info.) for routine changes in the database.
• For Chalice Lighters information, go to: http://www.jpduua.org/pages/chalice-lighters.php
• For questions regarding ongoing grant payments, contact Gail Donkin by email: gdonkin@aol.com
• For other questions, contact the JPD Director for Growth & Extension, Patricia Hall Infante, by email: pat@jpduua.org

JPD Chalice Keepers
The JPD Endowment Fund for Growth was created by the Board in 2004 to complement Chalice Lighters and help congregations to purchase land and create inspiring buildings that will nurture our children and grandchildren. It also promotes awareness and growth of Unitarian Universalism in the region and will help to initiate special programs such as campus chaplains for college students and young adults vital to our future. All kinds of gifts are needed and welcomed including tax advantaged planning gifts, bequests, contributions of stock and cash. The Chalice Keepers Planned Giving Committee is chaired by Mike Harris and includes John Gubbings and Stephen Gold. 

Many donors have made gifts and pledges to the Endowment Fund, and the investments are handled by the Unitarian Universalist Association in two separate funds. One fund will be used to help congregations purchase land and/or buildings. One fund will be used to make grants for projects that stimulate growth. These grants are not intended to provide operating support. All grant decisions will be made by a committee established by the JPD Board that is chaired by Ellen Cotts and includes Gene Mulligan and Jim Rotherham.

To make donations or receive information about Chalice Keepers, please contact Joan Priest at 610-869-9335, or by e-mail at joan.priest@rhodes-alumni.net.

The Finance and Audit Committee

The JPD Finance and Audit Committee of the Board works closely with the Treasurer, District Executive and Administrator in the management of district funds. The committee reviews the District’s annual budget and coordinates audits and other financial oversight practices. The committee works with congregations to encourage participation in the Annual Program Fund of the UUA and fair share contributions to JPD.

Mike Harris (Co-Chair)
321 University Blvd. W, Apt. 113
Silver Spring
, MD 20901
301-384-3850
harrism@cavtel.net

Lloyd Wright (Co-Chair)
11307 Baritone Court
Silver Spring
, MD 20901
301-681-7764
LEW52841@aol.com


JPD Journey Toward Wholeness Team

As part of our national UU effort to become more responsive to racial justice issues, and to become a more multi-cultural spiritual community, the Journey Toward Wholeness Team consults with District churches and committees to increase understanding of white privilege and institutional racism. The team facilitates connections across the District to provide district-wide workshops, consultants, speakers and study materials. The JTW Team also sponsors the Annual Anti-Racism Sermon Award which is presented at the JPD Spring Conference. They continue to add material to the JPD Resource Library for transforming our congregations.

Paula Cole Jones, Co-Chair
1605 Crittenden Street, NW
Washington, DC 20017
202-526-2490
pcolejones@tmail.com

Barbara Johnson, Co-Chair
5646 8th Road
Arlington, VA 22205
703-525-2196
bjohnsonfilms@mac.com


JPD-UU Young Adult Network Committee (JPD-UUYAN)

The JPD-UU Young Adult Network Committee supports 18- to 35-year-olds in the Joseph Priestley District by building awareness of young adult ministries, increasing young adult involvement in congregations, providing resources such as grants, and organizing district-wide events for young adult leaders. Email yan-chair@jpduua.org or visit http://www.jpd-uuyan.org for more information.

Lloyd Allen (Co-Chair)
yan-chair@jpduua.org

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Committee
and JPD Interweave
 

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Committee (LGBT) has been charged to facilitate the congregations in achieving or renewing their Welcoming Congregation status. Broadly, the mission of the LGBT Concerns Committee is to encourage congregations in providing safe, supportive environments for LGBT members; to combat homophobia and to participate in the struggle for LGBT civil rights as well as to educate LGBT communities regarding Unitarian Universalism. The committee can provide programming, speakers, printed or electronic materials and other assistance to educate congregations and to support their LGBT members. Please contact the Chair for more information.

The JPD Interweave Chapter is an independent membership organization affiliated with Interweave Continental, serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender UUs within the Joseph Priestley District, and their families, friends and allies.

The Music and Worship Arts Committee

The Music and Worship Arts Committee assists congregations in the JPD to enhance congregational life through music and worship arts with a special emphasis on the music component of worship. This committee disseminates information concerning music resources as well as sound music and worship practices; and through its annual music festival it conducts workshops for church musicians, music directors, choir members, music committee members and clergy; workshops on worship theory and practice, right relationships between musicians, ministers and congregations; and enhances the functioning of music committees and worship committees. The JPD Music Festival also incorporates choral repertory sessions.

Kathy Smith
6128 Cedar Wood Drive
Columbia
, MD 21044
443-668-1336
uusunshine@gmail.com

The Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee develops a list of nominees for the JPD Board and the Nominating Committee prior to the Annual Meeting in accordance with the JPD By-Laws. This includes nominees to serve as officers and at-large members.

Tom Kearney (Chair)
51 Davidson Drive
York
, PA 17403
717-755-6819
Tkearney@kearneymarshall.com


The Publications Committee

The Publications Committee works closely with the District Executive and other District staff in coordinating policy and content for all District publications. The committee’s publication plan includes the Newsletter, Directory, Monthly Packet, Annual Report and the JPD Website. Most of these are produced by the District administrative staff, but the Newsletter and Website are managed by volunteers. JPD Newsletter is issued six times a year for distribution to all UUs in the District, with duplication being done in each congregation. The JPD Packet is assembled monthly and posted on the website for viewing and downloading by the 5th of each month. The Annual Report is published in the spring and distributed at the Annual Meeting. The Directory is published once a year and is distributed, as well as posted online, in September/October. The online version is continually updated as changes are received.

Bette Austin
JPD Newsletter Editor
bettemaustin@aol.com

Randy Windle
JPD Website
randy.judyw@verizon.net

Cristina Sanchis
District Administrator
302-778-4564
cristina@jpduua.org


Regional Growth Teams:
Baltimore/Washington Growth Committee (BWGC) & Philadelphia/Wilmington Growth Team (PWGT)

Two regional leadership groups are actively implementing a growth strategy for Unitarian Universalism in the Baltimore/Washington and Philadelphia/Wilmington areas, two metropolitan regions that offer significant opportunities to expand our liberal religious movement with its life-saving, life-affirming message. Connecting congregations through a network of local contacts, the regional growth teams provide leadership and foster growth in vitality and membership, with a focus on Public Outreach, Social Justice, Diversity, resources for Vital Congregations and annual Revivals.

Evelyn Spurgin (BWGC Co-Chair)
128 Claiborne Road
Edgewater
, MD 21037
410-956-0435
mes@hbdlaw.com

Rev. Bill Welch (BWGC Co-Chair)
PO Box 130
Oakton, VA 22124
703-281-4230
bwelch@uucf.org

Virginia Kirk (PWGT Co-Chair)
659 Sunnyside Avenue
Audubon
, PA 19403
610-539-6271
vakirk@gmail.com

Rev. Kent Matthies (PWGT Co-Chair)
6511 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia
, PA 19119
215-844-1157
kmatthies@verizon.net


The JPD Youth Steering Committee

The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) serves as the JPD coordinating body for high school-aged youth programming throughout the District, encouraging the six components of YRUU: leadership, learning, community, social action, spiritual development and youth-adult relations. Its primary activities include Adult Advisor Training in the Fall and Winter, and four weekend youth conferences per year focusing on leadership skills, social justice, worship development and community building.

The YSC publishes “The Purple Cow,” a quarterly newsletter for youth and their advisors, and operates a website at www.jpduua.org/youth. It provides support for local youth groups by organizing and supporting Caravans between neighboring UU youth groups and encouraging local cluster activities. The YSC runs the annual YES (Youth Empowering and Supportive) Award program, and selects congregational awardees in February for presentation at the annual JPD Spring Conference (see below). It elects a representative to the UUA’s Continental YRUU Council, and works closely with the JPD Coordinator of Youth Activities towards advancement of the Joseph Priestley District Board’s long range goals for youth.

Allison Kellum (Youth Co-Chair)
book.worm@verizon.net

Phoenix Geimer (Youth Co-Chair)
phoenixgeimer@hotmail.com

Marge Caton (Adult Co-Chair)
1257 Shadyside Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
610-269-0794, 610-217-7016 (cell)
aldomaca@comcast.net

Youth Empowering and Supportive (YES) Congregations

The YES Award is given annually by the Joseph Priestley District Youth Steering Committee to those congregations nominated by their high school-aged youth groups (YRUUs), and adjudged as demonstrating balanced youth-led and adult-advised programming, containing six essential components of leadership, learning, worship, social action, community building and youth-adult relations in addition to showing youth community interaction on both local congregation and district levels. Information about the requirements for this award and nomination forms are available in the September JPD Packet and on the JPD-YSC webpage.

 

The Women and Religion Committee

The Women and Religion Committee is charged with fostering activities and programs within the District toward implementation of the 1977 UUA Women and Religion Resolution.

Women and Religion Mission Statement: Our Mission, as women in community, is to explore our authentic selves, and to work to promote gender equality in our lives, our congregations, and in society.

Anne Slater (Co-Convener)
(Co-Convener)
2753 Morris Road
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-896-6468
Slater.Anne@gmail.com

Randa Todd (Co-Convener)
211 Clay Street
Enola
, PA 17025
717-732-6576
wrrt1946@yahoo.com

Christina Higgins (Treasurer)
978 Baron Drive
Yardley
, PA 19067
cphiggins14@yahoo.com

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