Community Ministry and Minister at Our Congregation
Community Ministers are Unitarian Universalist ministers whose primary ministry is outside of the congregation, although they are affiliated with a congregation. It’s a two-way street where the minister supports the congregation’s mission and the congregation supports the minister’s specific work in the community. This work can be chaplaincy, counseling, community organizing, or work with nonprofits, (to name just a few). Our congregation now has a community minister, the Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner. She is a wildlife veterinarian, Unitarian Universalist minister, Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication, and Co-director of One Earth Conservation. She travels a great deal to the many projects her organization oversees currently in 7 Central and South American countries, and spends time writing and fulfilling leadership rolls wherever parrots and people interconnect. Currently the Board is refining a covenant with her and we hope to develop a formal policy for Community Ministry in the future. As the spouse of our Interim Ministers, Rev. Meredith Garmon, her time with us is limited to under two years, so she and UCDSM hope to make the best of our time together.
Some of the things that we might do together are community outreach as well as congregational programs (adult and children religious education) that deal with connecting to nature, birds and bird walks, conservation in Latin America, and inter-and intrapersonal communication and skills. She is also available to facilitate and preach during Sunday services. We plan to formally introduce her at a future Sunday morning forum and she has already spoken with various leaders of the congregation. She would also love to speak with you, and if you have any ideas or questions, do not hesitate to contact her or the Board.
Welcome Rev. Joyner!