How I Live Into My Multi-vocational Community Ministry

This Saturday will be a very special day in my life and in my ministry.

I never knew if ordination would be a part of my journey, and yet here we are. I am filled with gratitude and joy.

I was raised in a mixed religious household. My mother is Pentecostal and enrolled my brothers and I into Christian school. My father is a Unitarian Universalist (UU) and took me to his UU church most Sundays.

Some ideas that caused me to lean into Unitarian Universalism instead of the version of Christianity I learned in elementary school  - was the perspective that instead of being born sinners, we’re born good.

Instead of being born “bad” and using our life to try and become "good" or sinless, Unitarian Universalism often perceives that we are born good and life is about striving to stay good while contributing to making life good for others. By “good” I mean actions that demonstrate honoring the inherent worth and dignity of others, including our earth.

It’s about striving to be the best version of ourselves and not let the world turn us away from our inherent good nature.

I always appreciated how in UUism, I felt much freer to be my authentic self.  I appreciate how it encouraged interfaith exploration of spiritual beliefs, even from other faith traditions. I benefited from a faith tradition that inspired me to engage in the fact that wisdom can be found in many places, people, religions, and our own lived experience.

Regardless of whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual, or neither, I hope you have some sort of belief, practice, or lifestyle that grounds you in healthy and inspiring ways.

That said, this Saturday I will be ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry as a Community Minister. In my faith tradition, authority to ordain rest solely with congregations. This is very different from some faith traditions, for example - in Catholicism only bishops can ordain priests etc.

For me, I have the honor of being ordained by Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA. This is very special because ordination is pretty much a once in a lifetime ritual. It’s where a lay person become clergy.

What does this mean for me?

I will continue doing what I’m doing, except I’ll be going deeper with more intention.

Everything I’m doing now is my ministry. There are others doing similar things, but the perspective in which I go about my service; my WHY is different. My WHY makes my work (my service to those outside myself) - ministry.

I live into my purpose through my ministry. My mission is to do my part to make the world a better place through empathetic and compassionate leadership and teaching.

☑️ When I’m in the academic classroom nurturing the next generation of change agents, I’m living into my community ministry.

☑️ When I’m leading nonprofit organizations such as Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology so that we can thrive into our mission and serve the world from a sociological perspective, I’m living into my community ministry.

☑️ When I’m working 1:1 with historically marginalized individuals and aspiring leaders through my private practice, I’m living into my community ministry.

☑️ When I’m guest preaching on social justice or giving a keynote on inclusive, empathetic leadership, I’m living into my community ministry.

☑️ When I’m serving the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center as a career facilitator and interfaith leader within their spiritual wellness CenterFaith program, I’m living into my community ministry.

I will never forget how in seminary while studying for my second master’s degree (Leadership Studies), my supervising mentor, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, taught me, “not all of us are Ministers, but each of us have a ministry.”

Whenever I reflect on this, it often catches me off guard. As if it’s the first time I heard it. It never stops being deeply profound.

Whether you are a minister, a this or a that – there is something you bring the world that no one else can.

There is something you do, like no one else does. There is some purpose you have within you, that only you can do. Or, if you happen to share a purpose with someone else or with some group, you are meant to find your people and serve together.

Not all of us are meant to create something new. Some of us are meant to be a part of something already created because the part we play is needed to move it forward. Whether you are creator, leader, or team member – find your ministry.

Find your “jam”.

Find your purpose.

Find your joy.

Whatever you call it, find that thing, lean into it. Embrace it like your life depends on it, because it does. 💞

✅ If this resonates with you, invite me to speak to your professors, supervisors, team leaders, or aspiring leaders for a Lunch-and-Learn, Keynote, or Sermon on 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀. 

I’m also available to facilitate my unique 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. I believe that the best leaders are proactive in preventing sexual harassment. My training satisfies compliance requirements in all states, mitigates risk, and nurtures a healthier workplace. My curriculum includes examples and guidance that lifts the wide spectrum of diversity into its scenarios and best practices.

This includes but isn’t limited to gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, ethnicity, lifestyle, and those living with disabilities. Representation matters. Live, inclusive sexual harassment prevention training can be more meaningful and effective than generic, click-button, self-paced online experiences. This is offered live in person or virtually.

Message me to learn more. I’d love to connect. 💞