Led by the The Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group, this service honors fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders; remembering those who have died, recognizing those who have completed active service, and welcoming those who have received fellowship or credentialed status in the past year. The service includes a collection to benefit the Living Tradition Fund.
- Obituaries, Professional Religious Leaders, 2021–2022 (PDF)
- Professional Religious Leaders Unique Facts Poster, 2021-2022 (PDF)
Program Description
The Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group invites you to join us at this service where we honor those who have died, recognize those who have completed professional service, and welcome those who have received fellowship, credentialed, or certified status in the past year.
The sermon, Radicals Rise Up -NOW Is A Moment, will be delivered by Pastor Jacqueline Duhart, Director of Spiritual Care Services at Starr King School for the Ministry. Pastor Jacqueline is a Queer feminist of African heritage, mother, prison abolitionist, beloved partner, daughter and sibling, Minister Emerita of First Unitarian Church of Oakland, NURTURER, and LOVER of everything that supports life to thrive in joy.
Our Music Director, Francisco Ruiz, serves as Director of Music for the UU Church of Long Beach, as well as Program Director of Spiritual Practice and Worship for the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM). Hailing from Ecuador, Francisco Ruiz is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and music director for a variety of choirs and music groups in LA. He has worked with various artists including U2, Ivan Lins, Luis Enrique and KC Porter. He has worked as vocalist and choir director at various important venues including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Wiltern, among others. Francisco has been a vocal educator for over 10 years, sharing his knowledge in vocal improvisation acquired by studying and performing with Bobby McFerrin and members of Voicestra: Joey Blake and Rhiannon. Francisco can be seen chasing around his toddler in every park and store of the San Gabriel Valley, playing basketball and devoting his time to community building programs such as Youth Art Centers & After-school music schools for underserved families in South Central LA.
Order of Service
- Ingathering Music
Francisco Ruiz, Music Director
Guest Musicians, Singers of The Living Tradition- “Wade In The Water”
ALL - “Building Bridges”
- “This Joy”
- “Creation of Peace”
- “Wade In The Water”
- Welcome
Dr. Janice Marie Johnson and Rev. Dr. Sarah Lammert - Black Lives Matter Candle & Chalice Lighting
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. G. Kane - Opening Hymn—“Gather The Spirit”
ALL - Calling Forth in Celebration
- Ministers Receiving Preliminary and Full Fellowship
Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage and Rev. Jackie Clement - Credentialed Religious Educators
Sara Lewis - Certified Music Leaders
Anne Watson Born - Religious Professionals Completing Service
Rev. Susan Veronica Rak
- Ministers Receiving Preliminary and Full Fellowship
- Introit—“Wanting Memories”
Virtual Vocal Ensemble - Remembering Those Who Have Died
- Introduction
Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray - Lighting the Memorial Candle
Family of Rev. Jeanne Pupke - Roll Call
- “Hymn To The Eternal Flame”
Singers of the Living Tradition & Soloists - Prayer
- Introduction
- Hymn—“Al Otro Lado Del Rio”
Francisco Ruiz & Band - Reading—Singing the Living Tradition Affirmation #463 by Adrienne Rich
Rev. Alicia R. Forde -
Offering for the Living Tradition Fund
Rev. Carlos R. Martinez
Donate- “Glory”
BIPOC Virtual Ensemble
- “Glory”
- Reading—Singing the Living Tradition Prayer #502 by W.E.B. DuBois
Rev. Alicia R. Forde - Hymn—“We Would Be One”
ALL - Centering Moment
Pastor Jacqueline Duhart - Libations—Invoking the Ancestors
Pastor Jacqueline Duhart - Sermon
Pastor Jacqueline Duhart
Radicals Rise Up - NOW Is A Moment - Closing Song—“Bridge Over Troubled Water” arr. Kirby Shaw
Singers of the Living Tradition - Recessional Music—“Draw the Circle Wide”
ALL - Benediction
Pastor Jacqueline Duhart - Postlude—“Creation of Peace” Reprise
Band
The annual Service of the Living Tradition recognizes ministers who have been granted preliminary fellowship, achieved full fellowship, or completed professional service; religious educators who have achieved, or are retiring from, credentialed religious educator status at the master or credentialed level; and certified or credentialed music leaders. We also remember and honor professional religious leaders who have died between May 16, 2021 and May 15, 2022.
The offering received today supports the Living Tradition Fund, which provides scholarships, debt reduction grants, and financial assistance in times of need to seminarians, ministers, religious professionals, other congregational staff, and retired ministers and their loved ones.
The service is prepared under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist Association Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group.
Ministers Receiving Preliminary Fellowship
- Jenny Amstutz
- Benedict Atherton-Zeman
- Erien Babcock
- Ali Kujichagulia Bell
- Joshua Lewis Berg
- Omega Sunshine Burckhardt
- Mary Early-Zald
- Sara Gush Tolfree
- Kiya Heartwood
- E.N. Hill
- mandi huizenga
- Tara K. Humphries
- Alex Jensen
- Daniel Joseph Lawlor
- Lee Legault
- Ethan Loewi
- Charles Loflin
- Meg McGuire
- Kelli McNeal
- Juniper Meadows
- Ali Peters
- Victoria Poling
- Jill Marie Schwendeman
- Althea M. Smith
- Laura Solomon
- Kristen Stone
- Stephanie Vos
- Sky Williams-Tao
Ministers Receiving Full Fellowship
- Norman Allen
- Mandy Beal
- Ashley Burczak
- Rita Antoinette Capezzi
- Diana K. Davies
- Donna Dolham
- Thomas J. (T. J.) FitzGerald
- Valerie Freseman
- Jack Gaede
- Sara Goodman
- Sara Green
- Debra Guthrie-Joyce
- Jan Hutslar
- Monica D. Jacobson Tennessen
- Kevin W. Jagoe
- Claudia Jiménez
- Andrea Johnson
- Kristen Kuriga
- Lori Kyle
- Sadie Lansdale
- Marcus Liefert
- Danielle Lindstrom
- Alexandra McGee
- Andrée Cornelia Mol
- Holly Mueller
- Sean Neil-Barron
- Janet Newton
- Jolie Olivetti
- Sage Olnick
- Michelle Pederson
- Lisa Perry-Wood
- Mark S. Richards
- Craig Rubano
- Karen Lee Scrivo
- Connie Simon
- McKinley L. Sims
- Diana L. Smith
- Carmen TenEyck-McDowell
- Melissa Thomson
- Erin Walter
Credentialed Religious Educator – Master Level
- Julia Tyler
Credentialed Religious Educators
- Carol Burrus
- Sarah Cannon
- Jessica Harwood
- Rayven Holmes
- Molly Elizabeth Murray Lemen
- Jennifer Troy Papp
- April Rosario
- Matthew Shineman
- Judith Stein-Farrall
- amanda alice uluhan
- Patricia Woods
Religious Professionals Completing Service
- Elizabeth Banks
- Meg Barnhouse
- Margaret Beard
- James Blaine
- Jeff Briere
- Laurie Bushbaum
- Jan Christian
- Rob Eller-Isaacs
- Janne Eller-Isaacs
- Barbara G. Fast
- Debra Faulk
- Peter Friedrichs
- Claudia M. Frost
- Barbara H. Gadon
- John Eric Gibbons
- Jennifer Hamlin-Navias
- Victoria Ingram
- Alyson Edwards Jacks
- Virginia Jarocha-Ernst
- Paul S. Johnson
- Nancy Palmer Jones
- Katie Kandarian
- Stephen George Kendrick
- Laurel Anne Snyder Liefert
- Ruth Mackenzie
- Jane Ellen Mauldin
- Suzan Emine Alpay McCrystal
- Kent C. McKusick
- Janet Onnie
- Jim Parrish
- Duffy Peet
- Sarah Kate Person
- Patti A. Pomerantz
- Deborah Raible
- Lindi Ramsden
- Ken Read-Brown
- Dennis Reynolds
- Terry Sims
- Dean M. Staffanson
- Sylvia A. Stocker
- Sonya Greiner Sukalski
- Lynda Sutherland
- Gretchen Thomas
- Lois Elisabeth Van Leer
- Khleber M. Van Zandt
In Memoriam
- Dale E. Arnink
- Richard F. Beal
- Gail A. Berger
- Walter Braman
- Vivienne H. Chapman
- Ralph “Ron” H. Cook, Jr.
- John Cummins
- Dennis J. Daniel
- Paul D. Daniel
- Mary Louise DeWolf
- Charles W. Eddis
- Linda K. Eppert
- Edward A. Frost
- Roger “Rog” E. Greeley
- Diana Marie Heath
- Ronald “Ron” A. Hersom
- Patricia “Patty” Jiménez
- Jan V. Knost
- Clarence “Pete” J. LaSonde
- John N. Marsh
- Denis G. Meacham
- William “Bill” R. Murchison
- W. Mason Olds
- Jeanne Marie Pupke
- Charles "Chuck" A. Reinhardt
- Dale W. Robison
- Carol Rosine
- Fred A. Rutledge
- Kenneth “Ken” W. Sawyer
- Judith “Judy” M. Smith-Valley
- Mathew P. Taylor
- Don W. Vaughn-Foerster
- William “Bill” M. Weir
Religious Professionals Celebrating 25 Years of Service
- Silvia R. Behrend
- Mark Bowen
- Laurel Cassidy
- Eric M. Cherry
- Gail Collins-Ranadive
- Tawna Nicholas Cooley
- Catherine Crane
- Sharon K. Dittmar
- Barbara H. Gadon
- Emily Lauren Gage
- Roberta M. Haskin
- Beatrice M. C. Hitchcock
- Cynthia L.G. Kane
- Daniel L. King
- Paul James Langston-Daley
- Cheryl D.S. Leshay
- Frances Hegwood Manly
- Dena McPhetres
- Yvonne V. Miller
- Richard A. Nugent
- Linda Olson Peebles
- Jonathan Rehmus
- Elena L. Rigg
- Katie Sather
- Susan Marie Smith
Religious Professionals Celebrating 50 Years of Service
- Randolph W.B. Becker
- Jeremy J. Brigham
- Frank W. Carpenter
- Leroy O. Egenberger
- Frank A. Hall
- Judith L. Hoehler
- Earl K. Holt
- Morris W. Hudgins
- Kenneth Gordon Hurto
- Fred F. Keip
- Justin F. Lapoint
- Donald A. Randall
- Gary E. Smith
- Walter F. Wieder
Officiants
Pastor Jacqueline Duhart is Director of Spiritual Care Services at Starr King School for the Ministry. Pastor Jacqueline is a Queer feminist of African heritage, mother, prison abolitionist, beloved partner, daughter and sibling, Minister Emerita of First Unitarian Church of Oakland, NURTURER, and LOVER of everything that supports life to thrive in joy.
Officiants for the service include:
- Dr. Janice Marie Johnson and Rev. Dr. Sarah Lammert, Co-Directors, Ministries and Faith Development, Unitarian Universalist Association
- Rev. Jackie Clement and Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage, Co-Chairs, Ministerial Fellowship Committee
- Sara Lewis, Chair, Religious Education Credentialing Committee
- Anne Watson Born, Chair, Music Leadership Certification Committee
- Rev. Susan Veronica Rak, President, Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association
- Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President, Unitarian Universalist Association
- Rev. Alicia R. Forde, Director, International Office, Unitarian Universalist Association
- Rev. Carlos R. Martinez
- Rev. Vail Weller, Congregational Giving Director, Stewardship and Development, Unitarian Universalist Association
Representing the families of professional religious leaders who have died during the past year is Ms. Regina Largent, surviving spouse of the Reverend Jeanne Marie Pupke.
- Our chalice lighter is Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. G. Kane, Commander, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy
Welcoming the honorees onto the platform:
- Rev. Leslie Takahashi (Incoming) and Rev. Wendy Williams (Outgoing), President, Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association
- Aisha Hauser, President, Liberal Religious Educators Association
- DeReau K. Farrar, President, Association of Unitarian Universalist Music Ministry
- Rev. Ned Wight, Vice President, Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association
Music
Our Music Director, Francisco Ruiz, serves as Director of Music for the UU Church of Long Beach, as well as Program Director of Spiritual Practice and Worship for the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM).
Hailing from Ecuador, Francisco Ruiz is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and music director for a variety of choirs and music groups in LA. He has worked with various artists including U2, Ivan Lins, Luis Enrique, and KC Porter. He has worked as vocalist and choir director at various important venues including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Wiltern, among others. Francisco has been a vocal educator for over 10 years, sharing his knowledge in vocal improvisation acquired by studying and performing with Bobby McFerrin and members of Voicestra: Joey Blake and Rhiannon.
Francisco can be seen chasing around his toddler in every park and store of the San Gabriel Valley, playing basketball and devoting his time to community building programs such as Youth Art Centers & After-school music schools for under-served families in South Central LA.
Music Attributions
- “Wade In The Water”
Words & Music: Traditional Spiritual
Arr: Francisco Ruiz
Public Domain - “Building Bridges”
Contemporary English Quaker Round
Arr: Francisco Ruiz
Public Domain - “This Joy”
Composed by Shirley Caesar, adapted by Resistance Revival Chorus
Courtesy of Righteous Babe Records
Used by Permission - “Creation of Peace”
Words: Barbara Hope & Mark Miller; Music: Mark Miller
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “Gather The Spirit”
Words & Music: Jim Scott
Used by Permission - “Wanting Memories”
Words & Music: Ysaye Barnwell
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “Hymn To The Eternal Flame”
Composed by Stephen Paulus
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “Al Otro Lado Del Rio”
Words & Music: Jorge Drexler
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “Glory”
Words & Music: John Legend, Common
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “We Would Be One”
Words: Samuel Anthony Wright, Music: Jean Sibelius
Arr: Saunder Choi
Used by Permission - “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Words & Music: Paul Simon
Arr: Kirby Shaw
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275 - “Draw the Circle Wide”
Words: Gordon Light; Music: Mark Miller
Streamed by Permission under WORSHIPcast License #7275
Special Collection
The Living Tradition Fund was established by the UUA Trustees in 1990 and receives the proceeds from the offering at Service of the Living Tradition held at each UUA General Assembly.
Gifts to the fund are used for grants to reduce the burden of seminary student loans, and general aid to religious professionals and other congregational staff in need—including those impacted by COVID-19.