About Jennifer Gray

• Jenn grew up in Topeka, Kansas; went to school in Boston, Massachusetts; and has done ministerial internships in Napa, California and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is ready to stay in one place!
• Jenn came to Unitarian Universalism as an adult, as a result of a sermon on racism the Topeka UU fellowship was having in 2006, and she found her spiritual home there. She decided in 2008 to become a minister, and graduated from seminary in 2012. Before becoming a minister, she's worked with developmentally-disabled persons, in domestic violence shelters, received suicide-prevention training, and taught English-as-a-second-language classes.
• When asked what she considers to be a spiritual or meaningful sermon, she responded: "I like to remember that it is likely that someone in the church will be experiencing a really big joy and someone else is going to be feeling sorrow or grief. You need to keep that kind of range in mind when you design a sermon or service. You want something that appeals to both head and heart, and there needs to be some sort of takeaway. People want to hear about how the message relates to us as UUs; how we can use it in our lives; and that it affirms who we are."
• Jenn finds inspiration for sermons everywhere. Her bookshelf is a big help. She will often listen to other ministers' sermons and podcasts and read about other traditions. Something might come to her when she is playing with her niece and nephew, going for a walk. She thinks it is important to be open to it all the time, even if someone says something in an offhand way.
• Jenn describes (only half-jokingly) her theology as being Deist and Humanist on alternating days. She also writes: "I don't think a belief in a higher power of any kind is necessary for a complete existence. I also feel a strong kinship with Earth Centered Traditions, and feel a great deal of spiritual renewal when I am in nature."
• Jenn is a single lesbian female, without children, and is close to her family in Kansas and friends around the country. She loves spending time with her niece and nephew, who are 6 and 3. She has also come out as a geek and loves to play multi-player role-playing games. She loves to hike, write, and learn new things.
• When asked what drew her to express interest in us, Jenn said that although she wasn't initially interested in a part-time (¾ time) position, she could tell from the webpages of our packet and congregational record how dynamic and committed to our mission that we are, and she was thrilled to find out that we have such a well-defined Constancy of Purpose. She has known for a while that she wanted to serve a congregation that is active in social justice. She "loved what [we] had to say about [ourselves] and I decided to go ahead and apply anyway. And then I came to Indiana to meet all of you and fell in love with your congregation through your eyes. There are so many things I enjoyed. I feel that you are a very healthy congregation at a great time in your life. I think we can do great work together." She also wrote that "this search is about finding a call. And I do feel called to walk with all of you on this journey."

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Message from Candidate Jenn...

Dear Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County,

I'm looking forward with great excitement to meeting all of you April 27th. The journey toward this week started several years ago for me in the moment I realized I wanted to be a UU minister. It is a journey that has included three years of seminary and two years of internships with three different congregations. I have traveled from Topeka, KS to Boston, MA, Napa, CA and Ottawa, Ontario to come to Indiana. It has a journey that has been long for all of you as well. Your search committee has worked hard to find the person they feel is the best fit for this community they love.

I have known for years I wanted to serve a congregation just like yours. I was initially drawn to your ministerial record. When I met your committee they shared their view of this community. It was through their eyes I fell in love with the UUCC. Though them I saw a community deeply committed to caring for one another and for living the ideals of this tradition into the world.

You are a healthy, dynamic congregation. I'm so impressed by the Constancy of Purpose and look forward to working with a congregation that has the guidance of a mission statement, values and goals.

I look forward to meeting all of you and falling in love with your congregation all over again. I truly believe that we can do some amazing work together. This is an exciting time, and everyone wonders if it will be a good fit. This is the task we will share together from April 26th-May 4th. Candidating week will give us all a little bit of achance to know one another, we will meet and decide if we will walk together into the future of this beloved community.

Take Good Care,
Jennifer Gray

To learn much more about Jenn Gray, please visit Jenn's updated "packet" website at www.jennifergray.org