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1 Benevolent St.
Providence, RI 02906
Phone: 401-421-7970
Fax: 401-276-4291
Map & Directions |
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about us
minister, dre & staff
 Minister
James Ishmael Ford
min@firstunitarianprov.org
The Reverend James Ishmael Ford is our seventeenth senior minister since Josiah Cotton was called and ordained by this congregation in 1728. As has been true for many of our past ministers, James is a prominent figure beyond the walls of our Meeting House. The author of several books as well as a contributor to a number of our denominational pamphlets, he has become one of the leaders of the spiritual flowering of contemporary Unitarian Universalism. In the course of his spiritual journey he became the first Unitarian to be named a Zen master. While his spiritual interests range from the Western humanist tradition to Hindu, Christian, Jewish and Muslim mysticism, his intimate knowledge of Buddhism and Zen brings a unique flavor to his sermons and to his other activities within our community. James also has a long-time interest in engaged spirituality and particularly how Unitarian Universalist communities can best manifest our understanding of interdependence as a call to transformation of both self and the world. James lives in Pawtucket with his spouse, Jan Seymour-Ford, auntie Julia Bernard, and two cats.
Personal blog: "Monkey Mind"
James on Wikipedia |
Director of Religious Education
Cathy Seggel
dre@firstunitarianprov.org
Cathy Seggel has served as our Director of Religious Education for eighteen years. Her first career was in professional nursing; after earning a B.S. from the University of Connecticut, she taught clinical pediatric nursing for seven years at Rhode Island College. Then, having completed numerous continuing education opportunities in UU religious education offered through district and national UU networks, she pursued graduate education at Harvard Divinity School, earning her Masters of Theological Studies degree in June of 2007. She is involved in the UUA RE credentialing program at the Master's level. She is currently the Vice-President of the Liberal Religious Educator’s Association, and has served as Ballou-Channing District RE Chair, NEIDRECOM Chair, Dean of Star Island RE Week and President of the Unitarian Sunday School Society. Cathy lives in Providence with her husband, Norm; they have three children.
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