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One spirit interfaith seminary1/26/2024 ![]() ![]() All are given a stole – the typical long liturgical scarf traditionally worn by Christian priests during services – at their ordination ceremony. Many of the ministers use the title Reverend, which is not a protected term in English law, and some also wear clerical collars. ![]() But once ordained and added to the register maintained by OneSpirit, they are able to conduct ceremonies and provide religious services to almost anyone, of any religious background or none at all. “They are all heading in more or less the same direction and this is appreciating each one of them for their unique way in which they understand spiritual growth and devotion.”Įach interfaith minister, therefore, has their own individual spirituality, drawing on many different religious traditions and practices. “The idea is that there is a commonality of love and compassion that pretty much all the different religious faiths share,” explained Susan Mashke, an ordained interfaith minister herself and one of the trustees of the Foundation. The foundational idea behind the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation, which has been training the 65 ordinands for the past two years, is that all the world’s faiths are different perspectives and approaches to the same core spiritual values. Instead, they are being ordained as OneSpirit Interfaith Ministers. The candidates, who are currently taking part in a pre-ordination retreat (also online), will make vows of service and be anointed with oil as they take on their new roles.īut these minsters are not being inducted into Christianity, Judaism, Islam or in fact any recognisable faith tradition. She has two daughters with her husband Mark, and a beloved pug named Percy.On Saturday, a group of 65 men and women will gather via the internet from their separate homes to be ordained as ministers. Celebrating membership millstones, getting to know our members, teaching Starting Point, and welcoming newcomers are some of Shannan’s favorite things! Shannan has a Master’s Degree in School and Mental Health Counseling and has worked at various organizations and school districts in the Rochester area. She is very passionate about Unitarian Universalism, helping members and newcomers connect deeply with First Unitarian, and making sure members are spiritually fed. In her role as Membership Coordinator, Shannan’s ministry extends to all members and newcomers, and the Hospitality Team. Shannan has been a very active member of First Unitarian Church since 2011. Growing up in Puerto Rico, and raised in a fundamentalist Christian religion, Shannan found Unitarian Universalism to be a sacred community that encouraged and supported her true beliefs and values. ![]() They share their home in Rochester with a 17-pound cat named Hildegard, visiting family and friends, and never enough houseplants. Shari’s wife Elisabeth is an opera singer and founding member of Rhymes With Opera. Prior to beginning as senior minister of First Unitarian Church of Rochester in August of 2019, Shari trained at and served congregations, hospitals, and community settings in San Francisco, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Shari has spent most of the last fifteen years in New York City and during that time received a BA in Economics at Fordham University and a Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary, studying in both places the imperfect science and art of how to do a lot with a little. Shari was loved into being by a large extended family in Los Angeles made up of white folks, Chinese immigrants who did not come here “the right way,” Latinx and multiracial cousins, civil servants, a stunt driver, workers in the gig economy before we called it that, and so many other multitudes.
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