About UUPCCSince 1993, the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council (UUPCC) has encouraged and supported almost 200 congregational partnerships between American and Canadian Unitarian Universalists and Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists around the world.These relationships weave together the lives and stories of people who share our fundamental affirmations of freedom of conscience in matters of religion, tolerance for those with different beliefs, a reasoned approach to religious ideas, and a willingness to grow and change in our religious understandings.Unitarian Universalist Partner Church CouncilUUPCC_4787e726-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00UUPCC is a non-profit membership organization composed of individual, group and congregational memberships and governed by a twelve-person Board of Directors, elected by the members. UUPCC is an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUPCC is a 501(C)3 organization and donations are tax-exempt.UUPCC Board of DirectorsUUPCC is governed by a twelve-person Board of Directors, elected by the membership to staggered 3-year terms.Rev. Morgan McLeanChair -- Davis, CA -- Term to 2022 -- Rev. Morgan McLean is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and has been involved in congregations in Wisconsin, Washington, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Before entering ministry, Morgan worked on human rights issues with Amnesty International, USA. At Main Line Unitarian Church in suburban Philadelphia, Morgan worked closely with the congregation’s Partner Church efforts, including a visit in 2013 to their partner church in Várfalva, Transylvania and a subsequent visit from eight of the villagers to Main Line in 2014. Her personal experience in Transylvania was transformative as she connected with the historic roots of our shared faith and found new ways to engage that history with spirituality. Morgan is the Assistant Minister for Congregational Life at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, CA.Anne GreenwoodVice-Chair -- San Pablo, CA -- Term to 2022 -- Anne Greenwood was first introduced to Transylvanian Unitarians at the 1984 World Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom. She has been involved ever since, traveling many times to Partner congregations in Transylvania, including her own partner church of Homoródúfalu. She has served as member, chair and co-chair of the Partner Church Committee at the UU Church of Berkeley since its inception in 1990, and is an active member of the Balázs Scholar Committee, supporting a visiting scholar and their family for the academic year at Starr King School for the Ministry. She also served as a UUPCC networker in the Pacific Central District.Rev. Eric MeterSecretary -- Columbus, OH -- Term to 2021 -- Rev. Eric Meter has been the Associate Minister at First UU of Columbus OH since August 2008. Born and raised Unitarian Universalist, Eric came to First UU after ten years of ministry in northern California and an interim ministry year in upstate New York.Rick IrwinTreasurer -- Atlanta GA -- Term to 2022 -- Rick Irwin was an actuary for PricewaterhouseCoopers for 18 years, specializing in health insurance projects for large employers. He retired last September. His responsibilities were tied to analysis of the client's health plan experience, so he is very comfortable crunching numbers to identify trends & outliers and to be sure everything "adds up."Rev. Alicia FordeUUA Appointee -- Boston, MA -- Rev. Alicia Forde joins us as the new UUA Director of International Resources, leading the UUA’s engagement with global Unitarian, Universalist and interfaith partners, including supervising the UU United Nations Office and the Holdeen India Program. Rev. Alicia previously served as the UUA’s Professional Development Director, and as the Multicultural Congregations Program Coordinator. She notes that her work (and play!) rests on a foundation of collaboration, deep listening, transnational feminism, and wrestling with the legacies and impact of settler colonialism and imperialism across the globe. Alicia has a Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology and is also a certified Spiritual Director.Carol CookSan Mateo, CA -- Term to 2020 -- Carol Cook has served on the UUPCC Board since June 2014, and on the UUPCC Communications Committee since January 2010. She is a retired librarian and resides in San Mateo, California. She is co-chair of UUSM's Partner Church Committee, and has served UUSM as Membership co-chair, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Board member. Carol has traveled to the Philippines five times to meet UUSM's partners in the Ulay congregation on Negros Island, and in March 2013 organized a large collection of theology books donated by Dr. Richard Beals to the UU Church of the Philippines library in Dumaguete.Rev. Ilene Tompkins-GillispieBrevard, NC -- Term to 2021 -- Rev. Ilene Tompkins-Gillispie grew up in an interfaith Unitarian Universalist family in Alexandria, VA. She is a lover and scholar of world religions and has been a practicing Sikh (a religious tradition from North India), in addition to her lifelong roots as a UU, for almost ten years. Ilene holds a B.A. in Religion from New College of Florida and an M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology. She has a deep commitment to justice work in many forms, including a history of work with the UUPCC in Romania and India.Michelle Leebens-MackAthens, GA -- Term to 2020 -- Michelle Leebens-Mack (Athens, GA) for a first three-year term on the Board of Directors. Michelle has been actively involved with the Partner Church Council at the UU Fellowship of Athens since moving to Georgia in 2006. She initiated the small group ministry program at UUFA and served as the Lay Minister for Connections from 2010-2017. Michelle helped make arrangements for partner church members visiting Athens, and in 2015, she traveled to Oklánd, Transylvania, as part of a pilgrimage group visiting UUFA’s partner congregation. Michelle has had a lifelong experience in making international connections, including spending summers with family in the Netherlands every couple of years. Michelle’s family hosted AFS students during school years and she served as the president of her high school AFS club where she met her now husband of 30+years. Michelle has been a UU since 1999, attending UU congregations in TX, TN, NY, PA and now GA. Michelle is a Registered Nurse with wide experience in critical care, emergency, and hospice. Michelle now works in surgery centers and at the University of Georgia Health Service Travel Clinic.Melody MobergSeattle WA -- Term to 2020 -- Melody Moberg is Chair of the UUPCC Youth and Young Adult Initiative and Director of Religious Education at University Unitarian Church in Seattle, WA. She has served on the UUPCC Board of Directors since 2014, and is the co-leader of the young adult program at the ICUU Conference and Council Meeting in the Netherlands July 2016, along with Rev. Sara Ascher. Melody is a life-long UU. She won the 2011 UUA Social Witness Sermon Contest, and plans to begin seminary in the fall, while continuing to serve as a DRE. Melody graduated in 2010 from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI with a BA in religious studies and English, and volunteered full time with adults with developmental disabilities before coming to University Unitarian Church in 2011.Rev. Howard DanaConcord, MA -- Term to 2021 -- Rev. Howard Dana came to First Parish in August 2013, after 13 years serving the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, he previously served as intern minister at Birmingham Unitarian Church outside Detroit and interim minister at the Mission Peak UU Congregation in Fremont, California. Under Howard’s leadership in Harrisburg, his church was designated by the UUA as a Breakthought Congregation, for its visionary acquisition of an inner-city church building to accommodate a growing congregation.Gwyn ReidBoise, ID -- Term to 2021 -- Gwyn Reid - Boise UU Fellowship, Boise, ID As a lay leader dedicated to partnership, and a seasoned traveler to Transylvania, Gwyn enjoys visiting Boise’s Mészkö partner church in the Alabaster Village. Last year’s Steward of Partnership Award for Gwyn recognizes the depth and quality of her work for the partnership at the Boise congregation. Gwyn is deeply committed to sharing all aspects of partnership along with our Unitarian Transylvanian roots. After reviewing letters from Christine Morgan (wife of Balász Ferenc) to her family members, Gwyn created and wrote a one-woman show called “Letters from Christine”. The play was performed by a member of her congregation at GA in 2008.Rev. Debra FaulkCalgary, Canada -- Term to 2022 -- Debra Faulk serves the Unitarian Church of Calgary, the same congregation where her parents first recognized themselves as Unitarian and brought her along as a toddler. As a life-long Canadian Unitarian, she has found this religious tradition to be a solid foundation in her life. After serving as the parish minister at the Don Heights Unitarian Congregation in Toronto for 4 years, she was called by the Unitarian Church of Calgary in August of 2010. Debra participated in the Mindful Walk Transylvania pilgrimage in the summer of 2018. Debra holds a B.A. from the University of Victoria (Psychology / Anthropology) and a Master of Divinity degree from the Vancouver School of Theology. When not at the church, she can be found going to concerts, tending plants inside and out, reading, hiking, and connecting with friends and family including five grandchildren.UUPCC StaffThe day-to-day business of the organization is conducted by the Executive Director, two part-time employees and numerous dedicated volunteers. Roger BertschausenExecutive Director -- Rev. Roger Bertschausen became the Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council in July 2016. Previously he served as the minister of the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Appleton, WI from 1990 until June 2015. During this time, the membership of the congregation grew from 100 to 700 members, making it one of the twenty largest Unitarian Universalist congregations in the United States. In May 2018, Roger was named Minister Emeritus of the Fox Valley UU Fellowship. Roger also works occasionally as a consultant on church governance with Unity Consultants of Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, MN. He also serves as the Director of the UU House of Study at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. (The UUPCC office is located on Eden’s campus.) The Fox Valley UU Fellowship began two partnerships during Roger’s ministry—with the Unitarian church in historic Déva, Transylvania, and the UU church in Banay-Banay in the Philippines. These partnerships have had a big impact on the Fox Valley congregation and on Roger’s ministry and spirituality. So there was no hesitation when Roger was invited to serve on the UUPCC Board, which he did from 2009 until 2015. Trina PrieseAdministrator -- A second generation UU, Trina is a life-long member at Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood MO. A retired business and technology teacher, Trina traveled with her church group in 2016 to visit Eliot’s partner village in Transylvania. In 2017 while serving on the board at Eliot , she met Rev. Bertschausen when the UUPCC office moved to its current location in St. Louis. When the opportunity to serve as the partner church office administrator came, she embraced it eagerly and hasn’t looked back. Trina keeps a picture of her partner village congregants as her desktop display and says that working with the UUPCC partner members has enrichened her faith and provided a global understanding that she hadn’t had before. Trina’s favorite part of partnership work is helping members and travelers have the best partner experiences possible.Rev. Andrew WeberTravel Program Director -- Rev. Andrew Weber is a proud, life long Unitarian Universalist, currently living in Newark, DE (pronounced new-Ark, not New-erk) with his wife and two small children. Andrew first traveled to Transylvania in 1999 and has returned to Hungary and Romania many times with Habitat for Humanity International and UUPCC pilgrimages and volunteer groups. Through this involvement, he speaks conversational Hungarian. He grew up in a family devoted to Main Line Unitarian Church’s partnership with the Unitarian church in Várfalva, Transylvania. Andrew’s calling is to empower others to reach their full potential, and create space for transformation, self discovery and new energy. This calling continues into cross-cultural church partnerships, as the connections and relationships which are formed help us all live into a better world of understanding and love. Andrew believes strongly in incorporating spirituality and faith identity in travel experiences. He is passionate about mutual partnership because it has changed his life.Libby HannaBookkeeperPat RodgersPCC-Chat volunteerSharon McCarronNewsletter VolunteerUnitariansUnitarian UniversalistsCongregationsOrphanagesSchoolsStudentsRev. C. Leon HopperRead Rev. C. Leon Hopper's history from 1998 for more on our beginnings. https://uupcc.org/sites/uupcc.org/files/sermons/General/hopperl-20070621.pdfA worldwide Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist community that promotes peace, justice, and liberty for all, supported by partnerships that are integral to congregational life._4787e82a-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00To foster and support partner relationships between UU congregations and individuals in the United States and Canada with Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist congregations, orphanages, schools and students in all other countries where partnering is sought and welcomed._4787e974-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00International EngagementUUPCC believes that international engagement is a moral and spiritual principle that enhances Unitarian Universalist congregational life. Global partnerships can be a first step to building world community. Through shared experience, partners become increasingly aware of the interdependency of all people.PartnershipPartnerships provide individuals, small groups and full congregations a way to connect with the larger fellowship of our faith. Our models are not based on charity—we value building relationships between UUs that benefit all in both small and large ways—improving cultural understanding, supporting communities and helping to develop individual, religious, educational and economic opportunities.PeaceJusticeLibertyConnectionsBE a bridge that connects congregations around the world_4787eaf0-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea001_4787ebe0-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00CollaborationREACH across boundaries to collaborate with old and new partners_4787ecb2-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea002_4787eda2-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00Pilgrimage, Hospitality, Learning & ServiceCREATE transformational opportunities for pilgrimage and hospitality, for learning and for service_4787ee7e-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea003_4787ef5a-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00Values & BehaviorsCHALLENGE ourselves theologically and open ourselves to changed values and behaviors_4787f040-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea004_4787f126-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00CommunityESTABLISH global community as a common commitment of liberal religion_4787f23e-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea005_4787f392-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00Partnership & FriendshipINITIATE partnerships that promote global friendships, international awareness, human rights, and a better world_4787f482-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea006_4787f568-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea00Sustenance, Growth & RenewalSUSTAIN this global vision, enlarging and renewing it as new occasions teach new duties._4787f69e-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea007_4787f87e-9588-11ea-8463-e3f82183ea001993-12-312020-05-13https://uupcc.org/who-we-are/vision-missionOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net