Ms. Ann Craig
A longtime advocate for justice in churches and society around issues of gender, orientation, poverty and race, is Director of Religion, Faith & Values Program for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); works with groups within diverse faith traditions as they strive to engage the media effectively on concerns related to equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

 

 

Ms. Edith Guffey
Ms. Edith Guffey is serving her final four-year term as Associate General Minister, UCC. In this position she serves as the operational executive of the Office of General Ministries and is  responsible for the day to day overall work of that office. Previously she served as Secretary of the UCC and was the chief statistician of the UCC and editor of its Yearbook, listing more than 10,000 ministers and 6,000 churches. She is the administrator of the General Synod and records these proceedings as well as those of the Executive Council, which conducts the denomination’s business between biennial meetings of the Synod.

 

Rev. Dr. Mary Luti
The Rev. Dr. Mary Luti is a church historian with a special interest in the retrieval of classic figures, movements, and spiritual practices of the Western Christian tradition. She taught for many years at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Mass., and has lectured, conducted workshops, and written broadly on the ways that people of faith have shaped their lives and handed on the meaningful traditions of the church. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she is the former senior minister of First Church in Cambridge (Mass.), Congregational, in Harvard Square. She has recently returned to Andover Newton where she is Visiting Professor of Worship and Preaching and Director of the Wilson Chapel.

 

Rev. Da Vita McCallister
The Rev. Da Vita McCallister is Associate Conference Minister for Youthand Young Adults in the CT Conference. Here she continues, as she has in the past 20 years including Minister for Youth and Young Adult and Outdoor Ministries in the national setting of the United Church of Christ., to work supporting youth and young adults by equipping youth workers and ministers, building multicultural and multiracial youth leadership, and challenging local churches and The Conference in the ways God calls young people to leadership in the Church. She is founder of Magnificent Consultants, specializing in empowerment for youth and young adults.

 

Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor
The Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor is the 20th Senior Minister & CEO of historic Old South Church in Boston, Mass. Previously she served as Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference. UCC. She is a leader, a human rights advocate, and a public and compassionate voice on social issues. She has been recognized for her distinguished leadership and accomplishments with many honors and awards.

 

 

Ms. Kimberly Trudel
Ms. Kimberly Trudel, known for her work advocating for women’s and girl’s education, is motivated by a strongly held belief in the importance of education to promote economic opportunity and cross-cultural understanding. Her life's passion is to ensure that women and their daughters through out the world in some of the most poverty-stricken parts of the developing world have access to at least a basic education.

 

 

Rev. Carolyn Young
The Rev. Carolyn Young is minister in Connecticut of the Whitneyville Church, UCC. Before pursuing a career in the ministry, she was deeply involved in the mental health field, earning a master’s degree from the University of Illinois. Soon after graduating from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1984, she served in the chaplaincy program at Yale New Haven Hospital, becoming Director of Pastoral Services. Carolyn serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference, UCC and is Vice President of the Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers.

 

Val Tutson
Val Tutson returns for a 5th time to Celebration. Her story-telling draws audiences of all ages from around the world. She is a featured leader at Interdenominational events and conferences. Including the, 2007 UCC Synod in Hartford, CT.

 

 

 

Whedi Cook
Whendi Cook is a singer, songwriter, musician and educator exploring a lifelong interest in the healing properties in the field of oral tradition. She brings story and song together to create new meaning and personal transformation.