Co-Chairs:

 

Rev. Jacqueline Brett | Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Rev. Jacqueline Brett (she/they) is Lead Minister of the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located on Garrett Road in Durham. Her ministry is devoted to making a transformative and equitable difference in the world by taking an active stand for collective liberation both within and beyond the congregation’s walls. Rev. Brett received M.Div.and MALS degrees from Meadville Lombard Theological School (Chicago) where she was also a member of the Board of Trustees and received numerous awards, including those in preaching and religious leadership. She currently serves on the executive team and as a pane chair of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Ministerial Fellowship Committee, which guides the competencies and credentialing of UU ministers in the U.S. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), which advances human rights globally.

Rev. Brett hails from Brooklyn, NY and has two adult sons; she and her family have lived in North Carolina since 2003. She finds balance through her meditation practice, by walking at least 5 miles each day, and whenever possible, gathering with friends to share a good meal and to explore art, live music, dance, and theater.

 

Bishop Clarence Laney | Monument of Faith

Bishop Clarence Laney, Jr. is a native of Selma, NC. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Louisville Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University School of Divinity, Durham, NC, a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, NC and is a 2007 graduate of the Harvard Divinity School Leadership Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 1996 he was appointed to the Monument of Faith Church (“MOF”) in Durham, NC. Under his leadership, education (spiritual and academic) has become the cornerstone of this ministry. MOF is a progressive liturgical Pentecostal church with a strong commitment to social justice and community outreach.

Bishop Laney has preached and taught throughout the United States, Canada, and Sierra Leone, West Africa.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Bishop Laney serves as Presbyter of the NC Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) Region #3, providing oversight to four districts and 26 denominational churches. Bishop Laney is also a Co-Chair of the Durham Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods Clergy Caucus, community organizer and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He is married to Lisa Laney and together they have two sons: Caleb Elijah, a senior at NC A&T State University, Greensboro and Joshua Holt, a freshmen at Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC and a Labradoodle name Max.

Bishop Laney enjoys exercising, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. His favorite saying is that of Fredrick Douglas, ‘‘where there is no struggle there is no progress.''

Pastor Molly Brummett Wudel | Emmaus Way

A native Tennessean, Molly first came to North Carolina ten years ago on a Wait Fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. She is recipient of Baptist Women in Ministry’s Addie Davis National Award for Excellence in Preaching (2013), and is published in The World is Waiting on You: Celebrating the 50th Ordination Anniversary of Addie Davis (2014) and Believe the Women: A Journey of Liberation with Alliance of Baptists' Women (2019). 

As pastor at Emmaus Way, Molly focuses her time on curating the weekly worship gathering, creating space for theological and spiritual formation, cultivating deeper community relationships, and visioning alongside staff and lead teams. In addition to pastoring, Molly serves on Durham CAN's strategy team and is co-chair of the clergy caucus and has taught within the Department of Homiletics at Duke Divinity School. She lives in Durham with her husband, daughter, and  precious pup.

Elder James Blake | Fisher Memorial United Holy Church

Elder James Blake is a native of Durham, North Carolina. He was educated in the Durham Public School, Hillside High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While a student at UNC he joined the Black Student Movement which focused on the issues related to being black students on a predominantly white institution. This organization gave voice to those who felt invisible and powerless. Advocacy for others has been an early commitment and it continues today.

Not only was he an advocate for others but he has a great love for God and the church. He has been dedicated to the church by serving in many capacities. Believing that all service to God is important, he served in many aspects of the church including Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Bible Study Teacher, Trustee, Minister of Music and eventually preacher of the Gospel. All of this was done under the leadership of the late Elder Robert A. Siler.

Elder Blake preached his initial sermon in January 2001 and was licensed in the United Holy Church in 2002. He was assigned to the Guiding Light United Holy Church in August of 2004 where he served for twelve years and was ordained an Elder in July 2005. He has served as an Assistant District Elder and on the Board of Presbytery. He also served as the President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Durham and Vicinity from 2015 thru 2018.

Currently Elder Blake serves as the pastor of the Fisher Memorial United Holy Church in Durham, North Carolina. There’s the church serves the community with a weekly food bank, adopting a class at CC Spaulding Elementary School as well as Fisher Tribe designed to attend to the needs of our youth. He also serves as a District Elder and as a member of the Board of Elders for the Western North Carolina District of the United Holy Church of America.

Elder Blake is married to Minister Sabrena Mervin-Blake and they are the proud parents of one daughter, Taylor.