We are pleased to announce the selection of The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong as our new Consulting Minister. Rev. Jonipher is currently an ordained minister with the Metropolitan Community Church and is actively working to become an ordained Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister. He has been authorized by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations to serve as a Consulting Minister to UU congregations and has in fact served in that capacity at the Temecula Valley Unitarian Universalist Community.

He has extensive experience in organizing and successfully achieving the aims of progressive community networks such as California Faith for Equality and the Counseling and Spiritual Care Center of Hawaii in Honolulu.

He has proven ability as a successful author of grants as well as the possession of keen marketing skills. All of these attributes should prove to be very beneficial for our congregation. Equally as important, he has the proven ability to bring together groups with variant views into a consensus position.

Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong obtained his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Claremont School of Theology and possesses the experience, energy, and enthusiasm to move our congregation forward in the pursuit of our mission and goals as a UU congregation.

The Ministerial Search Committee's decision to recommend Jonipher to the Board of Trustees as our new Consulting Minister was unanimous, and the Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the recommendation.

We are looking forward to Jonipher assuming his duties as our Consulting Minister on August 1, 2010 and hope that you share in our excitement as he begins his position.