Jay Abernathy, Interim Minister

In August 2010, UUCSH welcomes the Reverend Dr. Jay Abernathy as interim minister. Jay is a native of Nashville, TN and is beginning his thirty-seventh year of ministry to UU congregations. After a short career in architecture, he was ordained and installed by the First Unitarian Church, Columbus, Ohio, as Associate Minister and Campus Minister to Ohio State University. After two years, he returned to graduate school in Toronto, where he also served a Canadian fellowship part-time.

In 1979 he was installed as minister of the historic South Church in Portsmouth, NH. He later returned to the south to serve Chattanooga, TN before moving to Naples, FL. This was part of the UUA's Extension Ministry program, and the small Naples church grew as the area became an increasingly popular retirement and vacation center. In 1997 the congregation built a totally new facility, which provided more seating for worship, as well as offices, RE rooms, and a commercial kitchen.

Jay moved to Rockville, MD in 1999, where the church was also looking to build. They constructed a new 350 seat Meeting Room (Sanctuary) with new adult and teen RE space. He later served the Fort Wayne, IN congregation for six years.

Jay has been active in UU Ministry organizations, and in UUA-related boards and groups (helping found the Urban Church Coalition, which introduced the idea of community ministers). He has served on civic Boards, including Planned Parenthood, United Way, the Chattanooga Housing Resources Board, and co-wrote the Collier County (Naples) Housing Plan. Jay has also served as President of several clergy groups.

Jay believes that "church is a model community for the human family". He supports an active, lively, and joyous congregation, and encourages social justice work and personal growth in moral and spiritual ideals. He wrote: "Sunday services are the center of church life, but only a small part of our time together. It must be rich in the arts, intellectually stimulating, and inspire our appreciation of life and humanity."

Cheryl Kelley, Director of Religious Education

Cheryl Kelley joined Sunnyhill's staff as our DRE in August, 2008. Cheryl has been active with UUCSH since 2004 and a member since February of 2005. She is also Sunnyhill's representative to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and a member of LREDA, the Liberal Religious Educators Association.

Cheryl has a varied background in education, working in non-profit organizations, love of children and youth, and a strong commitment to Unitarian Universalism.

She earned her BA with a dual major of Art/Art Education from Carlow College in 1997 and has Pennsylvania teaching certification for grades K-12. She has served as president and board member of the South Hills Art League, and Director of Education for South Arts. Cheryl is also a certified Yoga instructor and has taught all ages at various studios in the South Hills.

Cheryl has two grown children and three young grandchildren and -- if you catch her in the office during the week -- it's likely that one or more of the grandchildren will be playing outside the office or reading in the DRE library.