They say that a person who loves what they do doesn’t work a day in their life. I feel that way about my ministry.Terry Cummings Giving Sermon

As a second career minister, I feel privileged to be able to bring my life experience, my spiritual and healing presence, and my love of community into my daily work regime. I intend to be employed in the work of ministry for many years to come.

In May of 2018, I was granted Preliminary Ministerial Fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

I was jointly ordained by the Central Unitarian Church of Paramus, New Jersey, and by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, New Jersey on October 27, 2018.

I earned my Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York in May of 2016.

I am currently serving (through July of 2019) the Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Prescott, Arizona as interim minister. As interim minister, I have successfully managed the transition between the service of a much-loved minister who retired due to ill health and the search for a new called minister.

My time at Granite Peak has seen an increase in average attendance at Sunday worship, and as a result of my leadership and ministry, the congregation will be well placed to maintain a strong presence in the community when the new minister arrives.

During 2017-18 I served as the ministerial intern at The First Parish Church in Lincoln, Massachusetts, under the mentorship of senior minister Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti. The First Parish Church in Lincoln is a federated Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ congregation. My internship was very successful.

During my second year as an M. Div. student at Union, I fulfilled the degree’s Field Education requirement by serving as the Student Minister of Central Unitarian Church in Paramus, New Jersey. Central Unitarian Church was one of two congregations that ordained me into Unitarian Universalist ministry.

Prior to commencing my internship (2016-17), I completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education as a chaplain at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey.Terry Cummings Standing at Lectern

Unitarian Universalist ministry is my second career. Prior to entering the ministry, I co-owned and ran a small general practice law firm in New York, New York. I have a Bachelor of Laws degree (1979) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

I am committed to leading a consistently high quality and varied worship experience for the congregation I serve. My pastoral care skills are a major strength of my ministry. I have experience with LGBT issues, and specifically the transgender community.

I wish to serve a congregation where I can serve the needs of seniors, and also encourage the development of leadership skills and congregational growth and outreach among the younger members of the congregation. I enjoy all aspects of parish ministry, including leading worship, being involved in social justice initiatives, providing pastoral care, and supervising lay and employed staff members.