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Three agencies benefit from UCC interns over the coming year

By Lauren Cannon

The 2013-14 Justice Leadership Program, affiliated with the United Church of Christ’s Young Adult Service Communities, began its second year in the Pacific Northwest Conference with three new interns and two new staff members.

The interns moved into their apartment at All Pilgrims Christian in Seattle, were commissioned by their supporting congregations—Keystone, All Pilgrims and Plymouth—on Sunday, Sept. 15, and began work on Sept. 16 at their agencies, the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light, and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

There will be a Welcome Potluck and Celebration at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Keystone UCC, 5019 Keystone Pl. North in Seattle to welcome the interns and staff.

Following potlucks at 6:30 p.m., Justice Leadership classes begin at 7 p.m., Wednesdays at Keystone on Nov. 6.

“The Justice Leadership Program is ready to expand over the next five years to more congregations, agencies and areas. Next year we can place six to eight interns if we can find housing,” said Lauren Cannon, program director and recently called as associate pastor at Keystone UCC.

This year’s interns are Margie Quinn, a graduate of the University of Georgia who will serve at Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and with All Pilgrims; Briana Frenchmore, a Pacific Lutheran University graduate who will serve at the Church Council of Greater Seattle and with Plymouth, and Karin Frank from the PNC, serving at Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light and with Keystone UCC.

Margie Quinn

Margie grew up in Nashville, Tenn., attending Woodmont Christian Church. At the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., she majored in women’s studies and minored in French. During college, she spent a semester studying development issues and perceptions of beauty in West Africa’s Cameroon. She served this summer as a Disciples Peace Fellowship peace intern, traveling to different U.S. summer camps and talking with youth about biblically-based peace.

She looks forward to explore what it means to “do justice” in a work and church setting.
Just before starting the program, she and her parents traveled to Ireland.

Briana Frenchmore

Briana majored in political science and global studies with an emphasis on social justice and development at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. While there, she spent one semester studying in Oaxaca, Mexico, and another semester in Nicaragua.

Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colo., she spent time with Catholic grandparents and served on Lutheran church retreats.

“I am excited to be immersed in a progressive faith community and explore how faith can motivate social and political action,” she said.

She sees this year with the Church Council of Greater Seattle as an opportunity to gain vocational clarity on integrating her interests and a career that addresses social injustice and inequality.

Karin Frank

Karin, a Seattleite and graduate of the University of Washington, is Jewish, but a regular attendee at University Congregational UCC.

For two years, she studied at Vanderbilt Divinity School and recently returned from six months abroad, primarily in Bangladesh and Turkey, but also in China, Egypt, Greece and Israel/Palestine.

“I look forward to working with Earth Ministry/Interfaith Power and Light, and the opportunity to engage with different faith communities, especially the Jewish community, on the environment,” she said.

Kathryn Murdock

One new staff member is Kathryn Murdock, who will serve as outreach organizer, following a year as a YASC intern last year.

Her role will be to inform Pacific Northwest Conference churches, colleges in the region and UCC colleges of this opportunity for young adults.

She is available to speak at congregations about the Justice Leadership Program.

Elizabeth Dickinson

Elizabeth Dickinson will serve as program manager and spiritual sojourner.

A member of University Congregational UCC, she has shared her passion for justice and extravagant welcome in many settings, especially UCC congregations and Seattle public schools.

Along with her work with the program, she helps teachers in a K-8 public school integrate social justice and earth care into curricula, service learning and classroom communities.

For information, call 206-622-4865 or email kathryn.jlp@gmail.com.