The Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring
Our Minister of Lifespan Religious Education
The Rev. Ellen Jennings
Rev. Ellen Jennings joined the staff of UUCSS as Minister of Lifespan Religious Education in August 2008. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1991 and was ordained a UCC (United Church of Christ) Minister in 2007. The UCC is a progressive Christian denomination that partners with the UUA on many programs and projects.
Ellen spent the past seven years serving The Interfaith Families Project (IFFP), an independent interfaith community, as their DRE/MRE. While there, she developed IFFP’s preschool through 8th grade religious education program and wrote much of its interfaith curriculum. She is passionate about the importance of liberal religious education.
Ellen has also spent many years working on eco-justice issues, both as an Organizer and Educator at Bread for the World, a church-based hunger and poverty organization, and as a consultant for the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture.
In addition, she is a strong advocate for special education and has founded and facilitated support groups for parents, lobbied for policy change, and organized numerous workshops and trainings for families of children with special needs.
Ellen has three children (boys) of her own—Nicholas, Teddy and Tate—and is married to Mark Corrales. Her dog, Zooey (a girl!), is a constant companion and reminds her that daily walks in the woods are a wonderful way for all creatures to stay centered and grateful.