The Ordination of Arif Mamdani

Ordination is one of the most important traditions of our Unitarian Universalist faith. As representatives of the members of First Universalist Church, in April 2020, our Board of Trustees made the decision to ordain Arif Mamdani. Their decision represents our faith in and support of his ministry.

The Ordination of Arif Mamdani
During our Sunday Zoom service
October 25 at 10 a.m.
Fellowship Hour on Zoom follows

Arif Mamdani and his wife Channing McKinley and their two lovely daughters are known to many in our congregation. They have been attending First Universalist since 2009; for Channing, it was a return to her childhood church.

After more than a decade of experience in non-profits, social justice organizations and faith communities, Arif felt the call to ministry.

In Arif’s words, “My call to ministry came out of and has been nurtured by this congregation, and I would dearly love for First Universalist to be the congregation that formally recognizes my ministry.”

This is an opportunity to celebrate this transformative call. It is also an opportunity to embrace our Unitarian Universalist history and theology. An Ordination emphasizes the depth and power of UU traditions as well as the unique identity and culture of First Universalist. And it raises up the unique talents and intentions of our Ordinand, Arif Mamdani.

Over the years at First Universalist we have come to call ordinations UU High Church. We gather to celebrate the ordinand but also to personally recommit to our faith tradition. We hope you can join us for this important event in the life of our church. Your attention is a gift and an opportunity.