After working to successfully reduce health disparities, Nancy was invited to be a keynote speaker at the United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace in 2017. She will present an updated version of that speech and suggest ways we as a faith community can work towards peace in Gilmer County.
A former parish minister and senior Navy Chaplain administrator and Supervisor, Dr. Sturgis will discuss ways that a spiritual community can stay healthy and best position for future growth. He believes that one can only fully know oneself within authentic community which can sometimes be messy but should always strive to be unconditionally loving.
Rev. Whittemore is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister having served at the GA Mountains UU Church in Dahlonega. Dr. Whittemore currently teaches Appalachian, American, and religious history at UNG.
Rev. Dillard is an ordained Interfaith Minister and a Professor of Rhetoric at GCSU in Milledgeville GA. He has a Bachelor’s in Speech Communication from Blackburn College and an M.S. and PhD in Speech Communication (Performance Studies) from Southern Illinois University.
David-Michael was introduced to several religious beliefs in his upbringing which sparked his desire to study religion and spirituality. His ministry is infused with his Pentecostal roots, Wicca and Science of Mind, which he has studied and practiced for over 30 years.
Rev. Jennifer Dalton was born and raised in the mountains of Virginia. She has her bachelor’s degree in political science and her Master of Divinity degree from Emory’s Candler School of Theology. She is currently ordained and recognized by the Alliance of Baptists and considers herself a Unitarian Universalist Baptist.
Rev. Whittemore is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister having served at the GA Mountains UU Church in Dahlonega. Dr. Whittemore currently teaches Appalachian, American, and religious history at UNG.
John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest NC. His blog, Stuff That Needs To Be Said, has reached a diverse worldwide audience. A 20-year veteran in the trenches of local-church ministry, he is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities.
