An Invitation from Rev. Jan
When I first visited a Unitarian Universalist Church, it felt like coming home. I never knew such a place existed. I knew more then about what I didn't believe than what I did believe. I wanted a place that would encourage my questions and honor my skepticism and provide a community at the same time. What I have found over the years is a place that has inspired me to move beyond focusing on what I don't believe to what I do believe. And more importantly, it is a place beyond belief. It is a place that emphasizes our freedom to believe whatever we must in order to live ethical, loving lives and helps connect us to something bigger than ourselves. Our good news is that "we need not think alike to love alike." If this is what you are looking for, I hope to meet you soon at a Sunday morning worship service. Come nurture your spirit and help heal our world.

About Our Minister

Rev. Jan was called to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura in 2002. She has an undergraduate degree in American History, a Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion. She describes herself as a faithful humanist.

Jan grew up in Boulder City, Nevada and worked as a projectionist in the local theater while taking classes at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. In the years prior to entering ministry, she served as Executive Director of the Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Corrections, directed Arizona's only independent juvenile justice advocacy effort and taught in the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University.  Jan has three adult children, Karen (her former foster daughter), John (her former stepson), and Luke.

Rev. Jan is working on a book entitled Leave No Brother Behind: A Sister's War Memoir which was inspired by her contacts with men who served in Vietnam with her brother, Bobby, who was killed there. In January 2007, Jan and her son, Luke, traveled to Vietnam, to visit the site where he was killed. The local paper maintains  videos and newspaper articles about that trip in their archives.