CEDAR LANE - Key Persons
BIO
Namaste! I am the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, and I welcome you to Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church.
I began serving as Senior Minister of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in August 2013. Previously, I served UU congregations in Clearwater, FL, Madison, WI, and Park Forest, IL.
In the larger community, I have been actively involved in interfaith, multicultural, and social justice work for over two decades including serving as President of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), as a member of the Executive Team of Montgomery County's Interfaith Community Working Group, and the Internal Review Board of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Born in India, I was raised in the Brahmo Samaj, a liberal Hindu movement with close ties to Unitarian Universalism. As a young adult, I became actively involved as a lay-minister in the Brahmo Samaj. Inspired by my experience as a lay-minister, in 1994, I took a ‘leap of faith' and enrolled in Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, to study for the ministry.
When I first started attending a UU congregation in Evanston, Il, I was pleasantly surprised to find not just spiritual communion, but something more. I was elated to discover a community of kindred spirits who engaged with life's intimate and ultimate questions with openness, honesty, and humility; who challenged and inspired each other to live out their values in the world; and, who taught their children to do the same. I realized that I had found my spiritual home away from home. I decided to pursue my ministry in the United States.
Fundamental to my understanding of ministry is that it is about and through relationships. Ministry is a shared enterprise. I hold to the center that all life is relationship, and that God is in the relationships. A ministry, like a relationship, is more than the sum of its moments. Beyond the ups and downs, the events, life and possibility are created by staying through all that happens. We are forged by who we love and by the loving itself, over time.
Job Titles:
- Minister of Congregational Life and Engagement
BIO
Rev. Ali K.C. Bell is a Black, Neurodivergent Transgender man and Unitarian Universalist Minister. His pronouns are he/they or Rev. Ali. As a young teen, Rev. Ali came out as a lesbian. Along with so many others who are living into the fullness of their truth, in 2019, Rev. Ali transitioned openly to embrace the trans man that he is while retaining the queerness that he holds in all gender and sexuality.
He serves on the UU Ministers Association's Nominating Committee, is a member of the UUA Uplift Collective, and is a chaplain for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU).
At Cedar Lane, Rev. Ali's portfolio includes pastoral care, membership, multicultural ministry and worship collaboration. Prior to joining Cedar Lane, Rev. Ali served as Chaplain Resident at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Grady Health Systems is one of the nation's premiere public trauma centers and academic health care systems.
While earning a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School, Rev. Ali served as the Intern Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair and as a Senior Learning Fellow at the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
Before beginning his theological studies, Rev. Ali attended the University of Central Florida where he earned his Master of Social Work. He had an extensive career in social work, helping some of the most challenged and diversely in-need populations. His work ranged from individual and family clinical counseling to program and facility management and grant writing. He excelled in community outreach and the development of community relationships. Rev. Ali applies these skills to enrich the ministry of prophetic hope, salvation, and liberation that he brings to the world.
A foundational tenet of Rev. Ali's faith is his belief that we are in covenant with each other to maintain interconnectedness and elevate humanity by working together towards building the Beloved Community.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader
- Social Justice Coordinator
BIO
Social Justice Coordinator Andrew Batcher originally worked at Cedar Lane from 2014 to 2017 and has now returned in 2022 as part of a staff sharing agreement in the Potomac Partnership among 3 DC area UU congregations (Cedar Lane, River Road, and UU Fairfax). He has been a community organizer and activist for more than 15 years, working in the peace movement, environmental movement, anti-racism, education, economic justice and against hate.
Andrew currently also works as the Social Justice Coordinator at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. Some of his highlights there include spearheading a monthly food drive aimed at pandemic relief, working on safety and support for LGBTQIA+ activists and allies at the Fairfax School Board, and organizing a panel teach-in on critical race theory called "Teaching Truth; Putting Students' First" that was attended by over 700 people across the country.
Andrew's work focuses on three pillars. Building partnerships for social justice action, inviting activists in the congregation into continuous cycles of action and reflection that deepen their work and its spiritual impact, and strategic timely response to emerging controversies and crises. As a staff position serving both Cedar Lane and the Potomac Partnership, Andrew is interested in developing this approach in both the congregation and the region.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader
- Volunteer Coordinator
BIO
Clare joined the staff of Cedar Lane in April 2018 as the Administrative Coordinator. Her responsibilities include database management, administrative tasks supporting membership, technology support, and scheduling of event spaces.
Before joining Cedar Lane, Clare volunteered at the Montgomery County animal shelter assisting with special projects and administrative tasks, as well as herding cats. She brings many years of experience working in a nonprofit environment. In addition to a great passion in support of the mission, Clare is knowledgeable in finance, event management, fundraising, and her favorite component is database management.
Clare was raised in Kensington, just up the street from the church. She headed off to college in Norfolk, VA, attended Old Dominion University, graduated, and eventually landed close to home in Rockville to raise her daughter, Olivia
Job Titles:
- Minister of Faith Formation
BIO
Rev. Dayna Edwards, who has now been with Cedar Lane for over three years, is serving as our Minister for Faith Formation. Her portfolio focuses on church-wide faith formation, including programming for children, youth and adults; pastoral care for children, youth, young adults, and families; supporting our multiracial and multifaith families; and regular participation in Sunday morning services. Her email is dedwards@cedarlane.org.
Job Titles:
- Alliance Sunday Book Sales
BIO
Jen joined the staff of Cedar Lane in November 2017 as the Accounting and Office Manager, and took on her new role as Executive Director in July 2018.
Jen has worked almost exclusively in nonprofit organizations focused on grassroots community organizing. Her experience includes fundraising, financial management, human resources, and compliance. She also spent time as a volunteer Human Rights Accompanier in the Ixcán region of Guatemala.
She and her family live in Wheaton.
Job Titles:
- Children 's Choir Director
BIO
José joined the Cedar Lane staff on June 22, 2018.
Job Titles:
- Alliance Sunday Jewelry Sales
BIO
Kerri provides care for infants and children up to four years old in the nursery at Cedar Lane. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Kerri has taught religious education classes at First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, DE and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, NJ. She enjoys facilitating activities where children are free to make new discoveries about themselves and their environment. While working toward their bachelors degree in elementary education, Kerri also teaches during the week at a Montessori school in the area. She is certified in CPR for infants, children, and adults and has completed a 90-hour certification in child care for infants, toddlers, and children up to age 12. In their spare time, Kerri likes to draw and paint. She hopes to one day become a credentialed religious educator and serve Unitarian Universalism as a Director of Lifespan Faith Formation.
Job Titles:
- Acting Director of Music Ministry
BIO
Libby Wiebel is a lifelong church musician. She joined her church's children's choir at age 8 and her involvement in music ministry grew from there. She comes to Cedar Lane having previously served as the music director at two different Episcopal parishes in the DC area. Libby particularly enjoys working with volunteer choirs and handbell choirs. She enjoys arranging music for the groups she directs. She is a skilled pianist, a devotee of the Estill vocal method, and a folk singer and songwriter.
In her spare time, Libby enjoys handbuilding ceramics, training her loyal dog Oso, camping, and spending time with her partner. Additionally, she teaches private piano lessons and Music Together preschool music classes in Northern Virginia.
BIO
After nine years living in New Mexico and Nevada, I moved back to Maryland and joined Cedar Lane staff in August 2022 as the Office Administrator. I received my Bachelor of Arts from New MExico State University with a focus on metalsmithing and fiber arts. I bring with me experience in church office work and a love for creativity. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, as well as knitting and illustrating.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader
- AV Technology Coordinator
BIO
I joined the staff in October 2021 as Membership Engagement Coordinator. I became a member of Cedar Lane in 2016, and I taught Sunday School to preschoolers for two years. Before I started working here, I worked at a non-profit membership organization in Washington, DC for nine years organizing programs, meetings, and membership. I earned a masters degree in Psychology from Kent State University and bachelors degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Allegheny College. In addition to practicing Spanish, I enjoy learning Chinese, cooking, bicycling, camping, playing tennis, being with children, and working here at the church.