Dr. Richard Speck, Executive Director of the Joseph Priestly District of the Unitarian Universalists of America, which covers 70 congregations in six mid-Atlantic states, will be present to deliver the ordination address and the formal “charge” to Dr. Newell as a part of the service.
Dr. Newell was welcomed as a contract minister by UUCR in September 2011. Since becoming the group’s minister, he has helped the congregation grow in number, by instituting such outreach programs as an animal ministry and shepherding the group toward receiving an officially sanctioned designation as a “Welcoming Congregation” (promoting diversity and tolerance) by UUA.
Dr. Newell holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy from the University of Maryland. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was on the faculty at Washington College from 1968 to 2005, serving as the Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, Curator of The Society of Junior Fellows and Director of Graduate Studies. He received awards for distinguished teaching from both the University of Maryland and Washington College.
In the Kent County community Dr. Newell has served on the boards of the Chester River Hospital Health System, Kent Youth, the Humane Society of Kent County, and the Heron Point Retirement Community. He founded and chaired the Community Healthcare Ethics Committee and has been a board member and ethics committee chair at the Kent Hospice Foundation.
Dr. Newell and his wife Beatrice currently live in Chestertown; they have two adult sons and two grandsons.
The Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River invite those searching for a liberal approach to religion within an open and caring spiritual community to join them for services every Sunday at 10:00. Children’s religious education is provided weekly throughout the church year. Lessons are aimed at nurturing development of personal values based on reason and respect for freedom, justice, and diversity. For more information please contact UUCR at 410-778-3440.
Hugh Silcox says
Congratulations, Dr Newell!
Laura Henderson says
Neat!