Board of Directors

 Meet the 2011-2012 UUPLAN Board of Directors

Arnold "Brad" Bradburd, Treasurer: Brad is a member of the UU Church of the Restoration in Airy and he has been a UU for 55 years and a member of the board for two years serving as our Treasurer. He joined UUPLAN because “We need to have our voices heard in our state capital, and not just in our nation's capital. Together, we can be a strong voice for our ideals and impact our communities with significant social legislation.”

Rev. Dr. Thomas Bodie, Director of Western Congregations: I went to Bowling Green State University for college, and then on to the University of Maryland for a Ph.D. in international relations, which I used to teach political science for a bit. I later enter ministry, and returned to school for a divinity degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Ordained by the Ginger Hill Congregation in Slippery Rock, I have been a Unitarian Universalist minister since 2007 and now serve as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Smithton.

Cynthia Jones, Secretary: Cynthia is a member of BuxMont UU in Warrington, PA where she serves as chair of the Peace and Justice Committee. She became a UU six years ago and joined UUPLAN in 2007. She is the issues coordinator for health care and worked with the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) to advocate for health care coverage for all in PA and nationwide. She has been a board member for three years. She joined UUPLAN because “I believe in deeds not creeds and I hope that UUPLAN will become a force for justice in Pennsylvania.”

Rev. Kent Matthies, President: Rev. Kent is the senior minister to the Unitarian Society of Germantown in Philadelphia since 2002. Kent’s strong commitment to the advancement of social justice is evidenced through his previous work with Bread for the World, Witness for Peace in Chiapas, Mexico and during seminary with the Gang Violence Reduction Project of the University of Chicago. Rev Matthies has served as a prison chaplain, served on The Philadelphia Mayor’s Religious Leader’s Task Force on Community Safety, and partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. A life-long UU, he received his Masters of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago.

Rev. Nate Walker, Vice President: Rev. Nate is the minister at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. His many interests include Immigrant Rights, Freedom to Marry, Affirmative Action and Capital Punishment. At the 2009 General Assembly, he delivered the 23rd Annual John Murray Distinguished Lecture. Reverend Nate is the co-editor of "Whose God Rules a Theolegal Nation?" with foreword by Tony Blair, which analyzes how theology is used to make law in the United States.