Stories of Faithful Resonance

Written By Jenny Whitcher (she/her)

Over the coming weeks, we’ll share stories from a few members of the Juniper Formation Leadership Team as a way to invite you in to get to know us and Juniper Formation. We reflect on our identities and faith as they collide with the realities of the world—our churches, workplaces, schools, public and political spaces, families, and communities. Being church together is something quite unique, and also, there are many aspects of these relationships that can easily be translated across institutions from all sectors.

There has to be a different way of being together in this world. We want more abundant love and inclusion, more people to sit in the gray saying, “I don’t know, but I’m curious,” more justice and liberation for the oppressed, and more grace and forgiveness for ourselves and one another.

We use narrative storytelling to share with you what being a part of Juniper Formation is like for us. We hope that these stories will connect with you spirit-to-spirit, and that you might be encouraged to join us more deeply in ministry, or for the very first time if you are newly meeting us through our stories. We’d also appreciate a donation, if you are able to make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly or annual donation.

Last year, our Leadership Team Chair Jeanette Rojas led us through a storytelling process centered on the questions:

  • What do you love about Juniper Formation? What feels unique?

  • How has being a part of Juniper Formation changed your perspective on the Church, community, faith, etc.?

  • When you sit in the spirit, do any themes, stories, or moments begin to stir?

This communal storytelling process allowed us to individually reflect our collective story, weaving together the fabric of our faith community, Juniper Formation.

We hope that whether you are a churchgoer, church member, clergy, judicatory, or have never stepped inside a church, a former Christian, or spiritual but not religious, that you might find resonance.

Why Bry Brannan (they/them) gives monthly to Juniper Formation…

Bry (they/them) and Camille (they/them)

“I donate monthly to Juniper Formation as one of the ways to be part of the collective efforts to sustain the relational, soulful, and justice-seeking ministries of this ecumenical church.

The bimonthly Gathering nourishes and challenges me to embody my faith. The Gathering space is rooted in song, Scripture, sacrament and Spirit-led conversations. One week we reflected on how we experience a gender-expansive God and the next week we engaged each other on why conversations about reparations for the legacy of slavery can be hard to have at an individual and societal level.

These are the small group conversations I’ve longed to have in church. I invite you to join me and my spouse Camille in making a monthly contribution as you’re able to support the people who bring the ministry of Juniper Formation to life.”

You can make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation here:

Jenny Whitcher (she/her)

Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher is the Minister of Prophetic Formation and founder of Juniper Formation, an entrepreneurial and ecumenical faith community of the United Church of Christ (UCC), with the mission of "prophetically reimagining the Church from the margins."

She is a pastor, entrepreneur, community organizer, artist, public scholar, and theologian committed to liberation and social justice.

Her areas of expertise include: professional, personal, spiritual, and organizational formation and leadership; religion and public life; democratic culture, leadership, and pedagogy; community organizing; and social change theory and practice.

Whitcher previously served as the faculty Director of the Office of Professional Formation and Term Assistant Professor of Religion & Public Life at Iliff School of Theology, after serving as Iliff's Director of the Master of Arts in Social change (now M.A. in Social Justice & Ethics) and Director of Service Learning.

As an interdisciplinary public scholar committed to social justice and human rights, Whitcher bridges fields of religious, theological, and civic studies within local, national, and international contexts. Prior to working at Iliff, Whitcher served as Associate Director of the Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL), where she taught Community Organizing and Denver Urban Issues and Policy courses; created and led student civic development curricula; trained faculty in public scholarship and pedagogy; led local and international Immersion Programs; and was the creator, editor, and contributing writer of the "Public Good Newsletter" at the University of Denver for five years.

Her career in higher education started in 2004 at the University of Denver's Office of Internationalization Study Abroad Program. Whitcher transitioned into higher education from the nonprofit sector where she worked locally in Denver with populations experiencing homelessness and globally on affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity International where she was also the "Advocacy Alert" columnist for Frameworks Magazine.

Whitcher's publications include book chapters, articles, and public resources on civic and spiritual development and formation, relational community organizing, experiences of organizers and public life, and democratic education. She is co-author and co-editor of the first and second editions of the Community Organizing Handbook (2009, 2010).

Whitcher's public scholarship, teaching, leadership, and ministry have included work with various local congregations and denominational leaders across the U.S. and across denominational, faith, and spiritual identities. In addition, she has worked with various nonprofits and foundations, including, but not limited to:  WorldDenver, La Academia at Denver Inner City Parish, Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Diyar Consortium, Everyday Democracy, Colorado Progressive Coalition, Puksta Foundation, the Kettering Foundation, El Centro Humanitario, Denver Public Schools, American Commonwealth Project, Urban Peak, and Habitat for Humanity International.

Internationally, Whitcher has travelled and partnered with local leaders and communities in Palestine, Israel, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Hungary, Italy, and Spain.

She is the recipient of the Peacemaker Award from the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ (2006) and the Young Philanthropist Award by Women in Development of Greater Boston (2004).

Ordination: Metro Denver Association of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC).

Education:

B.A., New York University
M.A., University of Denver
Ph.D. Iliff School of Theology & University of Denver

https://www.jennywhitcher.com
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