People of Faith: Together, Working Wonders

Our Mission:

To encourage religious cooperation and understanding
To seek to effect constructive social change
To serve as advocates for those seeking to meet life’s basic needs

URC Goals:

  • Goal 1: Make Saint Joseph County a more connected and welcoming community by facilitating understanding, collaboration, and friendship between religious communities.

  • Goal 2: Put into action the values of Saint Joseph County’s religious communities by undertaking projects of social good which address unmet needs in our community.

  • Goal 3: Give witness to the shared values of Saint Joseph County’s religious communities through media and other forms of communication.

  • Goal 4: Through visionary leadership and excellent stewardship, attract the resources necessary to assure URC’s enduring contributions to Saint Joseph County.United Religious Community Board Of Directors

The URC is led by a diverse group of board members who serve three (3) year terms. The board is widely representative of the interfaith community of St. Joseph County, and is elected by the membership of URC at its annual meeting.

The 2023 Annual Meeting for URC occurred on August 23, and the following board members were elected (see notes after the names):

Board Leadership

Board Chair, Charles (Chuck) Lamphier; elected to a second term 2022-25
Vice Chair, Mahan Mirza; elected to a second term 2022-25
Treasurer, Tina Patton; elected to a second term 2022-25
Secretary, Ken Miller Rieman
Past-President, Tina Velthuizen (ex-officio)

Members

Mana Derakshani; elected to a first term 2022-25
Michelle Cobb, elected to a first term 2023-2026
Brian Durand, elected to a first term, 2021-2024
Terrell Jackson, ex-officio
James King, elected to a first term 2023-2026
Moshe Kruger; elected to a first term 2022-25
Chad Meister; elected to a first term 2022-25
Rahul Oka, elected to a first term 2023-2026
Danna Rassas; elected to a first term 2022-25
Chip Roush, elected to a first term 2023-2026
Tina Velthuizen, ex-officio

Executive Director

John Pinter is the Executive Director for the URC.