Jill McAllister

From Philosopedia

Jill McAllister (8 May 1958 - )

McAllister, a Unitarian minister married to Unitarian minister Walter Balk, received her B.A. from Duke University (majoring in botany and environmental science) and her M.S. from Washington University in St. Louis (majoring in technology and human affairs).

She has been an adjunct professor at Oregon State University, teaching world religions in their philosophy department. In 1996 she received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the American Philosophical Association.

She is a former Truestee of the Unitarian Universalist Association and President of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.

In 1998, she became minister of the People's Church-Unitarian Universalist in Kalamazoo, Michigan, greeting her new group,

• The ministry of People's Church is shared by all the members and friends of the congregation. Each person has something to offer to help all of us live by our highest values and fulfill the mission and goals of the church. The role of minister is to encourage the ministry of all, through teaching and preaching, listening and counseling, encouraging and challenging, providing help when help is needed. Our goal is to be a pluralistic religious community, where each person is free to believe and practice as they wish and where diverse paths, lives, and beliefs of all are honored and respected. There are few other places and institutions in the world that champion such pluralism, yet it is sorely needed everywhere. That is what we can offer to the world: a religious community where people attend to the religious questions of life, where people learn and grow in wisdom and compassion, and where people can be different and live together, practicing and modeling a living dynamic of peace and justice.

Her interests include soccer coach, music (sacred, pop, and folk), piano, ballet, cooking, nutrition, fabric arts, poetry, walking, and raising sons Ian, Caitlin, and Calvin.