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Our Minister
On September 1, 2002, the beginning of its 137th church year, the Unitarian Society of Germantown welcomed the Reverend Kent C. Matthies as its fifteenth senior minister.
A life-long Unitarian Universalist, Reverend Matthies is a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School. Before coming to USG, he served UU congregations in El Paso, Texas, and Mt. Kisco, New York. From 1997-2000, Kent was the founding director of the Joseph Priestly District Campus Ministry Program in Washington, DC. He completed his intern ministry at the UU Church of Annapolis, Maryland, where he was ordained.
During his time with our congregation, Reverend Kent Matthies (pronounced Matthias) helped to begin and lead our Small Group Ministry (SGM) program. Each month he preaches on the SGM topic. Each of our groups also engages the same spiritual theme in their smaller gatherings. The USG Small Group Ministry Program is open for members and friends to join.
In his dedication to reduce the violence in our city, Rev. Matthies serves on The Philadelphia Mayor’s Religious Leader’s Task Force on Community Safety. Kent also works closely with our congregation’s Just Neighbors all-church homeless ministry.
Out of his passion for vibrant liberal religion, from 2004-2007 Kent was co-chair of the Philadelphia/Wilmington Unitarian Universalist Growth Team. Kent also serves on the National Ministerial Advisory Group to the Dr. Charlie Clements, the Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Before his ordination, Kent worked for social justice through Bread for the World, a faith-based organization fighting hunger and poverty. He also served with Witness for Peace in Chiapas, Mexico. During seminary he worked with the Gang Violence Reduction Project of the University of Chicago, providing crisis intervention, pastoral care and supportive counseling to Latino gang members. He is fluent in Spanish. He also served as chaplain in a maximum-security prison.
Kent’s vision of ministry includes working for positive social change as well as giving pastoral care and meeting spiritual needs. He has said, “If we are to do religion well, we must connect philosophy, theology, arts, politics, science, and spirituality.”
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©2008 The Unitarian Society of Germantown
6511 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19119-3625
Phone: (215)-844-1157
The Unitarian Society of Germantown, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, serves the communities of Abington (zip code 19001), Ambler (zip code 19002), Elkins Park (zip code 19027), Glenside (zip code 19038), Jenkintown (zip code 19046), Merion Station (zip code 19066), Narberth (zip code 19072), Oreland (zip code 19075), Havertown (zip code 19083), Wyncote (zip code 19095), Wynnewood (zip code 19096), Philadelphia Chestnut Hill (zip code 19118), Wyndmoor (zip code 19118), Philadelphia Mt. Airy (zip code 19119), Philadelphia Roxborough (zip code 19128), Philadelphia East Falls (zip code 19129), Philadelphia Spring Garden (zip code 19130), Philadelphia Fairmount (zip code 19130), Philadelphia Wynnefield (zip code 19131), Philadelphia Germantown (zip code 19144), Blue Bell (zip code 19422), Gwyned (zip code 19436, Lansdale (zip code 19446), Bala Cynwyd (zip code 19004), Lafayette Hill (zip code 19444), Melrose Park (zip code 19027), Roslyn (zip code 19001), Rydan (zip code 19046), Laverock (zip code 19038), Plymouth Meeting (zip code 19462) , Flourtown (zip code 19031), Erdenheim, Cheltenham (zip code 19012), and Ft. Washington (zip code 19034). Visitors from any other location are equally welcome.