Rev. Latifah Griffin Begins Ministry at Historically Liberal Palm Beach County Congregation
It is with great enthusiasm that the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches (1stUUPB) welcomes Rev. Latifah Griffin as our new Minister. She is the 17th Minister to serve our Congregation since its founding in 1953. Her ministry comes with a number of historic firsts – she is the first openly queer woman and first woman of color to serve our Congregation.
Ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in April, 2023, she most recently served as the Intern Minister at the Unitarian Society of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, for the 2020-22 church years and then served as Interim Director of Spiritual Development for 2022-23. During her time at USG, Latifah coordinated a Black Lives Matter Vigil and established BLUU Haven Philadelphia.
She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, a national Unitarian Universalist (UU) organization that advocates for equitable national policies and actions aligned with UU values through engagement, education, and advocacy
Rev. Latifah Griffin was raised in Chester, PA and was baptized in the Baptist tradition as a teenager. After a long discernment process, she found a new spiritual community in the Unitarian Universalist tradition in 2018 as a member of the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington. She is a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA, with a Master’s Degree in Divinity, adding to her Master’s Degree from Neumann University, Aston, PA, in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
As significantly, she also brings to the role a strong presence in the pulpit, a passion for social justice work, a commitment to communal care, and a pledge to expand 1stUUPB’s role as a spiritual center of radical inclusiveness within Palm Beach County and Florida. Latifah states, “I see my work as Minister as building strong relationships in and around the church community. I see myself as a spiritual leader in the larger community, one that brings the church to the people. I would like my role to be that of a change agent.”
David Traupman, President of the Congregation’s Board of Trustees, states, “We are entering an exciting time for both our Congregation and the wider Unitarian Universalist community. We are an inclusive congregation of people of various faiths, backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. Rev. Griffin’s shared ministry with us will continue our mission to help each other grow spiritually, strive for social justice, and help those in need. With her leadership, we are positioned to move forward as a diverse and welcoming community, in recognition of our shared values and the important work to fight for the dignity and worth of every person.”