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Press release re: Jason Shelton's call at FUUN

Date: March 30, 2008

From: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville (FUUN), 1808 Woodmont Boulevard, Nashville TN 37215

Subject: How Can We Keep From Singing? First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville Calls the Rev. Jason Shelton in Historic Vote

On March 30 the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville (FUUN) voted by a 96 percent margin to call the Rev. Jason Shelton as its Associate Minister for Music. As the Rev. Shelton, his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Amanda, entered the sanctuary to hear the results of the vote, they were greeted by the congregation singing “Standing on the Side of Love,” a hymn he composed.

“This was a historic occasion,” according to Ginger Brown, FUUN board president. “We are the very first Unitarian Universalist congregation to call a fellowshipped minister of music. It seems fitting that this should happen at this vibrant congregation in Music City.”

About this call to ministry, the Rev. Shelton says, “I anticipate helping to grow our congregation in both membership and presence in the community, and in spreading the good news of Unitarian Universalism to a world desperate for its liberating message. And yes, I do expect we’ll all be singing together as we take on this great work. After all, how can we keep from singing?”

The Rev. Shelton has served as director of music of the congregation for 10 years. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, in 2003. In 2004, he completed his preparatory training, was received into ministerial fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee, and ordained by FUUN.)

In the intervening years, he has demonstrated what a “ministry of music” might look like. Senior FUUN minister the Rev. Gail Seavey says, “Jason is not only an outstanding music director and talented composer, he is also a liturgical genius.” At FUUN, the Rev. Shelton has used his theological and pastoral training to make music and programming choices that celebrate the best of Unitarian Universalist traditions. The Rev. William G. Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), refers to Jason as “one of the strongest, most talented and most versatile musicians serving our congregations. His ministry is a gift to our faith.”

The Minister of Music Transition Committee (Richard Bird, Alan Leiserson, Dariel Mayer, Ann Morse, Doug Pasto-Crosby ) appointed by the FUUN board of directors are to be congratulated for breaking new ground by developing and implementing a process for this transition. Highlights of the Rev. Shelton’s career and the process involved to call him as Associate Minister of Music can be found on the FUUN website at firstuunashville.org/musictransition/.