Reverend Karen Laughman
Interfaith Minister
ABOUT KAREN
My Ministry: My calling as a minister is to serve others on their path, helping them celebrate joy and love and find peace and wholeness in their spirits. In 2009, I graduated from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York, NY as an ordained interfaith minister. I am touched by the beauty and wisdom of the major world religions and indigenous spiritual traditions. My training at One Spirit provided me with skills to be an officiant for life passage ceremonies such as weddings, memorial services, baby blessings and to provide spiritual counseling. My own spiritual journey was deepened at One Spirit and continues to deepen as I commit to my spiritual practices and rejoice in my spirit. Serving as a minister fulfills my soul’s purpose, and I feel grateful for the many gifts on my spiritual path.
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My Religious Background: My childhood religious experiences were in the Christian religion. I value the parables of Jesus and his gentle teachings about love and acceptance. As an adult in my later years, I joined a Unitarian Universalist church which affirms a personal spiritual journey, welcomes all beliefs and supports social justice for all people as a primary spiritual value. I served as a leader at the UU congregation as a youth advisor and in social justice programs. I helped lead the Welcoming Congregation program which affirms gay, lesbian and transgender people and their families. When ordained, I served as pastoral minister during a transitional period at the UU church. I offer Sunday services at UU churches.
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I am currently an active member of a Unity Spiritual Center which is a heart-centered and diverse spiritual community, affirming of everyone. I resonate with Unity’s spiritual message that God is everywhere and the Presence of the Divine lives within the Spirit of every person. I offer Sunday services at Unity and lead efforts to help Unity grow with uplifting messages of love, inclusion and healing which is needed in our world.
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My Background and Work: I have lived in many regions of the country and was fortunate to grow up in natural settings. Reminiscent of childhood experiences, my spirit feels
“at home” in nature… the woods, a garden, being with a sunset/sunrise or gazing at the beauty and mystery of the moon and stars. As long as I can remember, I have wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I graduated from the University of Tennessee with a major in child development. My life’s work has been in the helping professions. I began as a preschool teacher and moved into parent education, finding much satisfaction and meaning in my work with children and families.
I have also served as a facilitator of programs and workshops to empower parents, women and teens and have been a leader of diversity initiatives at my places of employment. I feel passionately about social justice and have supported many projects to bring equality and quality of life to all people.
What I Love: I am a proud mother and grandmother and the happy spouse of my life partner, Dan.
I love spending time with the members of my treasured family and my many friends. I love creating spiritual ceremonies and rituals. I also find satisfaction in reading and in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and gardening.
