Sunday, July 31, 2022
10:30 am via You Tube Video
Worship leader: Rev Joan Javier-Duval has been the settled minister at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont since April, 2016
Before responding to her call to ministry, Rev. Joan followed a call to public service 
as a community and political organizer and nonprofit leader. Joan organized young voters in New Mexico, fought for workers’ rights in Boston, MA, and trained progressive political leaders in Washington, DC. She also volunteered her time serving the Asian American community as an advocate for women’s rights and immigrant and worker justice. In these contexts and through her ministerial training, Rev. Joan developed her passion and dedication to social and economic justice, anti-racism and anti-oppression, and creating Beloved Community.
Rev. Joan believes in the power of the Unitarian Universalist community to connect us deeply to one another and to the interdependent web of existence. Her personal theology is influenced by her Roman Catholic roots, historic Unitarianism and Universalism, contemporary Unitarian Universalism, progressive Christianity, and engaged Buddhism.
She was born and raised in Chicago, IL, the daughter of immigrants from the Philippines. She is a 2003 graduate of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA and earned her Master of Divinity degree in 2012 from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT.
In addition to serving on several committees for our denomination over the past decade, Joan recently had the honor of leading the Sunday morning worship service for the UUA Virtual General Assembly in 2020. Currently she serves as Board President of Vermont Interfaith Action and has recently served in leadership roles with the Rights and Democracy Institute, Justice for All, and the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont.
Rev. Joan and her family have lived in Montpelier since August 2014. Together, they enjoy hiking the area’s beautiful trails, eating delicious local food, and finding adventures in day to day life. Joan also enjoys yoga, running, photography, and time in the garden.