The Rev. Jedediah Mannis is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.  Prior to his ordination in October, 2004, Rev. Mannis worked as an attorney for eight years with the Rev. Debbie Little, the Episcopal priest who founded Common Cathedral in Boston, an outdoor church for homeless men and women.  He is the president of the Shelter Island Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization that preserves open space throughout Massachusetts using limited development as a conservation strategy.  Rev. Mannis is a graduate of Yale College, Yale Law School and the Harvard Divinity School and has served on a variety of municipal and private boards and commissions. 

The Rev. Patricia Zifcak is an ordained vocational deacon in the Episcopal Church.  Following many years of discernment, an M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School and completion of the Diaconate Formation Program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Rev. Zifcak was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate in June, 2002.  Rev. Zifcak has taught at The Park School in Brookline for twenty-eight years, primarily physical education for nursery through ninth grade.  She is Secondary School Counselor for families whose children are preparing to leave The Park School and an advisor to sixth graders. 

Jean Chapman

The Rev. Jean Chapman was ordained as an American Baptist minister in June of 2006.  She is an associate minister at Old Cambridge Baptist Church, called by Old Cambridge Baptist to be an outreach minister to The Outdoor Church.  She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY at Brockport, New York, and an M.Div. from the Boston University School of Theology.  She has lent administrative assistance to the Barbara McInnis House, the Homeless Empowerment Project/Spare Change Newspaper and Interfaith Action.  Rev. Chapman is also a part-time employee of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Rebecca Cho

Rebecca is a ministerial intern at The Outdoor Church.  She received an M.Div. from the Boston University School of Theology.  Rebecca seeks to be ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church.  She has a B.A. in French and is interested in studying foreign languages, traveling and hiking.  Of The Outdoor Church, she says:

"Participating in The Outdoor Church has been a wonderful experience for me.  Initially I was drawn to the ministry because I wanted to participate in a group that focused on Jesus' command to feed the hungry.  I feel that this ministry brings me closer to an understanding of Jesus' own ministry.  It has been amazing to get to know so many great people through the Outdoor Church.  Each Sunday we experience something new and different and God touches us through the people we meet at the worship service and on the streets of Cambridge.  This sense of God's presence in this ministry keeps me coming back Sunday after Sunday wondering what new lesson God has in store for us this week."

John Girash

John Girash comes to Boston via southern Ontario, Canada.  He first got involved with The Outdoor Church through North-Prospect UCC in Porter Square.  He spends his days trying to help teachers at Harvard's Center for Teaching & Learning, and his evenings trying to get his astronomy simulations to work (at least, until the baby arrives).

John said it was an honor to help get the Porter Square church up and running and to see it grow into the vibrant ministry it is today -- despite his clear lack of sandwich-making skills.  He has since moved up to Arlington and so is less active week-to-week with The Outdoor Church but still pitches in when needed.  According to John, “It’s a pleasure to go around, distribute what help we can, and chat with the friendly folks in Central, Harvard or Porter Squares.”

Helene Gobert

[Profile under construction.]

Irene Jenkins

Irene Jenkins is in her first year with The Outdoor Church.  She is in the midst of an M.Div. degree at Harvard Divinity School.  Irene seeks ordination as a UCC minister and expects to work as a high school chaplain.  She is drawn to The Outdoor Church because it is "one of the few authentic and unmediated places to live out one's faith".  Rather than get caught up in the outward formalities of faith, the staff and congregants keep their priority of Christian love and acceptance at the core of their service.  When she talks to the members of the church, she finds herself "alive with the sheer faith and courage of those around her".  Though it is frustrating to be unable to offer a cure for homelessness, she finds meaning in the process of being present as people work through the struggles of street existence and life in general.  Irene is also a Student Minister at the North Prospect Union UCC and coach of the women’s junior varsity crew at M.I.T.

Mardi Moran

[Profile under construction.]

Mike O’Grady