PASTOR

  

Reverend Dyan ”Abena” McCray moved from the eastern shore to Washington, DC in 1972 to do fundraising for the National Organization for Women in an effort to get the ERA passed. After successfully completing her assignment with NOW she remained in the Washington, DC area serving as a political advocate.

Reverend McCray joined the Unity Fellowship Church Movement in 1992, serving and training for her ministry with Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church in Washington, DC. After several years of training, Reverend McCray was ordained a deacon in 1998; and as a minister in 2000. After intensive studies under the tutelage of Archbishop Carl Bean, Reverend McCray was ordained reverend and installed as pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, Washington, DC on May 19, 2002 at the Mid-year conference of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement.

Reverend McCray served on the board of directors for DCs “Black Gay & Lesbian Pride Inc.”, an organization that raises funds to assist local organizations that provide services to African Americans challenged with the HIV/AIDS. Reverend McCray further assist DCs Black Gay & Lesbian Pride with their annual fund-raising event held in Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend. Reverend McCray formally served on the board of directors for “The Mautner Project”, a national organization that provides services for lesbians challenged with cancer, their families, and their care-givers. She presently serves on the Board of Directors for T.H.E. Inc. (Transgender Health Empowerment Inc.)

From 1991 to 1993 Reverend McCray performed with the a local female a cappella group, “In Process”, an African American Women group birthed out of a workshop organized by the renowned group “Sweet Honey in the Rock.” Reverend McCray worked for Northeast-Midwest Institute, an environmental agency on Capitol Hill for several years. She retired from her profession December 2002 to pastor Unity Fellowship Church Washington, DC full time. In an article about her life, written in ARISE MAGAZINE, August 2002 issue, Reverend McCray stated “my mission in life is to be the voice for those whose voices are not heard.”

Reverend McCray received her Associate Degree in business administration at Georgetown Technical Institute in Georgetown, Delaware, and is currently studying at Howard University Divinity School.

 

DEACONS

  

Deacon Elbert J. Barnes has been a resident of Washington, DC since 1985. He has been a positive force in the community through this work as Operation Manager at Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. His kind manner and compassionate spirit has earned him much deserved recognition both professionally and socially. His list of professional achievements includes, but is not limited to: Being selected to attend the African-American HIV University sponsored by the African-American AIDS Policy and Training Institute and AIDS Social Policy Archive at the University of Southern California; Instrumental in the formation of The Positive Image Performance Project (formerly known as Playback Theatre); Instrumental in organizing The African-American HIV/AIDS Walk for Life from 1998 to 2002; Worked his way from volunteer Support Group Facilitator to leader in the HIV/AIDS community.

His life in DC has been replete with challenges and adversity including HIV infection and addiction. In answer to those challenges, Elbert chose to embrace spirituality and focus on his inherent desire to help others. He used the challenges he faced to find a path to center himself in a personal relationship with God. That relationship has lead to his Deaconship at Unity Fellowship Church (formerly known as Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church). Under the leadership of Reverend Abena McCray, he plays an active role in helping to spiritually liberate and embrace members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community. His positive attitude is not lost in his approach to his own physical health. Through Us Helping Us he was introduced to a Holistic approach to healing. He received training in Holistic techniques and nutrition from Dr. Prem Deben. He continues to promote this Program and supply the necessary provisions to follow it.

 

Deacon Charles Tarver, IV  (12/19/56 – 05/30/10) was a 1993 founding member of the Washington, D.C. Unity Fellowship Church Movement. This was made possible under the tutelage of then the Reverend Rainey Cheeks. Deacon Tarver was called to be a Deacon in 1995 and was ordained in 1996. Deacon Tarver continued to be a presence and participant in the Movement after being ordained.

Deacon Tarver was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1978. While at the University, he became a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. From Ohio his journey found him working and living in Boston, MA. It is in Boston, that he became a political African-American gay activist and founded Brother to Brother Workshop. His life journey brought him to Washington, D.C. in 1992 and he continued to be a strong voice in the African-American gay community. Deacon Tarver was the first African American gay lobbyist for the then Human Rights Campaign Fund. He served tirelessly on many gay boards and forums throughout his life journey. Deacon Tarver’s greatest joys were his optimism and love of God.

 

Deacon Rod McCoy, Jr. has been involved with the Unity Fellowship Church Movement for over fifteen years. A native New Yorker, Rod was an active member of the Unity Fellowship Church of New York from 1993 until he relocated to Washington, DC in 2003.  Since his move, Rod went on to become equally active in Unity Fellowship Church of Washington, DC (UFCDC).  Among his work at UFCDC, Rod is currently the Ministerial Liaison for the Usher Board, and the Secretary for the Men’s Ministry. He also co-coordinates UFCDC’s HIV/AIDS Ministry.

As an openly gay, HIV-positive African-American clergyman, Rod’s unique perspective enriches his work within and outside of the church.  Over the course of twenty-two years, Rod has served in the capacity of HIV counselor, health educator, outreach worker, program director and consultant.  He is formerly an HIV counselor with Whitman Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia, where he provided HIV counseling and health and wellness education to inmates at the Arlington County Detention Facility.  Rod is also the President/CEO of his own consultant business, and he is involved in various community organizations.

  

 ACOLYTE

  

 Viola Vaughn is a Marylander.  She has served with several other parishes in the metropolitan area.  She is in Deacon training under Pastor McCray.