In the first podcast of a new BCB series called “Clergy on Bainbridge”, we welcome the co-minister of Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church, Jaco ten Hove.
Jaco and his wife Barbara have jointly served for 7 years as the settled ministers of Cedars, responding to a year-long national search in 2008.
In this interview, we explore with Jaco how he, as a clergy member, likes to practice in the wider community what he preaches with his congregation, such as:
- collaboration, for example, with other clergy in the Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap Interfaith Council;
- appreciation of nature, such as serving as a docent and advocate for the environmental learning center in the woods at IslandWood;
- addressing climate change, through projects, such as those of Sustainable Bainbridge and Island Power, that help achieve energy conservation and greener electrical power; and
- seeking peace, such as when he marched with his Zen Buddhist spiritual leader and friend Senji, from Olympia to the submarine nuclear weapons depot in western Kitsap.
Jaco says he appreciates that the Cedars congregation has chosen to conserve land and resources by sharing the lovely facilities of The Island School rather than consuming land and resources on a separate building. He also appreciates how the Cedars congregation welcomes members of the LGBTQ community, and expresses a friendly welcome to worship service visitors of a wide variety of ages and life styles.
Jaco says visitors are invited to the weekly Cedars worship services at 10am each Sunday at The Island School at 8553 NE Day Road.
Credits: BCB host, editor and publisher: Barry Peters.