Reverend Abbey Tennis
Lead Minister
A life-long Unitarian Universalist from the Boston area, Rev. Abbey Tennis is passionate about vibrant, robustly spiritual, urban ministry in a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-generational setting. Her great loves in congregational ministry include worship leadership, collaborative leadership development, institutional anti-racism and anti-oppression work, and the building of resilient networks of pastoral care. A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, she was ordained at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, where she served as Intern Minister. In 2015, Rev. Abbey completed service as the Interim Advancement Director at Starr King School for the Ministry, overseeing the seminary’s fundraising and Institutional Advancement work, and served as the Minister for Worship and Pastoral Care at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland, California from 2015-2016. She is honored to currently serve as the settled minister at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
You can learn more about Rev. Abbey Tennis on her personal website: www.abbeytennis.com. You can email her at revabbey@philauu.org.
Rev. Alex da Silva Souto
Minister for Faith Formation
Rev. Alex da Silva Souto [they+brown+Latine] is a person of the “in-between space.” They are a soul+tender, intersectional justice advocate, interdisciplinary+artist, and liturgical curator in love with All That Is. Rev. Alex is a non-binary immigrant of color. Earlier in their ministry, Rev. Alex helped to lead the formation of the United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus, UMForward, and LMX (Liberation Methodist Connexion). They have served Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists, in California since August 2021, and have just begun partnering in the unfolding of the “Beloved Community” with the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia starting on August 2024.
JOHN B HEDGES
Music Director
John B Hedges is a composer based in Philadelphia. He has written works for the concert hall, stage, film and digital media. As a musician and producer, he has recorded in pop, jazz and classical genres and his arrangements and orchestrations have been performed throughout the world. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and University of Pennsylvania and served as an assistant to Academy Award winning Tan Dun, as well as composers Oliver Knussen and George Tsontakis. He won awards from the Theodore Presser, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Independence Foundation and the Corporation of Yaddo and New Music USA and served as composer-in-residence of both Fort Worth and Richmond symphony orchestras. John B lives outside Philly where he homeschools his son, Bran, with his wife, visual artist Lynn Palewicz, a dog (Boo Boo) and a rabbit (Rose Tyler).
If you are interested in making music at First Unitarian Church – either in one of our choirs or as an instrumentalist, contact John B. Email him at musicdirector@philauu.org or call him at (215) 563-3960 x 111.
norman fouhy
Business Administrator
Email Norman at administrator@philauu.org or call him at (215) 563-3980 x 101.
LAUREN TROOP
Communications & Administrative Coordinator
Lauren brings her experience working in communications and fundraising at grassroots and non-profit organizations in Philadelphia over the past 10 years. She graduated from Temple University in 2016. Outside of work, she loves gardening, making art and building people power.
Email Lauren at communications@philauu.org or call her at (215)563-3980 x 102.
nic tenaglia
Building Superintendent
Nic Tenaglia is a born and raised Philadelphian who joined the First Unitarian Church staff in Spring 2018. Their beard has a beard. Email Nic at superintendent@philauu.org, or call them at (215) 563-3980 x 103.
jonathan blount
Sexton
Jonathan was born in Philadelphia, PA in March 1970. He began to pursue his artistic inclinations during high school. At first he sought to develop his creativity by becoming a pastry chef, but soon realized that he needed to change from cake to canvas. Jonathan’s early oils were expressions of his inner voice, translating what he was feeling and hearing internally into paint. As he matured, he realized that he loved painting and drawing the male form. In approaching the artistic rendering of the male form, he starts with shadow and works into the light. Jonathan’s works have found their way into several private collections of friends and associates. He has become noted via exposure in the world wide web. In 2006 his works were featured at a Philadelphia LGT/Pan exhibit at the Aphrodite Gallery in Queen Village, Philadelphia, and at the Liberty Bears’ LGBT art exhibition. When not painting, you may find him baking cakes – a whole art unto itself, and a big part of Jonathan’s family through his mom and grand mom. He has been working with the church for ten years. Orville (Lee) Gumm recommended Jonathan for the position . Lee was the head sexton at the time, and also his partner. Jonathan now lives with his current partner, Braheem.