19 May, 2024
The Board and the Interim Minister Search Committee are very pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong (he/they) has accepted our offer to join FirstU as Lead Minister for the 2024-2025 year, starting August 6.
Rev. Jonipher currently serves as the interim senior minister at the Fourth Universalist Society in New York City. Prior to this position, he served as the ministerial credentialing director and congregational life staff for the Pacific Western Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). They also serve as a program leader for the UU College of Social Justice.
Dr. Kwong obtained his master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Claremont School of Theology in California. They graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in film studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Born and raised in the Philippines (of Chinese descent), most of Rev. Jonipher’s adult life was spent in California and Hawai’i. He served several congregations during his more than decade-long ministry including First Unitarian Church of Honolulu (where former U.S. President Barack Obama attended Sunday school), Sepulveda UU Society, Temecula Valley UU Community, Ohana Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Honolulu and Resurrection Beach MCC in Orange County, CA. Their non-profit leadership included serving as Executive Director of the Counseling & Spiritual Care Center of Hawai‘i and API Equality-LA.
Dr. Kwong values his pluralistic and ecumenical upbringing, from Evangelical to United Methodist, from Episcopalian to Calvary Chapel. They were christened at a gospel church and baptized as a Chinese Mennonite. In Hawai‘i, Jonipher was a member of the Honolulu Mindfulness Community, a sangha influenced by Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn.
Prior to getting “the call,” Jonipher worked in the film industry for three years, followed by two years as a graphics specialist at McKinsey & Company in LA.
Speaking of their appointment, Rev. Jonipher said:
FirstU has had my attention ever since I served on the Ministerial Fellowship Committee with your former minister Rev. Shawn Gauthier, who couldn’t stop bragging about you! I love the fact that Toronto is the most diverse city in the world, and that you have taken the bold move of selling your old building and moving to a neighbourhood that more closely resembles the world we live in.
What excites me most is the future possibility of collaboration and co-creativity that can come about when we live into a culture of radical hospitality and generosity. Even though it may feel like you’re in the wilderness right now, I am looking forward to companioning you on the journey home toward not just a new sanctuary, but toward a beacon of light for the entire community as we seek, connect, and serve together.
Rev. Kwong will join us in a “contract-to-call” position, which means he will be supporting us during our transition into 473 Oakwood, and will be eligible to apply for a settled minister position as we conduct a comprehensive settled minister search.
Please join us in welcoming Rev. Jonipher to FirstU and to Toronto.
Thank you to the members of the Interim Minister Search Committee for their diligence and commitment during the past many months: Chris Lee (chair), Karen Dunk-Green, Alexandra Hodnett, Stephanie Hodnett, and Margaret Kohr.
Learn more at Jonipher.com
- “From Righteousness to Right Relations” (March 2024)
- “A Different Way Forward” (March 2024)
- “Praying for Rain and Pulling Out the Weeds” (July 2023)
