Harpers Ferry Ministerial Study Group

The Harpers Ferry Ministerial Study Group will be gathering on Sunday, November 11, 2018 through Wednesday, November 14, 2018. 

We are at a new location – The Claggett Conference Center, near Frederick, MD.

We are pleased to announce our presenter for the Innovative Worship for the 21th Century Conference.

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Music & Worship, First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI

A native of Baltimore, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout holds a bachelor's degree in voice from Vanderbilt University, a master's and a doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Glen Thomas is the winner of the 2013 National Student Conducting Competition. He has conducted the University of Michigan Chamber Choir, the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, and the Manhattan Chorale—a professional ensemble of New York City. He served as assistant conductor for the University of Michigan Chamber Choir in the Grammy-nominated recording of Darius Milhaud's opera trilogy, L'Orestie d'Eschyle.
His recent international conducting schedule has included engagements in Perú, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Russia, Spain, Andorra, and France. Glen Thomas served the University of Michigan Chamber Choir as assistant conductor during its 2014 tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Glen Thomas has served First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor as Director of Music since August 2007. His essay Prodigal Songs: Reclaiming Our Voice has been published by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
Glen Thomas's work as a singer includes engagements with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Mark Morris Dance Group, University of Michigan, the University Musical Society, and the Star-Spangled Music Project. In June 2016, Glen Thomas served as guest vocalist for the investiture of United States federal court judge Judith E. Levy.
Glen Thomas is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network, Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.

 In addition to Dr. Rideout, we are pleased to have Terry Ellen as our Odyssey presenter this year. 

Rev. Dr. Terence Ellen has been a Unitarian Universalist minister for thirty-three years in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland.  He is currently a consulting minister in Cumberland, Maryland as well as Fallston and was recently Executive Director of  UUs for Social Justice in the National Capital Region.

 The study group was named in the past for when it actually met in Harpers Ferry, WV.  We have been meeting in Berkeley Springs, WV for over a decade without changing the name.  With our new location, we thought it was time to rename the study group.  You are invited to suggest possible new names to the planning committee.  We will evaluate all entries and decide later this year if the name will be changed. 

Stay tuned for updated information as the program specifics are completed.