Rev. Charles Loflin
Executive Director
Email: execdir@uufaithaction.org
he/they
Charles Loflin, as Executive Director, serves as our organization’s principle link with congregations, volunteers, coalition partners and legislators in his capacity as policy director, chief administrator and advisor to the Board.
Charles joined UU FaithAction NJ staff in 2020, and he stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2021. As a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair, he had participated in events and actions since the “Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey” days.
Charles received his Masters of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in 2021. He served as ministerial intern at the Morristown UU Fellowship 2020-2021. In addition to his experience in ministry, Charles brings to UU FaithAction NJ many years of technical experience as a developer of web applications and social media integrations. With all the tools of technology, covenant and grace, Charles is leading us in the Zoom age to come together as a faith movement in New Jersey to voice our values.
Rev. Rob Gregson
Executive Consultant
Email: rob@uufaithaction.org
he/him
Rev. Rob Gregson currently serves UU FaithAction NJ as Executive Consultant. Rev. Gregson previously served as the organization’s third Executive Director.
Prior to UU FaithAction, Rev. Gregson co-founded and directed SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action out of the Mansford St. Unitarian Chapel in East London, United Kingdom. SimpleGifts served over 150+ children, parents, elders and recent immigrants each week at their innovative community center and also helped to create and run a national social justice training program for British Unitarian congregations.
From 2000-2007 Rev. Gregson served as the first settled minister to the rural parish of the First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County in Baptistown NJ. From 1999-2000 he served on a pilot program as the first full-time interfaith chaplain at the Boston Alzheimer’s Center. Prior to entering Divinity School, Rev. Gregson worked for 3 years in the early 1990s in the Dept. of Social Justice/Office of LGBT Concerns at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston MA.
A 1990 political science graduate of Amherst College, Rev. Rob Gregson received his Masters of Divinity in 1999 from Harvard Divinity School.
Emily Parker
Communications Coordinator
Email: emily@uufaithaction.org
she/her
Emily Parker, our Communications Coordinator, crafts communications, manages congregational outreach, and seeks to support members at the speed of trust.
Emily grew up in the old stone walls of First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County. As a youth, she served on her Religious Education Committee, Sunday Services Committee and on the Metro District Youth Adult Council. She also worked as a counselor at Murray Grove summer camp for four seasons. Prior to UU FaithAction NJ, Emily served as Outreach Coordinator for the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona.
Emily studies at Wesley Theological Seminary; she is pursuing her Masters of Divinity and Unitarian Universalist ordination. Emily graduated Juniata College in 2018 with a B.A. in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. She presented her undergraduate research, “Beyond the Bridge: A Study of Unitarian Universalist Emerging Adults,” at the 2018 UUA General Assembly.
Meera Rao
Administrator
Email: meera@uufaithaction.org
she/her
Meera Rao has worked in the nonprofit sector for the last 25 years. Her main areas of interest have been bridging inequalities for vulnerable and marginalized populations in poor communities through mission driven organizations focusing on education, health and access to opportunities.
She has a Master’s degree in English and was enrolled in a PhD program but got distracted by the arrival of her son, who now, thanks to poetic justice, is doing his own PhD in GeoPhysics. Meera is a Tannenbaum Fellow.
Before the pandemic she enjoyed walking and hiking, travel, museums, movies and conversations over a home cooked meal. After the pandemic she enjoys the same activities, just more fiercely and less frequently.
She grew up in India and has lived in New York and New Jersey for over 35 years.
Laura Kushner
Ministerial Intern
Email: laura@uufaithaction.org
she/her
Laura has been a member of the UU Congregation at Montclair for 18 years. During that time she has sat on the Board of Trustees, been a facilitator of Harvest the Power, run and attended several covenant groups, lead a spiritual book group, taught K-1, been a coming of age mentor and Senior Youth leader.
Laura is currently attending Drew Theological Seminary studying for her Masters of Divinity; she is currently in her third year. As part of her training she took a trek trip to Border Links in Tucson, AZ, which is an intensive look into the atrocities occurring on our Southern boarder.
Aside from seminary, Laura had taught pre-school for the past 29 year. Most of that time has been spent at Playhouse Nursery School in West Orange but she also worked at The Madison Co-op in Madison for 10 years. For seven of those years she served as teacher and director.
Laura is looking forward learning more about our about our different task forces and working with everyone involved in UU Faith Action.