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| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|56|2003|5|17}}<ref name="nyt2003"/>
| birth_date = 1946
| birth_place = [[San Francisco, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[San Francisco, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
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| death_cause =
| death_cause =
| known =
| known =
| occupation = President, [[Unitarian Universalist Association]]
| occupation = Senior minister (2010&ndash;present)<br/>President, [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] (2001&ndash;2009)
| employer = [[First Unitarian Church of Portland]]
| title = Reverend
| title = Reverend
| salary =
| term =
| term =
| predecessor = Rev. [[John A. Buehrens]]
| predecessor = (as UUA president)<br/>Rev. [[John A. Buehrens]]
| successor = Rev. [[Peter Morales]]
| successor = Rev. [[Peter Morales]]
| boards = Chicago's [[Meadville Lombard Theological School]]<ref name="meadville"/>
| party =
| boards =
| religion = [[Unitarian Universalism]]
| religion = [[Unitarian Universalism]]
| spouse = Maria
| spouse = Maria<ref name="meadville"/>
| children = Bill and Danielle
| children =2<ref name="meadville"/>
| website = [http://www.firstunitarianportland.org/our-church/ministers-a-staff/rev-sinkford-blog Rev. Sinkford's Blog]
| relations =
| website = [http://www.uua.org/president/ UUA President's pages]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
| employer =
The '''Rev. William G. Sinkford''' (born 1946/47) serves as the senior minister for the [[First Unitarian Church of Portland|First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web| title= Ministers & Staff Minister Bios | url= http://www.firstunitarianportland.org/our-church/ministers-a-staff/minister-bios| publisher= [[First Unitarian Church of Portland]] | accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> He is more widely known for being the seventh [[President#Non-governmental presidents|president]] of the [[Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations]], a position he held from 2001 to 2009.<ref name="UUABio"/> His installation as president made him the first [[African American]] to lead the organization.<ref name="tufts2002"/><ref>{{cite web |title=William G. Sinkford Elected as Seventh President of Unitarian Universalist Association | url= http://www.uua.org/ga/ga01/elections.html | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010716131913/http://www.uua.org/ga/ga01/elections.html | archivedate= 2001-07-16| publisher= Unitarian Universalist Association | date= June 23, 2001| accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref>
| height =

| weight =}}
==Career==
Between 1970 and 1980 Sinkford held management positions in [[marketing]] with Gillette, Avon Products, Johnson Products, and Revlon; he later founded his own business, Sinkford Restorations.<ref name="meadville"/> Sinkford "turned to ministry" in 1993.<ref name="nyt2003"/>

In 2001 he became the seventh [[President#Non-governmental presidents|president]] of the [[Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations]].<ref name="UUABio"/> In 2003, Sinkford said the "main goal of his presidency of the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] was to reclaim a "vocabulary of reverence" within the association; he had been struck by the fact that the association's Purposes and Principles "contain not one piece of traditional religious language, not one word"; it includes generalizations about human dignity, justice and "the interdependent web of all existence," but does not do much "to capture our individual searches for truth and meaning."<ref name="nyt2003"/> Sinkford has previously considered himself a "card-carrying atheist" who in 1997, after his comatose son had recovered, began to develop a "prayer life centered on thankfulness and gratefulness to God."<ref name="nyt2003"/> [[William F. Schulz]] who had served as UUA president from 1985 to 1993, supported Sinkford's efforts to use a "wide lexicon" of religious language, and had "long been critical of the position of some humanists that would sanctify secular language and lock us into a calcified rationalism."<ref name="nyt2003"/>


Sinkford was succeeded in 2009 by the Rev. [[Peter Morales]].<ref>http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/144235.shtml</ref>
The '''Rev. William G. Sinkford''' (b. 1946 in [[San Francisco]]) was elected the seventh [[President#Non-governmental presidents|president]] of the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] of Congregations in 2001.<ref name=UUABio>http://www.uua.org/administration/wsbio.html "Biographical sketch:
The Reverend William G. Sinkford"</ref> Sinkford was elected to his second and final term as president in 2005. His installation as president made him the first [[African American]] to lead the organization.<ref>http://www.uua.org/ga/ga01/elections.html "William G. Sinkford Elected as Seventh President of Unitarian Universalist Association - First African American to Lead Historically White Denomination"</ref> He was succeeded in 2009 by the Rev. [[Peter Morales]].<ref>http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/144235.shtml</ref> Sinkford currently serves as the primary minister for the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon.


==Education==
==Education==
Sinkford was born in [[San Francisco]] and attended [[Harvard University]], where he was among those vocal in their [[opposition to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War]]; upon commencement in 1968 he joined a group of students calling it "unjust and immoral" and pledging publicly not to serve in the armed forces, even if drafted.<ref>{{cite news | title= Commencement 1968| url= http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/1968/6/13/commencement-1968-pbiour-war-in-vietnam/?print=1 | date= June 13, 1968| publisher= Harvard University | newspaper = [[The Harvard Crimson]] | accessdate=2012-04-08| quote= Our war in Vietnam is unjust and immoral. I believe that the United States should immediately withdraw from Vietnam and that no one should be drafted to fight in this war. As long as the United States is involved in this war I will not serve in the armed forces.}}</ref> He graduated ''cum laude'' in 1968, then spent a year in Greece as a [[Michael C. Rockefeller| Michael Clark Rockefeller]] Fellow.<ref name="UUABio"/>
Sinkford attended [[Harvard University]], from which he graduated ''cum laude'' in 1968. In 1995, Sinkford received his [[M.Div.]] from [[Starr King School for the Ministry]].<ref name=UUABio />


In 2002, [[Tufts University]] awarded Sinkford the degree of [[Doctor of Humane Letters]], [[Honoris Causa]].<ref>[http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/052002Sinkforddegree.htm Tufts E-News - Katherine Haley Will's Honorary Degree<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1995, Sinkford received his [[M.Div.]] from [[Starr King School for the Ministry]].<ref name="UUABio"/> In 2002, [[Tufts University]] awarded Sinkford the degree of [[Doctor of Humane Letters]], [[Honoris Causa]].<ref name="tufts2002"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist| colwidth=30em| refs=
<ref name="nyt2003">{{cite web| title= Religion Journal; A Heated Debate Flares in Unitarian Universalism | url= http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/17/nyregion/religion-journal-a-heated-debate-flares-in-unitarian-universalism.html?pagewanted=all | first= Richard |last= Higgins| date= May 17, 2003| publisher= The New York Times | accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref>
<ref name="tufts2002">{{cite web| url= http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/1109/2002/05/20/Sinkforddegree/| title= William G. Sinkford's Honorary Degree| date= May 20, 2002 | publisher= Tufts University| accessdate= 2012-04-08}}</ref>
<ref name="UUABio">{{cite web| url= http://www.uua.org/administration/wsbio.html | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010718061048/http://www.uua.org/administration/wsbio.html | title= The Reverend William G. Sinkford | date= June 25, 2001 | publisher= Unitarian Universalist Association | accessdate= 2012-04-08| archivedate= 2001-07-18}}</ref>
<ref name="meadville">{{cite web| url= http://meadville.edu/Ab_Tru_Sinkford.htm | title= The Board of Trustees - William Sinkford| publisher= [[Meadville Lombard Theological School]]| accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref>
}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/officers/president/sinkfordwilliam/index.shtml Biographical Sketch]
*[http://www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/officers/president/sinkfordwilliam/index.shtml The Reverend William G. Sinkford] from the [[Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations]]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Sinkford, William G.
| NAME =Sinkford, William G.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Unitarian Universalist minister and former UUA President
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1946
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1946/47
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[San Francisco, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[San Francisco, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinkford, William G.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinkford, William G.}}
[[Category:American Unitarian Universalists]]
[[Category:American Unitarian Universalists]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:1946 births]]
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[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:African American religious leaders]]
[[Category:African American religious leaders]]
[[Category:American clergy]]
[[Category:American clergy]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:1940s births]]
[[Category:People from San Francisco, California]]
[[Category:People from San Francisco, California]]
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[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Starr King School for the Ministry alumni]]
[[Category:Starr King School for the Ministry alumni]]



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[[de:William Sinkford]]
[[de:William Sinkford]]

Revision as of 05:27, 8 April 2012

William G. Sinkford
Born1946 or 1947 (age 77–78)[1]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Senior minister (2010–present)
President, Unitarian Universalist Association (2001–2009)
EmployerFirst Unitarian Church of Portland
TitleReverend
Predecessor(as UUA president)
Rev. John A. Buehrens
SuccessorRev. Peter Morales
Board member ofChicago's Meadville Lombard Theological School[2]
SpouseMaria[2]
Children2[2]
WebsiteRev. Sinkford's Blog

The Rev. William G. Sinkford (born 1946/47) serves as the senior minister for the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon.[3] He is more widely known for being the seventh president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, a position he held from 2001 to 2009.[4] His installation as president made him the first African American to lead the organization.[5][6]

Career

Between 1970 and 1980 Sinkford held management positions in marketing with Gillette, Avon Products, Johnson Products, and Revlon; he later founded his own business, Sinkford Restorations.[2] Sinkford "turned to ministry" in 1993.[1]

In 2001 he became the seventh president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.[4] In 2003, Sinkford said the "main goal of his presidency of the Unitarian Universalist Association was to reclaim a "vocabulary of reverence" within the association; he had been struck by the fact that the association's Purposes and Principles "contain not one piece of traditional religious language, not one word"; it includes generalizations about human dignity, justice and "the interdependent web of all existence," but does not do much "to capture our individual searches for truth and meaning."[1] Sinkford has previously considered himself a "card-carrying atheist" who in 1997, after his comatose son had recovered, began to develop a "prayer life centered on thankfulness and gratefulness to God."[1] William F. Schulz who had served as UUA president from 1985 to 1993, supported Sinkford's efforts to use a "wide lexicon" of religious language, and had "long been critical of the position of some humanists that would sanctify secular language and lock us into a calcified rationalism."[1]

Sinkford was succeeded in 2009 by the Rev. Peter Morales.[7]

Education

Sinkford was born in San Francisco and attended Harvard University, where he was among those vocal in their opposition to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War; upon commencement in 1968 he joined a group of students calling it "unjust and immoral" and pledging publicly not to serve in the armed forces, even if drafted.[8] He graduated cum laude in 1968, then spent a year in Greece as a Michael Clark Rockefeller Fellow.[4]

In 1995, Sinkford received his M.Div. from Starr King School for the Ministry.[4] In 2002, Tufts University awarded Sinkford the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Higgins, Richard (May 17, 2003). "Religion Journal; A Heated Debate Flares in Unitarian Universalism". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Board of Trustees - William Sinkford". Meadville Lombard Theological School. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  3. ^ "Ministers & Staff Minister Bios". First Unitarian Church of Portland. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Reverend William G. Sinkford". Unitarian Universalist Association. June 25, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-07-18. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  5. ^ a b "William G. Sinkford's Honorary Degree". Tufts University. May 20, 2002. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  6. ^ "William G. Sinkford Elected as Seventh President of Unitarian Universalist Association". Unitarian Universalist Association. June 23, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-07-16. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  7. ^ http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/144235.shtml
  8. ^ "Commencement 1968". The Harvard Crimson. Harvard University. June 13, 1968. Retrieved 2012-04-08. Our war in Vietnam is unjust and immoral. I believe that the United States should immediately withdraw from Vietnam and that no one should be drafted to fight in this war. As long as the United States is involved in this war I will not serve in the armed forces.

Template:Persondata

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