LaTayna Purnell

Justice-centered minister, educator, and community leader with extensive experience in pastoral care, worship leadership, racial justice work, and leadership development across congregational, nonprofit, and educational settings. Proven ability to build spiritually grounded, inclusive communities that center belonging, liberation, and collective thriving. Skilled in guiding organizations through transformation, facilitating courageous conversations, and equipping leaders for sustainable ministry.

• Liberation Theology & Womanist Theology
• Unitarian Universalist Values (dignity, interdependence, justice)
• Beloved Community & Justice-Centered Ministry
• Collaborative & Shared Leadership Models
• Interfaith Engagement & Theological Diversity

• Sabbatical Coverage Minister, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, Washington, DC, Current, Provide worship leadership, pastoral presence, and congregational support within a large, theologically diverse Unitarian Universalist community, Help lead the 8th Principle Team, guiding congregational engagement in racial reconciliation, accountability, and systemic transformation, Facilitate discussions and programming that engage race, identity, power, and justice within congregational life, Collaborate with clergy, staff, and lay leaders to support community cohesion and shared ministry, Offer pastoral presence to individuals and groups navigating personal and communal transitions
• Minister / Faith Leader, Various Congregational & Ministry Contexts, Various, Designed and led inclusive, justice-centered worship experiences that honor diverse theological and spiritual identities, Provided ongoing pastoral care, including spiritual accompaniment during grief, transition, and crisis, Developed and supported lay leadership structures, training volunteers in worship leadership and pastoral care, Facilitated anti-racism workshops, identity-based discussions, and community dialogue processes, Strengthened congregational engagement through relational leadership and collaborative ministry models

• Strong communicator across preaching, teaching, and facilitation contexts
• Experience working in virtual-forward and distributed teams
• Deep commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and liberation work
• Ability to navigate complexity with clarity, compassion, and accountability