Reverend Marni Harmony

The Reverend Marni Harmony served as the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando from 1988-2008. From August 2008 and until July 2010, she served as Interim Minister of the Emerson UU Congregation in Marietta, GA. From August 2010-June 2011 she served as Consulting Minister with the UU Congregation of Lakeland, FL and as a chaplain at Orlando Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her educational background includes a BA in Religion from Tufts University; a ThM in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care from Boston University School of Theology; an MSW with a major in Marriage and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and a D.Min (Doctorate of Ministry) from Columbia Seminary. Her dissertation was titled "The Challenge of Nontraditional Families to the Church."

Raised Unitarian Universalist, Marni has a deep love and commitment to our faith tradition and to promoting healthy, intergenerational faith communities. After her ordination in 1974, she spent a year each as a hospital chaplain, an interim minister, and a college chaplain. She also spent a couple of years as a psychotherapist after receiving her MSW.

Before being called to Orlando, she served as minister of Unitarian Universalist churches in State College, Pennsylvania and Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Marni lives with her partner Nancy, their cat Zeke and their dog Gus. She is the mother of a grown son (Kyle) and the grandmother of Kyle's children, Asia and Ethan.

Marni is a longtime student of eastern religions and has a great love for aspects of each of the world's great religions. Her own spiritual path is strongly influenced by Buddhism. She took early Buddhist vows in 1989; then formally received the Buddhist precepts in 2001.

"I believe the minister's role is to support each individual's religious and spiritual journey by encouraging, challenging, and providing opportunities for education and exchange. I also believe the minister can help create a congregational climate in which theological diversity can be welcomed and can thrive. Together, we learn to live into the great questions and the occasional discomfort of sometimes living without great answers! I also believe that we gather as a faith community (vs. a secular one). I hope that each person brings a commitment to keep deepening their understanding of what is holy and sacred, regardless of the language used."