People of Faith: Together, Working Wonders

Our Mission:

To encourage religious cooperation and understanding
To seek to effect constructive social change
To serve as advocates for those seeking to meet life’s basic needs

URC Goals:

  • Goal 1: Make Saint Joseph County a more connected and welcoming community by facilitating understanding, collaboration, and friendship between religious communities.

  • Goal 2: Put into action the values of Saint Joseph County’s religious communities by undertaking projects of social good which address unmet needs in our community.

  • Goal 3: Give witness to the shared values of Saint Joseph County’s religious communities through media and other forms of communication.

  • Goal 4: Through visionary leadership and excellent stewardship, attract the resources necessary to assure URC’s enduring contributions to Saint Joseph County.United Religious Community Board Of Directors

United Religious Community Board

The URC is led by a diverse group of board members who serve three (3) year terms. The board is widely representative of the interfaith community of St. Joseph County, and is elected by the membership of URC at its annual meeting.

The 2025 Annual Meeting for URC occurred on October 29; the current and new board list will be updated!

Board Leadership

Board Chair, Charles (Chuck) Lamphier; elected to a second term 2022-25
Vice Chair, Mahan Mirza; elected to a second term 2022-25
Treasurer, Tina Patton; elected to a second term 2022-25
Secretary, (vacant)
Past-President, Tina Velthuizen (ex-officio)

Members

Susan Arner; elected to a first term 2024-2027
Mana Derakshani; elected to a first term 2022-25
Brian Durand; elected to a second term, 2024-2027
James King; elected to a first term 2023-2026
Moshe Kruger; elected to a first term 2022-25
Chad Meister; elected to a first term 2022-25
Rahul Oka; elected to a first term 2023-2026
Danna Rassas; elected to a first term 2022-25
Sr. Eileen Wrobleski, CSC; elected to a first term, 2024-2027

URC Staff

Haider Al Kilidar leads the URC Refugee Programming
Jas Brechtl is a part-time Administrative staff member
John Pinter is the Executive Director for the URC
Lisa Stockberger leads the URC’s Welcoming Michiana Programming
Shelley Walatka is a part-time Administrative staff member