Rev. Brett brings large measures of always present compassion, wisdom, humor, and humility to our shared work in leading an organizing community for justice. Her substantive impact for justice is accompanied by a skillful relationality that demonstrates her gifts in care, formation, and peacemaking. I honestly feel like I learn something every time she speaks or leads and consider myself quite privileged to collaborate with her across several leadership roles.

Timothy Conder
Co-President
Black Mountain School of Theology & Community

Jacqueline Brett is a leader for these times. She offers a fiercely loving and lovingly fierce commitment to our shared humanity. She speaks softly and strongly to our need to be accountable to each other, ourselves, and the spirit of God in all of us. Any community is lucky to have her as a member.

Tema Okun
Racial justice teacher, writer, speaker, activist

As a Black woman minister in a mostly White congregation working toward racial equity and inclusion, she does not allow the congregation to become complacent, i.e., unaware of the ways in which progressive White people help perpetuate racism and other social injustices. She calls us to action and lifts up our values in her sermons and meditations. Even amidst overwhelming despair, she inspires hope.

Committee on Ministry Evaluation
Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

She is strongly pulled in the direction of leading Unitarian Universalists forward in matters of race and multiculturalism. I trust that every UU has a grasp of the extra pressure many ministers of color feel when they take up that call. I know Jacqueline understands it. She lives it. Outwardly, at least, she responds to that call with grace and resilience…. She has involved herself out of her deep love for people and for our Unitarian Universalism.

Lee Barker
President Emeritus
Meadville Lombard Theological School

She has spontaneously initiated healthy discussions in her own peer group around topics of race and class when something in the group’s conversation gave her intuition to do that. On these occasions, I was struck by her skilled facility in introducing the topic and guiding the discussion of presuppositions and prejudices. In larger gatherings as well, she did not hesitate to speak openly and forthrightly about race and class….

Rev. Ronald Hindelang, PhD, BCC, ACPE Supervisor
Chaplaincy Services
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Rev. Brett has offered vital wisdom and courageous leadership at multiple levels in the grass roots broad-based community organizing work we do in Durham CAN. Rev. Brett is a deeply respected member of CAN’s Strategy Team, a visionary voice in CAN’s clergy caucus, and a key leader on multiple action campaigns — especially in criminal justice reform. CAN’s ongoing advocacy for social justice by organizing power to act on concrete and specific issues in the Durham community are enriched and empowered by Rev. Brett’s leadership. It is an honor to work alongside her.

Cullen McKenney
Co-Chair Durham CAN Strategy Team

Beyond her work with particular justice groups within and beyond ERUUF, Rev. Brett often integrates tenants of organizing and justice-making into her sermons, conversations, and teachings within the congregation.

Committee on Ministry Evaluation
Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Rev. Brett’s work and witness have made our organization, Durham and North Carolina a more just, more beloved and more powerful community. She is a living testimony of what it means to integrate our whole selves, including the legacies of those who have come before us and shaped us, into our respective callings. And we are better for it.

Atinuke Diver
Executive Director and Lead Organizer
Durham Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods (CAN)

I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Jacqueline as we’ve led a caucus of clergy members united in a community organizing coalition. I respect Jacqueline’s leadership immensely. She is careful in her thinking and wise in her perspective; gracious toward others, yet unbending in truthfulness. Her devotion is unquestionable, yet she brings a lightness to the work with her smile and laughter. She is a leader in our community, and Durham’s clergy are honored to call her a colleague and a friend.

Rev. Tommy Grimm
Durham CAN
Clergy Caucus Co-Chair
Strategy Team Member