Reverend McKinley is a stargazing and progressive UU Christian; a native of Texas, a graduate of the College of William and Mary and Princeton Theological Seminary; and he is a suffering Houston Texans fan. Prior to joining his current congregation, UUs of Mt. Airy (aka “Restoration”), he worked as a psychiatric chaplain and minister in the Washington, DC area, and he served as middle school basketball coach and English teacher for students at a small independent school in New Haven, Connecticut (where he lived in an abandoned convent and frequently headed into New York City to be with his beloved, KP).
He discovered and “fell in love” with Unitarian Universalism following during student ministry at the Unitarian Society of Germantown, then served as an intern at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax in Oakton, Virginia.
He then served as a psychiatric chaplain resident at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC. He says of his work, “My ministry there with the individuals in care opened my heart to hear that God of many names “speak”, calling me and us forward to love and care for others as we care for ourselves, to honor the image of God in every single being in the universe, even those with whom we don’t want to get too close. This is the heart of the gospel I follow, and the heart of the Unitarian Universalist covenant I live into; to uphold the Seven Principles and make the world a little bit better, one step at a time. That’s a call I can show up for and answer in good faith…” As a student of Brene Brown, Resmaa Menakem, Robert Renix, and Paul Tillich, Reverend Sims brings a commitment to spiritual growth, community health, and grounding ritual to Mt. Airy, focusing on conflict management, authentic storytelling, and experiential worship.
Rev. Sims lives in the East Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with his partner, KP, and their new family. He can be seen running up and down Gorgas Ln, biking through the neighborhood, and working to make a difference in our city. He encourages everyone to find a spiritual home, and has this to say about his own brand of liberal religion:
I believe in a creed/motto that is my theology, my politics, and my mission: Play Hard. Never Stop. Have Faith.
Play Hard.
Life is an inimitable rollercoaster of humanity, and my passion is for that experience. My goal has always been to be a force of active love in a world that too easily resorts to hate, and to try to affect the three feet of space in positive ways for as long as I am able.
Never Stop.
Working for social change is a communal endeavor, one that requires hope and togetherness for the long journey ahead. I believe in showing up again and again, acting as a ministry of presence that’s reliably and solidly there. Peace and justice work form a core part of my identity and education, and conflict resolution requires a commitment to keep returning to the table as long as restorative justice solutions are possible.
Have Faith.
Sometimes, we lean on each other and the Divine. As an open and affirming, interfaith chaplain and minister with passion for play, I like to smile at folks and call them by their name (especially if they have a name tag!) If we can recognize that we are all part of the same family, if we can practice peace in all we do, we won’t be surprised to find out other people are just like us.
*to read more about McKinley’s thoughts, read the blog!
*for professional references to McKinley’s ministry, click here.
Rev. McKinley L. Sims, M.Div. 