PRESS RELEASE: Top DC-Area Religious Leader Retires After 20+ Years

Top DC-Area Religious Leader Retires After 20+ Years

Washington, DC April 22, 2021

After more than two decades of leading the Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington DC (IFFP) as the first hired clergy, Spiritual Director Reverend Julia Jarvis, will retire, effective June 30. IFFP is an independent community of Christian and Jewish interfaith families, one of the largest in the United States.

Reverend Jarvis is best acknowledged for her collaborative and creative interfaith leadership style. During her tenure, IFFP has nearly tripled its membership to today’s organization of more than 100 families from the area, and from as far away as Los Angeles, California.

“Thanks to Reverend Julia, we have become a haven for Christian and Jewish families, and even more so during the pandemic, when her ‘can do’ attitude introduced a broad range of activities via Zoom that has made us an even stronger community,” said Heidi Anderson, Chair of the IFFP Board of Directors.

Famous for its “teach not preach” mantra, IFFP credits Jarvis with expanding the Sunday School curriculum, establishing an annual and highly popular women’s retreat, and conducting scores of interfaith weddings and baby-naming ceremonies.
“For the last two decades, my tenure leading and learning from IFFP has been life-changing,” expressed Jarvis. “This is an amazing community of families and individuals who are experiencing the joy and struggles of learning about and celebrating both Judaism and Christianity. For me, it has been a rare and unique opportunity to grow mentally and spiritually. I have loved being their Spiritual Director and helping nurture this incredibly successful project.”

While conducting a regional search for the next IFFP Christian Leader, the organization has hired an Interim Christian Leader. All activities and programs are continuing in full.