The Urantia Book Fellowship's Summer study session 2024 - LIVE STREAM

MEET OUR PRESENTERS

MICHAEL PAINTER

Michael has been teaching philosophy at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis for almost 20 years. Mike holds an M.S. in Education and is continuing his studies. Mike worked for Urantia Book organizations in Chicago from 1979 to 1991. He is currently serving his second 9-year term on the General Council and is President of Orvonton Urantia Book Society.

Michael found The Urantia Book in 1970. “After over 50 years, my spirit lights up when I read it now, just as it did when I first found it.” Mike particularly enjoys speaking at and leading workshops at conferences.

MARILYNN KULIEKE

Marilynn was introduced to The Urantia Book in 1972 by her late husband, David, whose family had been involved in the Urantia project since the early 1930’s. After joining First Society in 1974, Marilynn became an active supporter of the dissemination of the book and its teachings, working on committees and hosting study groups and events.

Marilynn served on Fellowship’s Executive Committee for 18 years, again leading in numerous capacities. Marilynn is now working with Gard Jameson on a book “A Narrative History of The Urantia Book.”

A Trustee of Urantia Foundation since 2007, Marilynn currently serves as Vice President and chairs the Translations Committee. Says Marilynn, “I am fascinated by the topic of service and the tremendous personal growth that can come about from each effort we make to love and serve others.”

Marilynn holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from Northwestern University, pursues educational research, and is now a partner in GAINS Education Group. Marilynn lives in Lincolnshire, Illinois, with her three children and five grandchildren living nearby.

ELISABETH CALLAHAN

Throughout her life, Elisabeth has pursued a path of contemplative practice and studies in world religions and transpersonal psychology starting with a strong religious formation in the Roman Catholic tradition. Following a metanoia experience in her late twenties, she engaged in intensive training for many years as a Zen Buddhist monk.

After discovering The Urantia Book in 1984 and quickly recognizing its unsurpassable spiritual wisdom, Elisabeth has since devoted her life to in-depth study of the revelation and sharing it with others. Elisabeth has been a Trustee of Urantia University since its inception and currently serves as Executive Director of Urantia University Institute.

Elisabeth and her husband John have led a weekly study group in Southern California for many years, and derive rich personal and spiritual growth through this fellowship and the process of group discovery and application of the Urantia Book teachings

ALICE WOOD

Alice is the program coordinator for the Urantia Book Teacher Education Program. Alice is also the creator of the Urantia Life Lessons YouTube channel, urantialifelessons.com, a website with services available for kids (CherubMail) and teens (SeraphMail). She is an active member of Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association. As a second generation student of The Urantia Book, Alice has the heart of the Urantia teachings thoroughly enmeshed into her life, which has been enriched by study of the book and engagement in the Urantia community. With her husband, Chris Wood, she has two children who make sure that she goes outside to play each day.

MARVIN GAWRYN

Marvin considers himself incredibly lucky. Just 17, and barely sentient, at his job for one of the first metaphysical bookshops in Los Angeles, he stumbled upon The Urantia Book. It has shaped his entire adult life. Forty years a devoted participant and facilitator of study groups, Marvin has also served in numerous leadership roles with the Fellowship and other service organizations. He is currently a member of UUI’s Board of Directors and Curriculum Committee, and hosts an online hybrid worship service every Sunday on the UUI platform—“Homecoming: A Spiritual Family Gathering.” Marvin is also the author of Reaching High: The Psychology of Spiritual Living.

In 1988, Marvin received a Certificate of Theological Studies in the history and socialization of religion and over the past 30 years has researched and offered workshops on the socialization of religion material in The Urantia Book. He is semi-retired after 30 years in practice as a family therapist, and currently works as the executive director of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada. Most importantly, Marvin and his wife Francyl, enjoy the remarkable experience of serving as parents to two amazing young women and as grandparents to two beloved grandchildren.

GARD JAMESON

Gard discovered The Urantia Book in 1972, while taking his degree in Religious Studies at Stanford. In 1982 he married his childhood sweetheart, Florence; together they co-founded Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, InterfaithSN.org, and Compassionate Las Vegas, CompassionateLV.org. During this time, he volunteered for and participated in the Urantia Brotherhood, leading many spiritual retreats. In 1998 Gard became a Trustee of Urantia Foundation, now serving for over twenty-five years in that significant role. Also in 1998, after twenty-five years as a CPA, Gard started his teaching career at the University of Nevada. He is the author of three books: Phaethon, Monkey, Ramayana, the spiritual epics of both East and West, a book on The Beatitudes, and The Peace Pilgrim Pictures, using the art of Nicholas Roerich; a screenplay on the life of Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet; and a children’s book, Love is the Magic Key. Collaborating with Marilynn Kulieke, they are near completing their manuscript for A Narrative History of The Urantia Book. Gard and Florence are the parents of two precious daughters, MJ and Julia.

Gard believes that Paper 140, “The Ordination of the Twelve,” should be read regularly, to understand and engage with the greatest message ever delivered in the history of the planet.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

From July 24-27, The Urantia Book Fellowship will be presenting “Igniting the Word: Teaching the Truths of The Urantia Book” at Unity Village just outside Kansas City, Missouri.

Unity Village is an inspiring conference center, with a newly remodeled Inn on site, a beautiful auditorium, gracious dining and social areas, high-tech breakout rooms, a nature walk, exquisite gardens, intimate chapels, a labyrinth, and many spaces for reflection, communion, and relationship building. We have caterers lined up to prepare savory food for us. And the evening socials will have a few (very educational, I assure you) fun surprises.

The forty-nine rooms at the Unity Village Inn cost less than $150/night for a room that can accommodate two to four persons. Preference will be given to those willing to share a room, so that as many participants as possible can stay on site. The campus also has three Airbnbs that groups are welcome to book.

The Education Committee’s Conference Planning Team is working to ensure all participants have a memorable experience. Plenaries will have, as usual, exceptional speakers to inform us about how to spread The Urantia Book teachings, whether on an intimate scale or to larger audiences. Workshops will give us hands-on practice on issues like “elevator speeches” and what to say when someone asks, “who wrote this book?” These workshops will be primarily interactive, as the goal is to allow the best wisdom to surface. We want to hear about your experiences, questions, and wisdom about spreading the good news. Our hope is that we will all learn new and better ways to whet the appetites of others for The Urantia Book, as we become more self-confident in our interactions with others. It is a time for sharing both the wisdom of The Urantia Book and our human experiences, to better prepare ourselves for our contribution to the Urantia Revelation’s future growth.

We hope to see you at Unity Village in July 2024!