WHO WE ARE
A FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE ‘OUTSIDE’ LIVES OF THE MANY VARIED AND INTERESTING MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.

—by Lois Chazen

Let’s face it: the time has arrived for the silent majority in this country to speak up. Often members of the silent majority attribute their disinterest in promulgating social or political change to the belief that one person cannot make a difference. Fran Mercer has lived her life otherwise. She believes that one person can make a difference and indeed, she has made and continues to make a difference in a variety of ways. Since early childhood, Fran saw people from all strata received at her family’s home. Her father, a Southerner, raised in the Dutch Reformed Church, was active in politics inthe 1940s and 1950s. He served for many years as mayor of South Orange, New Jersey. Although  it consumed  many  hours  every week,  his work  was  pro
	Rev. Fran Mercer
bono. “My family was non-isolationist,” Fran stated. “They valued education and travel and had an abiding interest in history. They had a world vision. My parents are a strong influence on my life.” Her mother was socially aware also. She was an administrator for the Visiting Nurse Service of the Oranges. Their family was tightly knit—uncles, aunts, and maternal grandparents lived within blocks of one another. “These circumstances provided my older brother and me with an incredible support system as well as security and self-confidence. On the other hand,” said Fran reflectively, “it was somewhat stifling.” From kindergarten through grade twelve, Fran sang in an Anglican choir. “I was a cradle Episcopalian,” she said. This was part one of a spiritual journey that continues today. Currently, she is completing requirements for a PhD in Ethics at Union Theological Seminary where she had previously earned two Master of Divinity degrees, the first in Interfaith Religion and the second in Cross-Cultural Identities. She was ordained in 1984. “I became inspired spiritually and intellectually at Columbia University’s School of General Studies. During my junior and senior college years, I was searching for authenticity within a religious format. I became deeply interested in Asian religions and literature and Asian systems of education. I also studied anthropology and sociology and became a card-carrying Buddhist,” Fran recounted. At Columbia, she met others who were passionately determined to continue their education. She regularly attends semi-annual meetings of the Columbia Friends of General Studies, keeping in touch with many former classmates. Fran’s initial college experience had been two years at Vassar, which she found somewhat disappointing. The dichotomy between a stimulating intellectual life during the week and rather vacant socializing on the weekend was unsettling. Deciding to change gears, she ventured into the working world. Fran garnered a laudable first job as a writer at Young & Rubicam. Two years later, she accepted an offer to manage a fashion showroom. At age 20, she married Douglas Mercer. Just starting out together, she had to be practical, choosing a good salary at the fashion house rather than the glamour of advertising, where at the time, women were markedly underpaid. Douglas Mercer was an executive with a shipping company and the young Mercers made a number of international connections. Fran enrolled at the School of General Studies when the youngest of their six children entered nursery school. Although the children’s needs were then somewhat less, they still required significant attention. Juggling a bustling family life with school, Fran completed her BA in seven years. “Buddhism taught me that most situations are not black or white. We should live in the grey zone, in moderation. This state of mind allows one to be more receptive to new ideas. Polarization, radicalism of any kind, whether it be in Christianity or Islam, is suspect and potentially dangerous,” said Fran. Following her ordination, Fran spent ten years, from 1981 to 1991, as Pastoral Counselor and Advocate at Rikers Island, the largest detention center in the world. She was Prison Chaplain and counseled inmates. In addition, she was a Court Advocate, acting as liaison between the inmates and the judicial system. “It was extremely demanding work,” she said. “In some ways, it was like a mini-United Nations, good training for my future job as Executive Director of the UU-UNO.” While fulfilling her pastoral and judicial duties at Rikers Island, Fran wrote and produced a film titled, “Something Within Me,” which was distributed to libraries and urban schools. It was a great success, winning three awards at the Sundance Festival. In 1993, Fran founded the American Guidance Guild. She served as its President until 2005. The organization‘s purpose was to address and assist in ameliorating the “culture of poverty” and dependency and to provide opportunities to the young and old spiritually, financially and psychologically. Fran cited the dilemma of a person released from prison, without any training, not knowing the first thing about getting a job or acquiring the skills to keep a job. A non-profit organization, the Guild was a source of information, programming and exchange of ideas for professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, the ministry and sociology. Last year, Fran folded the Guild’s remaining assets into the UU-UNO. Fran was Executive Director of the UU-UNO from the beginning of 2000 until June 2005. Comments from colleagues always include remarks on her dedication, originality and tireless efforts. This accredited NGO (non-governmental organization) provides support and information to UU-UNO members nationwide and in Canada. During her tenure, many new programs and innovative methodology were instituted. Under her wing, three interns and a young designer have created a handsome, action-oriented and informative website (www.uu-uno.org). Fran enjoys giving interns meaningful assignments such as writing position papers on UN related issues for the UU-UNO’s quarterly newsletter, “Windows on the World,” and organizing conferences and special events. Many of Fran’s protégés have gone on successfully to further study and work in related fields. Fran is now working on another film. Although she has stepped down as Executive Director of the UU-UNO, she is still much involved on its behalf. She and Professor Richard Ford initiated a project in Ghana last year that incorporates several of the UN Millennium Goals, including a commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to assure primary education for children worldwide, as well as a war on eradicable diseases such as HIV-AIDS and polio. The initiative is based on Dick Ford’s “Village Approach,” developed over forty years of study and fieldwork in Africa. Further information on the Millennium Goals may be found in the Winter 2005 issue of the All Souls Quarterly Review and Dick’s work was discussed in the Summer 2003 issue. At the UUA General Assembly in Fort Worth last summer, Fran participated in a panel discussion, “UN Reforms: Revitalizing the United Nations.” Dick Ford and the Rev. Olivia Holmes were the other panelists. Human rights and reform of the UN Commission on Human Rights was the primary topic. Fran is writing a memoir. “By putting my thoughts in writing, they become organized and distilled. I better understand what I have done and what I need to do.” In reference to her children, Fran reports that each one works in a creative field: architecture, sculpture or engineering. One son was a space engineer at Lockheed Aircraft. Concerned about the large military output of the company, he left Lockheed to design heart transplant parts. The need to work for the benefit of others and to make contributions to society continues and assumedly, these values will be instilled in succeeding generations. An advocate of world travel as a strong educational tool, Fran has made it a practice to include her children on trips, often rotating turns among them. They have been companion explorers with her in Nepal, China, Africa, South America, Japan, Europe, and within the United States. It was on a trip to India that Fran fully recognized the barriers people create to separate themselves. The caste system insulates the rich from the poor, the powerful from the weak, the light-skinned from the dark. “This discrimination was in direct contrast to what I learned at home as a child,” Fran reports. “My parents were firm believers in equality for everyone. There was an implicit message in their conduct that they wished to make the world a better place.” Having boundless energy, Fran has been active on many All Souls committees. Among them are: Lifescapes, Gun Control, the Peace Task Force, and the Task Force to End the Death Penalty. “The members of All Souls are extraordinarily committed on so many social issues,” Fran remarked. “The Church seems to attract that sort of person.”