Ministers and Staff

Namaste, and welcome to Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation. I’m the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Senior Minister since 2013.

I am a Hindu-Unitarian Universalist, shaped by the progressive Brahmo Samaj movement in India, grounded in Unitarian Universalist values, and deeply engaged in interfaith and justice-centered ministry. My calling is to build spiritual community, nurture compassion and courage, and help people live out their deepest values in a complex world.

Before coming to Cedar Lane, I served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Across these ministries, I’ve focused on inclusive worship, pastoral care, ethical leadership, and social transformation. My approach is rooted in relationship because ministry is not something we do alone. It’s something we build together, across time and difference.

I currently serve on the Executive Council of Religions for Peace USA. I’ve served as President of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), the Montgomery County Interfaith Community Working Group, and on the Internal Review Board at the National Cancer Institute (NIH).

As a lifelong interfaith leader, I draw from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Unitarian Universalist traditions. My spirituality is pluralistic, non-dogmatic, and grounded in justice and love. I often describe myself as a religious hybrid—a theological crossbreed—committed to building communities where people of all identities, beliefs, and backgrounds can belong.

At Cedar Lane, we are creating a multifaith, multicultural, multigenerational congregation that centers love, justice, equity, and action. We welcome people of all races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and belief systems—especially those seeking meaning, purpose, and connection beyond traditional religion.

If you’re looking for a spiritual home where your questions are heard, your values are shared, and your whole self is welcome, you belong here.

Rev. Dayna Edwards, who has now been with Cedar Lane for over three years, is serving as our Minister for Faith Formation. Her portfolio focuses on church-wide faith formation, including programming for children, youth and adults; pastoral care for children, youth, young adults, and families; supporting our multiracial and multifaith families; and regular participation in Sunday morning services. Her email is dedwards@cedarlane.org.

As a Community Minister affiliated with Cedar Lane, my calling is to extend our faith into the community. Periodically you’ll see me participate in worship services and occasionally I preach at other UU congregations. However, my passion is enabling UUs to do impactful social justice. Especially those that involve lgbt rights.

Another of my passions is teaching Our Whole Lives (OWL), our lifesaving comprehensive sexuality course. In the past, I’ve spearheaded “OWL Out,” taking OWL beyond our walls to reach at-risk teens where they are. Cedar Laners interested in helping me do this — please be in touch.

I’ve long been an activist around anti-racism and LGBTQ issues, so serving our Cedar Lane people of color and LGBTQ communities is a big part of my calling.

My wife, Mary Means, and I were part of the Vision 2020 Team that successfully engaged the congregation in envisioning our future as a mission-driven church. We gladly give our gifts to advance Cedar Lane and Unitarian Universalism. To support our lives of activism, I work full time as a primary examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Jen joined the staff of Cedar Lane in November 2017 as the Accounting and Office Manager, and took on her new role as Executive Director in July 2018.

Jen has worked almost exclusively in nonprofit organizations focused on grassroots community organizing. Her experience includes fundraising, financial management, human resources, and compliance. She also spent time as a volunteer Human Rights Accompanier in the Ixcán region of Guatemala.

She and her family live in Wheaton.

Michael Holmes served as Music Director of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring for 20 years, where he helped to develop a highly diversified, multicultural, integrated music program and Music Residency Program. He also promoted enriching and lasting collaborations among musicians in the church and in that community. Now at CLUUC, he will endeavor to expand his music ministry toward a much wider dimension, through all of the arts, in an effort to connect the church to our wider community.

Michael has always been active in a wide spectrum of musical pursuits that have taken him around the world. He did his doctoral studies in Historical Musicology at the University of Maryland, College Park, made possible by means of a university-wide fellowship, and he obtained a BM in Music Theory/Composition and an MM in Orchestral Conducting from two American universities, with studies abroad at the British Institute in Florence, Italy and as a Fulbright scholar at Helsinki University in Finland. After spending much of his early career performing as a French hornist in several professional orchestras, his interests gradually shifted toward conducting and early music. Since then, he performed extensively as a conductor in Europe, leading performances with orchestras, choirs, and opera houses in seven European countries.

Michael is very active in the Association of Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries which promotes ties and exchanges among UU musicians in North America. Michael finds the Unitarian Universalist Church a welcome vehicle for him to experience the true joy of meaningful musical expression and to connect with the “real world” outside of his academic and performing career. In 2011, Michael led the choir for the Service of the Living Tradition at the annual UUA General Assembly in Charlotte, NC. He has also written and published dozens of choir arrangements and compositions that are used in several UU churches in North America, especially for Elise Witt and Emma’s Revolution. Michael looks forward to making his new spiritual home at CLUUC, and working with our wonderful staff, worship teams, and congregation!

Clare joined the staff of Cedar Lane in April 2018 as the Administrative Coordinator. Her responsibilities include database management, administrative tasks supporting membership, technology support, and scheduling of event spaces.

Before joining Cedar Lane, Clare volunteered at the Montgomery County animal shelter assisting with special projects and administrative tasks, as well as herding cats. She brings many years of experience working in a nonprofit environment. In addition to a great passion in support of the mission, Clare is knowledgeable in finance, event management, fundraising, and her favorite component is database management.

Clare was raised in Kensington, just up the street from the church. She headed off to college in Norfolk, VA, attended Old Dominion University, graduated, and eventually landed close to home in Rockville to raise her daughter, Olivia.

After 9 years living in New Mexico and Nevada, I moved back to Maryland and joined Cedar Lane’s staff in August 2022 as the office administrator. I received my Bachelor of Arts from New Mexico State University with a focus on metal-smithing and fiber arts. I bring with me experience in church office work and a love for creativity. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, as well as knitting and illustrating.

José joined the Cedar Lane staff on June 22, 2018. 

I joined the staff in October 2021 as Membership Engagement Coordinator. I became a member of Cedar Lane in 2016, and I taught Sunday School to preschoolers for two years. Before I started working here, I worked at a non-profit membership organization in Washington, DC for nine years organizing programs, meetings, and membership. I earned a masters degree in Psychology from Kent State University and bachelors degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Allegheny College. In addition to practicing Spanish, I enjoy learning Chinese, cooking, bicycling, camping, playing tennis, being with children, and working here at the church.

Eleanor joined the staff of Cedar Lane in March of 2025 as an Administrative Assistant for the Faith Formation program. Her role is to ensure volunteers have the materials they need for Faith Formation programs, she tracks attendance, she creates social media. and she performs a variety of other duties to help Faith Formation run smoothly. Eleanor was a teacher at a local elementary school before coming to Cedar Lane. She graduated from Elon University and now lives in Bethesda with her cat, Ricky.

Social Justice Coordinator Andrew Batcher has worked as a community organizer and activist for more than 20 years, working in the peace movement, environmental movement, anti-racism, education, economic justice and against hate. For the past four years he has worked in the Potomac Partnership congregations, first at Fairfax then at Cedar Lane, and joining River Road in 2024.

Some highlights of his work include,

• Spearheading monthly food drives that were originally aimed at pandemic relief
• Supporting pro-democracy get out the vote activities
• Providing de-escalation and faith support for LGBTQIA+ activists and allies in response to book banning efforts and hostility at school board meetings and drag story hours
• Organizing a panel teach-in on critical race theory called “Teaching Truth; Putting Students’ First,” when critical race theory was being publicly politicized
• Organizing the “Unstoppable Stories” banned books festival
• Supporting events for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Andrew’s work focuses on building community partnerships for social justice action and inviting members of the congregation into continuous cycles of action and reflection that deepen their work and its spiritual impact. He particularly tries to identify how our congregations can build a meaningful social justice ministry through timely strategic responses to the issues of the day. As a staff position serving both Cedar Lane and the Potomac Partnership, Andrew is interested in developing this approach in both the congregation and the region. He also practices exercise, meditation, and poetry as a way to spiritually center.

Andrew currently also works as the Social Justice Coordinator at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. Some of his highlights there include spearheading a monthly food drive aimed at pandemic relief, working on safety and support for LGBTQIA+ activists and allies at the Fairfax School Board, and organizing a panel teach-in on critical race theory called “Teaching Truth; Putting Students’ First” that was attended by over 700 people across the country.

Andrew’s work focuses on three pillars. Building partnerships for social justice action, inviting activists in the congregation into continuous cycles of action and reflection that deepen their work and its spiritual impact, and strategic timely response to emerging controversies and crises. As a staff position serving both Cedar Lane and the Potomac Partnership, Andrew is interested in developing this approach in both the congregation and the region.

Hi Everyone! I’m Jasmin Lee, and I have been the pianist/organist at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church since 2014. I was born and raised in Northern Virginia (NOVA). My parents are both from South Korea. My mom was a middle school and high school music teacher in Andong, South Korea. Music was a big part of my childhood, as I played both the piano and the flute. I have fond memories of my parents driving me to lessons, recitals, and competitions.

For my Undergrad studies, I majored in Piano Performance at the University of Michigan. I went on to complete my Masters and Doctorate in Piano Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park. At UMD, I had an assistantship in Collaborative Piano, which gave me a lot of experience working with singers and instrumentalists.

In addition to Cedar Lane, I am a staff pianist/teacher at Suitland High School, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. On Saturdays, I play for Glorystar Children’s Chorus in Potomac, MD. I also maintain a private teaching studio.

In my free time, I like to travel and explore new places to eat. I also like watching mukbangs. If you don’t know what that is, go look it up!

Some exciting news – I finally joined a gym for the first time in my life. I realize, as I’m getting older, your health is VERY important.

I grew up singing with my family, and both my Mom and Grandma were church music directors and voice teachers. Music has always been really important to me, spiritually and otherwise, and I sang in choirs, and played piano, flute, and guitar throughout my childhood. After that, I studied music at Guilford College (voice and classical guitar) and Shenandoah Conservatory, where I had a teaching assistantship in the conservatory for graduate school. I taught classical guitar for several years as well as group music lessons for young people. Like many life-long musicians, I changed focus mid-career and went to George Mason University where I earned my PhD in psychology. In my day job I’m a research psychologist and work in the US DOJ Civil Rights Division. 

While I have been a Unitarian Universalist for my entire adult life, it took some time to convince my partner, Ezra, that actually going to church could be a good thing. I strongly believe that the values and ideals of Unitarian Universalism are vital in today’s world, that many families are hungry for the kind of community a UU congregation can provide, and consider myself something of a “UUvangelist.” I joined the UU Church in the Shenandoah valley on my own in 1999, and Ezra and I were married at All Souls in 2004. After we moved to Maryland and had our daughter we wanted a vibrant and active congregation in which to raise our children. We found that at Cedar Lane where we became members in 2011. Along with several other parents, I saw a need for young children’s music here and created the Little Voices choir for ages 4-7 in 2014. I am excited to work with more of the wonderful children here as we expand the Children’s choir for all kids ages 4 through 10. Together, we are going to grow an engaged and lively group of young music makers and weave that energy into the congregational life of Cedar Lane.