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Every day at noon in 2016, Rev. Jennifer “Jo” VonRue would stand in the town square of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with her clergy collar on and a “Black Lives Matter” sign in hand. Even as residents drove by throwing two different hand signals with opposite meaning, others joined in on her peaceful protest.

Since her move to Syracuse to become a minister at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, VonRue continues her interwoven ministry and activism. VonRue has led her ministry at MMUUS for the past eight years, focusing her work on social justice, caring for her congregants and community engagement.

“The reason I came to Syracuse specifically is because they had the most work to do on racial justice,” VonRue said. “I felt called to this church, one, because I knew they loved each other and I knew that they could have hard conversations, and two, because I felt a real calling to work in racial justice.”

She recently spent three days in Minneapolis to witness protests against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Since her return in January, VonRue said she’s worked her experiences into her sermons.

Responding to ministry calls for social justice isn’t a new pursuit for VonRue. In 2016, she traveled to Standing Rock Sioux Reservation after receiving an invitation to “stand in solidarity” with protests against building a crude oil pipeline.

“There’s so much sh-t going down in the world. There’s so much to be scared of,” VonRue said. “There’s fires burning, and my congregation gives me so much hope.”

The reverend witnessed the protests with her then internship mentor, Rev. Douglas Taylor of Unitarian Universalist’s Binghamton congregation. Taylor said he was inspired by VonRue’s immediate response to the call.

“(There was) learning about civil disobedience, learning about solidarity, learning about decolonization. It was very much led by Jo and her energy,” Taylor said. “She really has that sense of heart that what we’re doing as ministers is building a certain kind of community where people can grow into their best selves.”

VonRue has traveled near and far to promote social justice efforts. Two years ago, she went to San Diego to protest the construction of border walls. She’s also attended local CNY Pride events, “No Kings” rallies and several Black Lives Matter protests.

Although social and racial justice is a virtue of VonRue’s life, she wasn’t always cognizant of her “privilege” growing up in Troy, Ohio, she said.

Raised in a poor household, VonRue said she recognized the facade her town was attempting to put on as a well-to-do community. It wasn’t until she learned about implicit bias during a class at Morehead State University in Kentucky that VonRue realized her responsibility to “shift the system” she was “complicit” in.

“Racism was alive and well everywhere in Troy. I didn’t know any people that had a skin color that wasn’t white,” VonRue said. “I learned a lot along the way, and I just felt like I needed to do what I could to dismantle the systems of oppression that I helped to build every single day.”

Her husband, Isaac VonRue, said he thinks her ministry work and passion for social justice stem from her childhood.

“She definitely came from a family that struggled, so she understands the challenges that many people have faced,” Issac VonRue said. “She wants to make the world a better place for everybody.”

Around the same time VonRue stood in Wilkes-Barre every day, she also started a Black Lives Matter Facebook page. She later received a NAACP award for her dedication to “working quietly in the background” and organizational efforts.

Her recent social justice efforts at MMUUS focus on responding to ICE tactics in the U.S. by collaborating with local organizations like CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network.

The Democracy Action Team, which VonRue helped create, promotes the eighth universalist unitarianism principle, which calls for the dismantling of racism and oppression. The DAT regularly hosts worship services, events and discussions to “facilitate” the eighth principle work of the society.

Today, a “Black Lives Matter” banner hangs in front of MMUUS. It wasn’t until VonRue ensured her ministry had “actually done the work” in support of racial justice that she allowed the banner to be installed, she said.

MMUUS congregant Mardie Ninno is on the personnel committee for the DAT. As a congregant of MMUUS for over 37 years, Ninno has seen the work of multiple ministers. But what she appreciates about VonRue’s leadership is her commitment to pastoral care and community outreach.

When Ninno’s husband was undergoing two back surgeries last year, VonRue knew what he needed — jokes to lift his spirit. At least three times a week, VonRue sent Ninno’s husband jokes via email, Ninno said. VonRue also visited Ninno’s husband in the hospital multiple times during recovery.

“She makes sure that people who need to be taken care of are taken care of,” Ninno said. “I think she really gets people. She isn’t a one size fits all. She gets what people need and want … and she does that.”

Ninno said she felt proud when VonRue announced she’d be traveling to Minneapolis.

“Her being brave and doing the right thing is something that has helped me to be a little more brave,” Ninno said. “I’m never going to be as brave as she is.”

Along with VonRue’s bravery and her ability to not “be afraid to speak up,” Ninno said she’s also developed an appreciation for her “youthful enthusiasm” and fashion style — especially the bright colors she wears.

“Everybody always looks at her shoes,” Ninno said. “She’s just fun, and she talks about it, she talks about her curly hair.”

And if it’s not her shoes being noticed, it’s her red-framed cat-eye glasses with polka dot accents.

Courtesy of Rev. Jo VonRue

Rev. When not delivering a sermon for her local ministry, Rev. Jo VonRue protests for social justice in her cat-eye frames or powerlifts at her local gym.

When she’s not leading a sermon or doing social justice work directly in the community, VonRue is practicing one of her many hobbies from quilting to hiking with her dogs Eleanor and Denali.

More recently, VonRue picked up powerlifting, currently her most “time-consuming” passion. She will compete in the New York State Championship later this month.

“I celebrate my fat body and powerlifting is a way that I can push back on society that says I am worthless and that my body is worthless,” VonRue said.

Beyond the power lifting mat, VonRue said she is also excited to put her energy into researching and conducting anti-ICE work, especially MMUUS’s partnership with Sam’s United Methodist Church in downtown Syracuse.

“I walk through this world with so much hope in my heart and in my head because I know that we’re going to overcome whatever this is … love is always stronger,” VonRue said.

Published on February 26, 2026 at 1:27 am