In December 2013, The UCCDM Board learned of the death of Rev. Virginia Kreyer. Rev. Kreyer brought the lived realities of people with disabilities to the UCC Synod. Rev. Kreyer along with Rev. Harold Wilke established the predecessor to UCCDM. A scholarship fund has been established in Rev Virginia Kreyer’s name. The Kreyer Scholarship Fund is the only UCC Scholarship named after a woman and its purpose is to provide financial support to persons with disabilities who are preparing for authorized ministry. Memorial donations can be made to the Virginia Kreyer Scholarship Fund.

The following poem was written by Rev. Jeanne Tyler, Vice Chair of the UCCDM Board of Directors.

Virginia Kreyer

Well-dressed Lady

Whose eye upon you was serious

Whose eye upon you was compelling

Whose eye upon you made you consider her point of view

And agree to actions you might only consider.

Well- spoken lady

Who struggled for diction but not for clarity

Whose speech you reach for but whose uttering reached,

was deeply metaphorical and thus transforming.

Whose speech turned into acts of agency

Always encouraging others like her to act our way into an ever inclusive church.

Well-acting Lady

Called by God to ordained ministry chose the United Church of Christ, affirmed by the United Church of Christ

Who stood for peace in times of war

Who continued to dream of a church pieced together like Mama’s quilt

Each piece different yet beautiful to the wholeness of the quilt.

The quilt made up of individual pieces; each piece carefully chosen and included.

This eye upon you was serious, determined, focusing upon an inclusive church.