HARPSWELL – The Unitarian Universalist Association has named the Rev. Dr. Spencer Lavan of Harpswell as the recipient of its 2003 Distinguished Service Award.

Lavan will accept the award at a ceremony at the association’s annual General Assembly on June 29 in Boston.

The award acknowledges Lavan’s lifetime of service as a minister, professor and goodwill ambassador to interfaith organizations around the world, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations announced in a press release.

Lavan earned undergraduate degrees from Tufts and Harvard universities and a doctorate in Islamic Studies from McGill University in Montreal. He served as a parish minister in several churches, as well as a teacher and administrator at Tufts University, The University of New England and Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago, where he served as dean and president until his retirement.

Lavan established the English-language teaching program at the Unitarian seminary in Transylvania, Romania. He has long been active with the International Association for Religious Freedom, served as chairman of the Commission on World Religions, and continues to serve on the Niwano Peace Advisory Committee in Japan.