This page outlines some of my work supporting Unitarian Universalist institutions, traditions, and values.
DENOMINATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
First Parsh Brewster Unitarian Universalist
2025-Present
Minister
Now serving as part of a co-ministry team with the Rev. Julia Jones (my beloved wife). We manage a team of about a dozen employees, including oversight, planning, goal-setting, and evaluation. Consultant role to teams and committees. Weekly worship services, milestone celebrations, pastoral care, and other duties as needed.
An historic landmark, First Parish was founded in 1700, which means that the congregation thoroughly pre-dates both Unitarianism and Universalism here in the United States, as well as the United States itself. Today, First Parish is a large and vibrant community out on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, IL
2020-2025
Settled Minister
Called during the pandemic (see article here) to serve a mid-sized congregation in West Chicago suburbs and following a 40-year emerita predecessor. Chief of staff, managed a team of four employees, including oversight, planning, goal-setting, and evaluation. Consultant role to teams and committees. Weekly worship services, milestone celebrations, pastoral care, and other duties as needed. Managed through structural deficit and grew congregation over 30% in three years.
Major areas of focus: invested in fun through monthly church events to build “within our walls” community; created “beyond our walls” engagement through events and targeted social media marketing/advertising; restructured the Board to better align with policy governance; revisited the Bylaws to bring them up to date; refocused the Social Justice team from check-writing to action and engagement; renovated the church Common Room and Sanctuary (we changed both the paint and the carpet!); launched a Legacy Giving program and revamped our entire pledge season program; and made a huge investment in technology to create an excellent online experience for visitors and members. We also applied for and won $300,000 in Federal funding through FEMA security grants to update the church!
Pub Theology
2023- 2025
Organizer and Leader
Created and promoted ecumenical community-building events in Fox River Valley. Co-hosted monthly Pub Theology discussions at area breweries, distilleries, and wine bars with three other local area churches (Fox Valley Presbyterian, Geneva Lutheran, and Geneva Methodist Church). Goal of creating and fostering community-across-theological boundaries while exploring “Life’s Biggest Questions”. Average attendance ws 50+ members across area churches and regional community. Local media coverage here.
Family PRIDE-in-the-Park
Every June, 2022 to 2024
Organizer
Created and promoted an annual “ecumenical” PRIDE event in Fox River Valley. UUSG co-hosts with three other local area churches, Fox Valley Presbyterian, Geneva Lutheran, and Geneva Methodist Church. Goal of creating and fostering community-across-boundaries, and doing that in service to our PRIDE community. Average attendance is several hundred local area families.
Spiritual Practices for Unitarian Universalists
Fall 2024
Organizer and Leader
Led a 6-session, hands-on class to explore different spiritual practices from various world faith traditions. Practices included meditation, mindfulness, prayer, and more. Based on curriculum written by Faith Forward.
Exploring Article II
Spring 2024
Co-Organizer and Co-Facilitator
Led a 4-session class to explore the new Article II proposals made by the UUA Study Commission. Based on UU Wellspring course material. Course promoted to and attended by two regional churches, the UU Society in Geneva and the Countryside UU Church in Palatine.
The Shared Pulpit
Spring, 2021 and 2023
Instructor
Every-other-year schedule. 8-session course. Based on the course book The Shared Pulpit. Promotional blurb: “Have you ever wondered what goes into a sermon? Or what makes a sermon different from a lecture or speech? Have you been curious how to move, comfort, inspire, or challenge an audience? Or just want to learn a new way to express yourself? In this workshop, you’ll explore the theory and practice that is the storied art of preaching, gradually crafting your own quality sermon experience!”
The Long Strange Trip
2022
Instructor
Weekly schedule. 8-session course. Loosely based on the DVD, The Long Strange Trip. A weekly discussion of Unitarian Universalist history, from the “way back” to the present.
Difficult Conversations
Spring, 2021 and 2022
Organizer
Created and promoted multi-day workshops to explore the value of community and connection in a time of separation and anxiety. Led by Kern Beare and based on his book, Difficult Conversations: the Art and Science of Working Together. The second workshop was run in collaboration with the UU Church of Urbana-Champaign.
Fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
- Preliminary Fellowship granted in Fall 2019
- Full Fellowship granted in Fall of 2023
Ordained to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry
February 2020
Unitarian Universalist Church of Reston, VA
2017-2019
Intern Minister
Two-year half-time internship at a mid-sized Washington DC-area church under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner. Led services monthly. Taught kids RE classes, led adult RE classes, all while completing UUA credentialing as well as M.Div degree requirements at Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago.
“God Talk”: Reclaiming the Language of Reverence
UUCR: 2018-2019
UUCF: 2019-2020
Organizer and Facilitator
“God Talk” was an adult education program to explore and reclaim religious language, concepts, and stories. The goal was to, in part, familiarize ourselves with the language invoked by politicians, evangelicals, and the so-called “Religious Right”. Roundtable format.
Beloved Conversations
UUCR: 2018-2019
Organizer and Facilitator
“Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race & Ethnicity” is an 8-week program to explore anti-racism developed by the Fahs Collaborative at Meadville-Lombard (link here).
Racial Justice “World Café”
UUCR: 2018
Organizer and Facilitator
To set up “Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race & Ethnicity”, we organized a half-day workshop for the congregation to explore anti-racism and what that might mean and could look like in church, in the neighborhood, and in the world.
Racial Justice Task Force
UUCR: 2017-2019
Organizer
Board-commissioned exploration of options for Racial Justice work in the church and local community. Led directly to the “World Café” and to “Beloved Conversations”.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick
2016-2018
Board of Trustees
Management of church budget and mission. Special projects taken up included a bylaws rewrite and a transition to “Policy-Based Governance”.
Judaism for Unitarian Universalists
2017
Organizer/Co-Lead
Partnered with a rabbi colleague to deliver an online workshop for UU seminarians to explore and explain the beliefs, practices, and history of Judaism.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick
2015-2016
Adult Spiritual Education Coordinator
Registration, resources, and advertisement of adult spiritual education courses held at or through UUCF.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick
2014-2016
Worship Associate
Church service setup and service liturgist, including readings, leading meditations, reflections, and prayers.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
Spring 2018
Pre-Launch Organizer
Organized and led local fundraising and awareness-raising event in Frederick, MD for the historic relaunch of the Maryland Chapter of the Poor People’s Campaign, in lead-up to the events of the Spring Action calendar.
Reston PRIDE
2017-2018
Organizer and Logistics Chair
In June 2017, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reston hosted the first-ever regional LGBTQI+ Pride event. We created and led a coalition of local area churches and businesses, recruited over 30 regional exhibitors, organizations, and groups to come and celebrate our area’s diversity.
Charles E Smith Life Communities at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington
Summer 2017
Chaplain Intern
Charles E. Smith Life Communities offers the only Jewish-themed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. It is also one of a few CPE programs in the area specializing in long-term care. The internship focused on elder-care chaplaincy, palliative care chaplaincy, bereavement counseling, and more.
The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs
2016-2017
Volunteer
On-site duties included client interviews and service matching for local at-risk clients seeking financial assistance with medication, heating, electricity, security deposit, eviction avoidance, and more.
DENOMINATIONAL/MINISTRY WORKSHOPS
- White Male UU Clergy Discussion Group on Feminism & Anti-Racism, 2019
- Insight Meditation, 2017-2019
- Weddings 101: Liturgy and Ceremony, 2019
- Weddings 102: Working with Couples & Vendors, 2019
- Weddings 2.0: Revamp & Refresh, 2019
- Ministerial Formation Network, 2017-2018
- Memorial Services 101, 2018
- Racial Justice Workshop, UUCR, 2017
- Preventing Clergy Misconduct, The Religious Institute, 2017
- The Shared Pulpit, 2014
JUSTICE WORK & SOCIAL ACTION
- Pre + Post-Election Vigils, 2024
- “We’re All Immigrants” rally 2024
- Vigil for Israel and Palestine 2023
- Aurora Soup Kitchen, 2020-2025
- Lazarus House, 2020-2024
- UU the Vote 2020, 2022, 2024
- Saving Roe vs Wade rally + vigil, 2022
- Sandy Hook 10th Anniversary Memorial Protest Vigil, 2022
- Pre-Election Vigil 2022
- Clean Energy Jobs Act, City Council of Geneva Testimonial, 2022
- Clean Energy Jobs Act, City Council of Batavia Testimonial, 2022
- LBGTQIA+ Protest at Batavia Public Schools, 2021
- Geneva PRIDE “Pridrant”, 2020-2025
- Pre-Election Vigil 2020
- On the Bridge! 2020-2025
- SURJ Frederick, 2018-2019
- Climate Strike Boston, 2019
- Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, 2018-2019
- Women’s March 2017, 2018, 2019
- March for Our Lives, 2018
- 5th Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shooting at NRA Headquarters, 2017
The Holy Question Mark 