Academic Experience:
Boston University School of Theology Master of Divinity with a Specialized Track in Ethics and Social Policy. (Spring 2003)
Ithaca College: BS in Communications, Concentration in Organizational Communication 1989: Minors in Religion and Psychology
Oxnam Scholar, full academic scholarship for academic achievement and social/community involvement 1990-91
Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities
Professional Ministerial Experience:
First Parish Billerica UU Quarter Time Minister (November 2022-to the present)
Nearly since returning to the Greater Boston Area in order to be more available to my Father I have served First Parish Church in Billerica. At this small church on the town green I preach twice a month, lead two separate adult-ed programs, offer pastoral support, serve on the board, represent the church in the local Interfaith Community, and generally provide support and leadership for a church looking to grow, and grow their impact and profile in the community.
*Please see below my description of my relationship to the Bernardston Unitarian Congregational Society
Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Full Time Settled Minister (2017-2022)
From August 2017 to August 2022, I was the settled minister of this 160 member church. At PUC, I performed all the duties a settled minister would traditionally perform and had a hand in nearly all aspects of church life. To be more specific, I was the leader of our Sunday Service or Worship Committee, the primary supervisor of all church staff, had a voice in the financial life of the congregation, oversaw the health of the Children’s RE, and coordinated nearly all of what constitutes an active Adult Ed and membership events calendar. I see it as my job as the minister to attend every significant event in the life of the church. It is at PUC that nearly all my Anti-Racist programming and personal growth has taken place. At PUC I helped grow the program offerings and created a culture of peace, of being truly welcoming, and one that leans towards Yes!
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree 5/8th time (2009-2017)
From the beginning of the 2009 church year to the present I have served as the settled 5/8th time minister to the 75 members of the Braintree community. At “ASC” I preach 3 Sundays a month and actively coordinate all the guest worship leaders and lay led services. I attend a majority of all the church committee meetings and large church events. My time in Braintree has led to an improvement in the financial well-being of the church, to deeper partnerships with the community, and an overall sense of well-being in the community. I am accepted, respected, and well-liked by the congregation. I work seamlessly- more often than not- even joyfully with the church’s generation of leaders and small staff that I have shared my time with.
*Bernardston Unitarian Congregational Society (2005-2008, and 2009-2017)
For much of the time between 2005 and 2017, and now again for the past 2 years, August 2022 to the present I have served at this small, family-sized church in rural Massachusetts. During my tenure I have preached an average of one and a half times a month, led a variety of monthly Adult-Education programs, organized and attended the churches social and social action events, represented the church in the community at local interfaith events, and been responsible for providing pastoral care to the roughly 35 members. Because of its small membership and attendance size my role in Bernardston has always been manageable. We have been loyal partners to one another.
Spirit of Life, Sydney Australia Half-Time Developmental Minister 2009
During the first half of the 2009 calendar year I served as what one loosely might describe as a short-term Developmental Minister to a relatively small and new 30 member Unitarian Community. Over that seven-month working vacation, I preached nearly every week, provided pastoral care, and was a pastoral presence to a community that has never had a professional Unitarian Minister. I was a presence representing the church at a number of public events, and designed and hand dropped a five-thousand piece, church flyer campaign within the immediate church neighborhood. This effort broadened their outreach into the community, and for the half year I was there attendance grew about 25 percent.
Northfield First Parish (Unitarian), Northfield, MA Minister (1/4-Time) (2003-2008)
Northfield was my first professional church. In serving the roughly forty members of the Northfield UU Church, I became one of the key players involved in shifting the tone of a church in struggle to a place where happiness and enthusiasm abound. It was a solid period for the church, and during my four years in Northfield the church experienced slow growth adding a new family seemingly each year. We initiated a still strong monthly brunch, grew the children’s programming enough to hire an extra RE aid.
Rutland Unitarian Universalist Church, Rutland, VT Minister (1/3-Time) (2004-2008)
A year after I started in Northfield, I was hired on as the nearly half-time minister of Rutland Vermont. I preached 2 Sunday’s a month, attended and led Board Meetings, and in essence performed all the acts and roles of ministry. I was told I had a four-year run of competence, peace, and stability for a church that had had for three straight years a change in minister. In preaching, teaching adult-education courses, counseling, and providing guidance to the board, I feel I served this community of 80 members well. In Rutland, I was the founding member of a short-lived but very active Interfaith Justice Organization.
Third Unitarian Church, Chicago, IL Parish Intern September 2000-June 2002
It was at this inner-city church on the west-side of Chicago that I first performed all the traditional functions of ministry. At TUC, I made extensive pastoral calls with parishioners; was a link between a predominantly white church congregation and the African American neighborhood the church was set in, and I lived in.
First Parish Lincoln, MA Student Minister 1997-98, Active Member 1998-2000
In my year as a part-time First Year Intern at First Parish Lincoln, I was a near regular in the worship life of this UU/UCC community, and given my first experience regularly designing worship. During this Field-Ed Year I was the Youth Group Coordinator responsible for organizing a church-funded group of 35 7th and 8th graders; and served as the Ministerial Liaison to the Social Action Committee. In subsequent years as a church member, I taught “Owning Your Religious Past; facilitated the 7th and 8th grade “Breakfast Club” and led the “Neighboring Faiths” curricula for the 6th graders.
First Parish Lexington, MA member 1995-1997
At First Parish, I regularly participated in the life of the church for two years. In 1996 I was the co-leader of the “Our Common Heritage” workshop and served on the search committee for the Religious Education Director. In 1997 I served on the church canvass, performed two summer services, and was a delegate to General Assembly. As a member of the 1997 Social Concerns Committee I was a regular volunteer and fundraiser for the UU Urban Ministries “On-Trac Program,” a committee that raised $10,000 for the inner city after-school program.
Other Religious Roles, Certifications, and Experience:
Board Member South Coast Interfaith Council. 2020-2022
South Coast Interfaith Council was a local non-profit dedicated to drawing together as broad a coalition of religious representatives and groups in order to stand up against intolerance, inequality, and discrimination. SCIC organized both virtual and in person events in Southern California designed to encourage the moral principle of compassion shared by all faith traditions and work together to create a world defined by peace for all. As a Board Member I participated in fundraising events, led workshops, and generally participated in the design and future of this group.
Treasurer of the UUMA Ballou Channing District 2011-2014
As the Treasurer of the District Ministers Association, I kept the books, wrote the checks, and reached out to colleagues regarding their dues. As the Treasurer, I also served on the District UUMA Executive Committees. My very successful campaign to be elected Treasurer in 2010 centered on the slogan “I never stole a thing, I just want the chance!” I won.
UUMA Ballou-Channing District Nominating Committee 2012-2014
Serving on the Nominating Committee of District Ministers simply involved assessing the active District clergy as candidates for District leadership roles, interviewing them, and, when appropriate, cajoling them into service.
McNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL Student Chaplin, Summer 2002
I completed my second unit of summer CPE as the Chaplain to a wing of traditional hospital patients in this suburban Chicago hospital. At MacNeal I provided 24 hour on-call pastoral support 2x a month, and produced an informal chaplain guide for my CPE peers.
Saints Memorial Hospital, Lowell, MA Student Chaplain 1996
As a CPE Student at Saints Memorial, I provided pastoral care to patients in the Hospital’s Emergency Room, Dialysis Center, and Rehab Treatment room, and low income multi-lingual walk in Clinic.
The Abode of the Message-Sufi Retreat Center, New Lebanon, NY, Student, Summer 2001
Living in an intentional community of contemporary Sufi’s, I spent the summer working on-site, and studying with the Sufi Community leader.
Visited Unitarian Communities in India and Poland Summer 1997
While visiting historic sites in each country, I met with Unitarian Communities. In India I spoke at schools and church celebrations. Since returning I have led Adult Education forums explaining the state of UU communities world-wide.
Appalachian Communities Educational Resource Center (AMERC), Berea, KY, Summer 1990
At AMERC I studied the historic and contemporary realities of religion, cultural, and economic life in rural Appalachia.
Other Ministerial Experience:
Between 2004 and 2008, I began to provide regular monthly Religious Services and/or discussion groups for three Boston Area Living Facilities. My programs ranged from fairly traditional religious services in Acton, to a monthly men’s discussion group in Jamaica Plain, to a variety of educational themed workshops in Newton.
I have led Sunday worship services for UU congregations in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, California, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, and visited Unitarian’s and or the UU communities in Poland, India, Australia, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
I have officiated over forty weddings, performed over 20 Memorial and or Funeral Services, and done over 15 Child Dedication, Blessings, or Baptisms.
Political/Volunteer Experience:
UU Mass Action Board of Directors (2011-2017)
“UU Mass Action” is the legislative voice for Unitarian Universalists across Massachusetts. We educate, advocate, and organize our own, but with partners outside the church for and around progressive legislation. UU Mass Action is one of the leading voices regarding homelessness, housing, and wage issues. In recent years and the hiring of a new Executive Director, we have worked more closely with immigrant community allies.
Unitarian-Universalists for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC) Board Member 2000-2004, Co-Board Chair 2000 – July 2004
For four years, I sat on the board of the UUJEC, and for two years served as its Board Chair. The role of Board Chair involved tasks as varied as leading workshops, examining budgets, and hauling books on my shoulder to the Post Office. As an elected leader of what during my time was the UUA’s largest Affiliate Organization, I sat on the Executive Committee, helped support the organization’s single staff person, and coordinated many of the smaller task forces. I worked with the executive committee to organize the annual retreat, monthly meetings, and managing our 60 thousand dollars a year budget.
As a UUJEC leader, I coordinated much of the strategy and planning of the UUJEC’s General Assembly workshops, activities, and travel budget. In this leadership role, I identified and interviewed prospective board members, solicited large and small donors, represented the group with the Veatch Fund, and participated in bi-monthly board and/or Executive Committee meetings. In late November 03 and March 04 I helped to organize and lead a week long “Caravan” of UU activists speaking along the journey to the Miami FTAA, and another “Cross Boarder Experience” to Mexico.
The National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, Chicago, IL, Communications/Outreach Intern 2000-2001
From July 2000 to July 2001 I served as a Community Ministry Intern at the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. My work with NICWJ, now simply Interfaith Worker Justice, involved writing newsletter stories about people from various faith backgrounds that advocated for and aligned with low-wage workers on union and living wage campaigns. While an intern at NICWJ, I represented the organization at Unitarian Universalist churches and other conferences, and provided general office support. During this period, I was affiliated with Third Unitarian Church and while there served as a ministerial intern in a limited capacity.
United for a Fair Economy Faith Based Outreach Worker (Aug 1998-July 1999)
During the 1998-99 school years, I took a leave of absence from Divinity School to act as the first Religious Outreach Coordinator for United for a Fair Economy. United for a Fair Economy is a think tank, advocacy, and popular education minded non-profit that works to raise awareness and end economic inequality. My role as their first Faith-Based Outreach Worker involved designing and frequently delivering popular economic trainings in churches and denominational conferences. In this role, I met many religious leaders, spoke around the region and country, and organized a religious conference in the Boston area.
National Toxics Campaign, Boston, MA, Field Manager, Canvasser, and Organizer 1991
As a Field Manager for this environmental organization, I was responsible for supervising, managing, and training a team of ten to twelve outreach/fundraising staff, working door to door on a local harbor clean-up campaign. I also participated in organizing a grassroots strategy in Louisiana for the renewal of Superfund expenditures.
Human Service Experience:
Vinfen Corporation Various Residential Counselor Positions (1993-1995, 1997-2000, 2002-2008, and 2009-2015)
As a Vinfen employee for over eighteen years, I have performed a number of service roles. During that journey, I shifted from primarily providing residential support for a single home of four developmentally disabled adults to working with a broader range of mentally-ill adults in a variety of programs. The responsibilities of my work as an overnight counselor – my primary role at Vinfen since 2009 – included maintaining behavioral programs, evaluating the ways clients were responding to medication changes, cleaning, and most importantly providing the clients with emotional support.
Riverside Community Care Overnight Residential Counselor (2009-2016)
The job description written above for Vinfen Residential Counselor Overnights roughly applies here. At Riverside, I worked for six years almost exclusively at one home with five intellectually challenged individuals.
Tri-City Mental Health, Malden, MA, Overnight Advocate,1996
I was a counselor to a mixed population of adults with mixed mental health diagnosis living in largely independent apartment settings. While there, I acted as a case manager for one schizophrenic individual, dispensed medications, and monitored behavioral objectives.
Lakes Region Community Service Council, Laconia, NH, House Manager 1994-1995
At LRCSC I was brought in to establish and run a home for a high functioning individual with a dual diagnosis. During my year in Laconia my duties expanded to include the supervision of ten employees at two programs. In those roles, I managed budgets, arranged medical appointments. As a part of the staff of the larger Service Council I served on the Quality Assurance, Inspection, and Training Committees.
Easter Seals Society, Laconia, NH, Skills Instructor 1993-1994
As the vocational skills instructor, I provided individual programming to developmentally disabled adults and implemented community access programs resulting in marked decreases in anxious behaviors, and considerably richer contacts in the community.
Cooperative for Human Service, Malden, MA, Weekend Manager, 1989-1992
I served as the primary weekend supervisor in a residential program for four developmentally disabled men. As the weekend manager, I assisted in the training of new staff, managed house finances, and planned regular outings and vacations.
Beaverbrook-Step, Waltham, MA Overnight Advocate, 1993
I was responsible for the overnight safety and well-being of a mixed population of mentally-ill and developmentally disabled individuals. In my role as an overnight, particular attention was paid to monitoring a violent young man with mild developmental disabilities.
Note: During my long and varied time as a Human Service worker, I have completed and maintained a variety of training programs. The long list of certifications I have maintained include “MR Documentation”, “Fire Safety, Essential Clinical Skills”, PMT (Non-Violence Resistance Training), Human Rights Issues, Emergency Management, Roles and Responsibilities, First-Aid, Medication Training (Medication Dispensing Certification).