Melissa has served as the minister of our congregation since September, 2005. Melissa did not grow up in a particularly religious home. She became a spiritual seeker in college and that is when she became acquainted, and fell in love, with Unitarian Universalism. Melissa graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Women's Studies in 1995 and earned her M.Div. from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2005. Melissa's training for the ministry included a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, a year of service and learning as the Laurel Hallman Ministerial Intern at Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, MN and a summer ministry at First Unitarian in Rochester, NY. In calling her to serve as our minister upon her graduation, our congregation had the privilege of ordaining Melissa to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

Before entering the ministry Melissa worked as a sexual assault and domestic violence counselor and educator and as a pre-school teacher. She also waited her share of tables and worked on a couple of organic farms. Melissa loves outdoor adventure, especially hiking and canoeing. She lives in Kent with her partner, Ellen Carvill-Ziemer, her two nieces Anna and Aliyah who are living with them for the year and two great dogs, Migo and Zoey.

A Message from our Minister

Karen is returning to the church as the Director of Religious Education after serving the Ohio Meadville District for eight years as the Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development. She is delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of our community again and to work with children, youth and families. Her professional passions include nurturing the multigenerational community, supporting youth ministry and inspiring Unitarian Universalist identity.

Karen holds a B.S. in Nursing from Kent State University and a M.A. in Religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School. During the twenty-three years that she has been a Unitarian Universalist religious educator, she has participated in many training opportunities, both as a learner and a leader.

Hello. My name is Hal Walker and I have been the music director at the UU church of Kent for over 12 years now. I like this job and I've gotten to where I really love this church. What an interesting and enjoyable task it is to collaborate with Melissa in creating worship services. I'm so grateful that the congregation has given me such freedom to express myself musically in our services. At our church, you'll hear a variety of music that you've probably never heard in any other church. We have a very musical congregation and it has been my pleasure to welcome the talents of musicians of all types into our sanctuary. Always open to new singers, our adult choir rehearses every Sunday night.

As Music Director, I'm interested in silence, shaping sound, building community and creating real beauty. I'm interested in the process of learning well how to incorporate music into worship. Though I don't join things easily, after 12 years, I can almost call myself a real Unitarian Universalist.

For 30 years, Christie Anderson’s professional career was devoted to the human services field in an effort to support disadvantaged people working to enhance their lives. Although still engaged in this work on a part-time basis, Christie is now supplementing this effort by offering her skills to help fulfill the mission of the Kent UU church.

While appreciative of her Protestant upbringing, Christie has embraced the liberal religious perspective of Unitarian Universalism since 2000. Christie is active in the worship life of the Kent UU church as a member of the Sunday Programming Committee and the Pastoral Care Committee, a planner and worship leader for vesper services, a senior Worship Associate, and an active leader in the Small Group Ministry Program as a Steering Committee member and an SGM group facilitator.

Christie earned the title of Commissioned Lay Leader in October 2008 following her completion of the 2 year lay ministry educational program established by the Ohio-Meadville District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Christie is thrilled to have the credentials and opportunity to reach out to the community by solemnizing marriages, performing commitment ceremonies, conducting memorials, and offering worship services. She can be contacted at uuchristiea@yahoo.com.

Judy Brannan has been the church office secretary since 2000. She produces the Thread from the Web (a short announcement-filled weekly enclosure to the order of service), the order of service and publicity materials for committees and some church events. She also maintains the official church calendar, and schedules events and meetings.

Please contact me if you'd like to schedule an event, submit an article for the Thread from the Web, or inquire about renting a church facility.