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Like so many, I discovered unitarian Universalism once I had children. I was looking for faith that taught love and inclusiveness and found it at the Unitarian Universalist church of Richmond, VA. I graduated from seminary from Meadville Lombard in 2016 and have had internships in Richmond, VA and Newport News, VA. I have preached in most UU churches in Virginia before settling as the assistant minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA work with Rev. Terasa Cooley. After three years in Arlington, I was called to Wooster, OH.
The inclusiveness of Unitarian Universalism has led me to justice work, especially in the areas of LGBTQAI+ equality and Black Lives Matter. I was a counter-protestor in Charlottesville in Aug 2017, have marched in Moral Monday events in Charlotte, NC, helped the Arlington, VA congregation adopt the 8th principle, testified before the Arlington School Board to adopt gender neutral bathrooms, and worked with the Fight for $15 in Richmond. It is my belief that justice work is deeply grounded in spirituality. That our faith should call us into action.
I grew up in a Lutheran faith that was almost Universal in its theology. While I still find beauty in meaning in my Christian roots, I find that beauty reflected in Humanism, Paganism, Judaism and most of the world’s religions. It is my belief that faith is deeply personal, but how you live out those values in order to make yourself and world a better place is what is important.
I currently reside in Wooster with my wife of over 25 years and my two teenage children. All three of whom are the center of my heart.
Jenni began at UUFWC in 2020 as the Director of Religious Exploration. She has been a UU for over 20 years involved in many aspects of the UU Church of Akron including Our Whole Lives and community gardening. She began working as the Director of Religious Education at SouthWest UU in North Royalton, Ohio in 2015. She is a 2022 candidate in the Religious Education Credentialing Program through the Unitarian Universalist Association. She is also active in the Ohio Meadville chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) holding offices of vice-president and president from 2018-2021.
For Jenni, religious education is an opening up of possibilities for a person. For those younger ones, showing them acceptance, modeling and encouraging questioning, lessening discomfort with open ends/loose threads/lack of a "right" answer. It is about creating opportunities to find points of entry for spiritual exploration and areas of spiritual excitement. It is about making bare topics and concepts that can feel "off-limits" for many people and giving opportunity to discover what is or can be spiritual about an individual's chosen path. It is about giving language, practices, and community to include spirituality and religious life in one's core, instead of as an adjunct to daily life.
She and her husband Chris have three children and one grandchild. She enjoys getting down and dirty in the vegetable garden and then creating great food for people. They love to travel and camp, especially at the beach.
Jessica feels it is important to work to make the community, and the world, a better place. She joined the UUFWC team in 2019 to be around progressive people who felt the same way. She started out working with the Youth, and learning about Unitarian Universalism from them, before moving into the office to support the administrative activities of the Fellowship.
Jesica is a Wayne County native. Her day job is finding ways to help farmers and farmland preservation efforts throughout the County and region. She and her partner Adam live in Wooster with their kiddos, cats, and chickens and also own and operate the Black Squirrel Inn.
karen.uufwc@gmail.com
Karen joined the UUFWC in 1998 so her young children could explore a range of religious ideas and values. She has participated in most aspects of the fellowship including facilities, religious education (briefly serving as interim Director of RE), social action, finance, and served as President of our Board of Directors.
In deciding to accept the staff position of Membership Coordinator in 2016, she hoped her past involvement would help her meet the needs of the congregation.
Karen is retired from a career in research and administration in academia, wrapping up at the Department of Agriculture. She enjoys tennis, skiing, hiking, and traveling with her husband of over 40 years to visit their grown children in Wisconsin and Montana.
music.director@uufwc.org
Sharon began attending the UU in 2001 and immediately realized that she found “home.” In 2002, she was hired as the church accompanist and then as Music Director in 2014. She is one of the founders of the Madrigal Feaste, an annual fundraiser that brings food and entertainment to a Middle Age King’s Court. It is a highlight of the Fellowship’s yearly events.
She loves to travel and encounter new cultures and places via food and events. And, of course, she loves music of all kinds!
Elaine Strawn,started as minister at the UUFWC in 1996. She retired in July, 2019.
A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, Rev. Dr. Strawn has a strong commitment to social action, to spiritual development and to walking! She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, Illinois.