Good Officers

I have been a Unitarian Universalist religious educator since 2008 and currently serve two congregations as the Director of Religious Exploration (DRE): at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Westchester in Mt. Kisco, NY. and at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Growing up the daughter of a United Methodist Minister, I saw first-hand the effect conflict can have on a congregation and congregational staff teams. I also developed a deep appreciation for the unique potential faith communities have to transform destructive conflict and strengthen beloved community given the appropriate support and resources.

I hold a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, and have completed coursework and exams toward a Ph.D. in the same. I also have extensive experience teaching undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in conflict transformation, having been on faculty at George Mason University, Columbia University, and in the Dispute Resolution Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. It’s a joy to be able to share conflict transformation tools with my LREDA colleagues, and to learn with you new strategies for managing the challenges we face as we serve our congregations.

Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore, Metro New York, nfenimore(at)uucsr.org 

The Rev. Natalie Maxwell Fenimore is a member of the ministerial team at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, serving as Minister of Lifespan Religious Education. Since 1998 she has served congregations in Maryland, Virginia and New York as Director of Religious Education, Minister of Religious Education and Parish Minister. Natalie is a Credentialed Religious Educator/Master’s Level and past-President of the Liberal Religious Educator’s Association.

DeAnna Hoyle, Mountain Desert, deannaldh(at)gmail.com 

Beth Irikura, Joseph Priestly, birikura(at)rruuc.org 

Beth has served River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation as their Religious Educator for Youth since 2007 working primarily with middle and high school youth. She is a Credentialed Religious Educator and has a certificate in Lay Ministry with an emphasis in Youth Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary. Beth serves LREDA as a Credentialing Mentor,a Good Officer, and on the Credentialing Scholarship Committee. She is currently Acting VP for the GWAREC cluster of her LREDA chapter and serves on the UU Wellspring Board. Beth and her family are members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville.

Mary Kroener-Ekstrand, Pacific Northwest, dre(at)uucwf.org

Mary Kroener-Ekstrand is Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, OR. She previously served as Lifespan Director of Religious Education at First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City.  Mary holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and has pursued a variety of professional development opportunities in the field of religious education including coursework at Starr King School for the Ministry, district and regional trainings, and Renaissance Modules. She is passionate about lifelong learning and loves helping people of all ages to understand their own beliefs and to put those beliefs into action in their lives and communities.  As a Good Officer, Mary hopes to help fellow religious educators maintain their integrity and honor their values as they navigate the complexities of our professional work in congregations

Alison Aguilar Lopez Gutierrez McLeod, Pacific Southwest, alison(at)uufsd.org 
Alison has been serving the UU Fellowship of San Dieguito as their Director of Religious Education since March 2007. Currently, she is serving on the UUA's Commission on Social Witness and has been a facilitator for the Multicultural Renaissance Module. She was born and raised Unitarian Universalist and has experienced Unitarianism across the country, including at All Souls in Washington D.C., UU’s of the Palouse in Moscow, Idaho, and First Church in San Diego.

While earning her M.Ed. and Bachelors at Washington State University, Alison served as an elected official on the City Council of Pullman, Washington. Her service continued as a teacher for Eclipse Alternative High School and served on numerous boards for organizations that addressed issues faced by women of color, civil rights, and social justice. After graduation, she continued working for various non-profits across the country that focused on youth and child empowerment based through community involvement that reached beyond social, economic constraints.

 Michelle McKenzie Creech, Metro New York, dre(at)uucmc.org 

Michelle serves as the Credentialed Life Span Director of Family Ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County in Lincroft, NJ. She is a member of the Metro New York Chapter of LREDA and has served on the LREDA Continental Board with the portfolio of professional development. Michelle has worked mid to large congregations in the role of Youth Program Director, Membership Coordinator, Director of Religious Education and Director of Family Ministry. She is a trained facilitator in the Renaissance Module program. Michelle also serves as a LREDA Mentor for the credentialing program and on implementation task forces of the UUMN, UUMA, LREDA for excellence in shared ministry.  Michelle is currently engaged in work around congregational emergency procedures and safety protocols. 

Sarah Osborne, Southeast, dre(at)neshobauu.org 

Sarah has served as the Director of Religious Exploration for Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church in Cordova, TN since 2010. She is a trained facilitator for Our Whole Lives and a Youth Ministry Consultant for the Southern Region of the UUA. Sarah nurtures spirituality at Neshoba by creating and supporting open spaces for learning and wondering for the whole family through lifespan faith development opportunities. Sarah has led women’s retreats, workshops at conventions, and loves facilitating rites of passage. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. In a previous life, Sarah was a public school teacher for children with special needs and for children in the gifted program. Currently, Sarah and her husband Scott, lead their teen children in an unschooling journey of creative discovery and adventure.

Michelle Richards, Central Midwest, richards.michelle(at)outlook.com 

Michelle Richards has been a professional religious educator for 20 years. She is a Unitarian Universalist Credentialed Religious Educator at the Master Level and author of Come Into the Circle: Worshiping with Children and Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting which she is revising for a second edition. She wrote and developed the Popcorn Theology curriculum series as well as co-authored the curriculum, Compass Points, and the Tapestry of Faith program, Love Connects Us. She previously served the Central Midwest District of the Unitarian Universalist Association as a small church religious education program consultant and RE Training Coordinator following a seven-year term as Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart. On behalf of the MidAmerica region, she has presented a series of webinars or workshop presentations, including the integration of technology into religious education programs and how to involve youth in the overall life of the church. She is also a LREDA trainer for mentors who, having completed the credentialing program, seek to give back by becoming mentors for others currently enrolled. She is also Executive Director of Chalice Sparx, a multigenerational weekend camp and retreat in southwestern Michigan for Unitarian Universalist families.

Rich Roberts, Ohio Meadville, uuca.roberts(at)juno.com 

Rich is a Credentialed Religious Educator who has been the Director of Religious Education for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, OH since 1994. He is active in the Ohio Meadville LREDA chapter, served on the staff of the Eastern Great Lakes Leadership School and is active in Toastmasters International. He spends as much of his free time as possible outdoors surrounded by nature. Rich is a musician and storyteller who loves creating experiential worship. Early in his career, he was part of the Ohio Meadville District Religious Professional Religious Leaders group which included both ministers and religious educators. He is grateful to have worked alongside excellent ministerial colleagues and inspiring, creative religious educators throughout his career. 

Lynn Sabourin, Canadian UU Religious Educators, lsabourin(at)northshoreunitarians.ca 

Lynn Sabourin has been the Director of Religious Education at North Shore Unitarian Church for the past 37 years. She is passionate about the work, having also been involved as a Renaissance facilitator, a mentor in the Religious Education Credentialing Program and as a Good Officer for CUURE (Canadian Unitarian Universalist Religious Educators). She had wonderful support starting out in the PNWD where she served on the District Religious Education Committee as a member and as chair. She hopes to extend that support to others on this path. Lynn was born and raised in North Vancouver and so is very much rooted in this community. She is a strong believer in good public education having started her career in the public school system. She and her husband, Doug, have three adult sons and are raising a twelve-year-old boy, which is proving to be an education itself. Her family has enjoyed attending Eliot Institute since 1989.where she has held many staff roles including Children’s Program Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Dean. As a committed Unitarian Universalist, Lynn has been involved in various social justice issues and volunteer roles in the community.

Rev. Tandy Scheffler, Southeast, tandyscheffler(at)gmail.com

Reverend Tandy Scheffler is Minister of Faith Formation at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist in Oak Ridge, TN. She has over two decades’ experience as a UU religious educator and is credentialed at the Master level. Tandy is immediate past chair of the Religious Education Credentialing Committee and currently serves as President of the Oak Ridge Ministers Association, an interfaith group of clergy and civic service leaders who connect in friendship to minister to the entire community. She is taking training to become a volunteer chaplain with the Oak Ridge City Police. Tandy lives with her spouse Peter, their dog Willow, and cat Biscuit. They have two young adult sons, Ben and Sam. She enjoys tandem bicycling, line dancing, and time with family and friends.

 Kathy Smith, Southwest, uusunshine(at)gmail.com 

Kathy E. Smith, Credentialed Religious Educator, has served our congregation in Plano, Texas as Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth since 2010.  Prior to that, she served at First Jefferson UU Church in Fort Worth for two years.  She is co-leader of Common Ground Street Choir, a holler-along street protest choir, and is also active in youth ministry in the SWUUC.  

 Halcyon Westall, New England LREDA, hwestall(at)uua.org 

Halcyon Westall has served congregational and organizational faith formation professionally since 2006. A Credentialed Religious Educator, she is currently Project Manager for FAITHIFY.org, crowdfunding Unitarian Universalist ministries. She holds a Masters degree in Holistic Leadership and is passionate about exploring the patterns of beliefs and values that shape our actions and relationships. As a LREDA Good Officer, Halcyon promotes the motto, “Call early! Call often!” She delights in hearing from colleagues and helping them find a way forward.

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