My Story
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
Although I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, I have lived across the country as an adult: Los Angeles (where I learned that it can be 70 degrees in February), Honolulu (where I learned how to weed a taro field), and Norfolk (where I learned that pollen can look like yellow snow). I’m happy to call Dayton home as Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's minister (since July 2018).
My parents and grandparents were all restaurant workers-- my grandmother was a waitress, my grandfather a bartender, my father a cook, and my mother a waitress. Both my grandmother and my mother became single mothers. They each worked 60 to 75 hours per week to support their children. I myself am a third-generation single mother.
Raised Roman Catholic, I didn’t realize I could choose my own religion until my teen and young adult years. During this time, I explored alternatives from Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel Job: A Comedy of Justice to the Willow Creek megachurch to the Bahá’i faith. Ultimately, my spiritual and religious exploration brought me to Unitarian Universalism. I have been an enthusiastic UU since 2001.
Coming from a working-class family, I am a first-generation college student, the only person in my family who was able to attend college. I began my undergraduate degree as an aspiring theatre major at Northwestern University in 1989. Three universities and three majors later, I completed my Bachelor of English from University of Maryland in May 2012 at the age of 41. Along the way, I built a career in sales management and recruiting in the staffing industry.
My call to ministry began when I worked as a US Navy Family Ombudsman (2003-2006). As a liaison between our captain and the ship’s 300 families, I learned a tremendous amount of information about the support services available to Navy families. Being an Ombudsman also was a very empowering experience, helping the ship’s families during times of crisis and celebrating with them during lifetime milestones.
While I could not magically fix problems, I was able to ease the devastation of a crisis or tragedy. It was important for me to show the sailors’ families that they were not alone—that the ship would be their extended families—especially with their husbands out-to-sea and their real extended families thousands of miles away from where we were stationed. This was the most important part of being an ombudsman. This is what I believe made a difference in the lives of every family I assisted.
To me, pastoral care is an extension of my ombudsman work and an important part of my call to ministry. I think one of the most difficult parts of grief is being able to sit with the pain, to endure what feels unendurable. During these times, many of us need someone to literally sit with us and the pain-- to help us believe that we can survive the pain with the help of our faith and/or loved ones-- to help us see that we are not alone in our pain.
The second ring of my call came when I discovered UU religious education with my son. When our congregation offered my son roots so that he would "always have a home" and wings so that he might "learn to touch the heavens," I first felt the power and beauty of the UU commitment to our children. I believe wholeheartedly that one of the greatest strengths of our UU faith is our ability to encourage, direct, support, and celebrate the spirit of our young members. However, what really pushed me to move forward with my ministry plans was my first Bridging Ceremony.
Although the sanctuary was packed with people, I felt as if each youth advisor was speaking solely to their young person, celebrating their strengths, gifts, and futures. Over and over again, the advisors told their students to go out in the world proudly with their heads held high, always remembering what special gifts they have to offer. They told them to speak loudly and never apologize for what they believe or who they are. I was completely awe-struck. I wondered what my life would have been like if I had people who believed in me this much-- what an incredible gift these advisors had given the congregation's teens. I wonder what the world would be like if every child and teen was nurtured with this much unconditional love.
Once I decided to accept my call to ministry, I became the director of faith development at Second Unitarian Church of Chicago. I began my Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School the following year. During my second year of study, I transferred into the dual degree program and completed a 2-year hospital chaplain residency. For my thesis project, I created a workshop for faith communities on suicide awareness and prevention, combining my own experience as a 1991 attempt-survivor with the QPR prevention model.
For the final portion of my ministry preparation, I completed a 2-year congregational internship at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park, IL. In addition to my congregational work, I am starting my fourth year as steering committee chair of UU Class Conversations, a project working to make Unitarian Universalism more class-inclusive. In May 2018, I graduated with a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Leadership Studies. On June 9, 2018, Unity Temple ordained me into the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Hip, hip, HOORAY!!!
On the personal side, I am divorced and live with my son, Matt (born in 2005). I use she/her pronouns. Matt and I are excited to put down roots in the MVUUF community and create a home in Dayton. My favorite activity is talking with my son about all the things that make his eyes dance, like paleontology, Magic the Gathering card game, turtles, drawing dragons, and his favorite video-game of the week. On my own, I love to walk under bright blue skies, practice yoga (emphasis on practice), sing off-key, pretend I am part of flash-mob dances, act/improv, laugh loudly (and often hoot), listen with my heart, and TALK A LOT.
If you’d STILL like to know more about me, my website offers lots of other ways to get to know me. So please feel free to browse through my sermons, newsletter columns, Twitter tweets, and even my bookshelves. You also can follow me on Twitter @kellieuukelly and Facebook kellieuukelly. Of course, you can always send me an email or call me at MVUUF (937-436-3628). Can’t wait to talk with you!
My parents and grandparents were all restaurant workers-- my grandmother was a waitress, my grandfather a bartender, my father a cook, and my mother a waitress. Both my grandmother and my mother became single mothers. They each worked 60 to 75 hours per week to support their children. I myself am a third-generation single mother.
Raised Roman Catholic, I didn’t realize I could choose my own religion until my teen and young adult years. During this time, I explored alternatives from Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel Job: A Comedy of Justice to the Willow Creek megachurch to the Bahá’i faith. Ultimately, my spiritual and religious exploration brought me to Unitarian Universalism. I have been an enthusiastic UU since 2001.
Coming from a working-class family, I am a first-generation college student, the only person in my family who was able to attend college. I began my undergraduate degree as an aspiring theatre major at Northwestern University in 1989. Three universities and three majors later, I completed my Bachelor of English from University of Maryland in May 2012 at the age of 41. Along the way, I built a career in sales management and recruiting in the staffing industry.
My call to ministry began when I worked as a US Navy Family Ombudsman (2003-2006). As a liaison between our captain and the ship’s 300 families, I learned a tremendous amount of information about the support services available to Navy families. Being an Ombudsman also was a very empowering experience, helping the ship’s families during times of crisis and celebrating with them during lifetime milestones.
While I could not magically fix problems, I was able to ease the devastation of a crisis or tragedy. It was important for me to show the sailors’ families that they were not alone—that the ship would be their extended families—especially with their husbands out-to-sea and their real extended families thousands of miles away from where we were stationed. This was the most important part of being an ombudsman. This is what I believe made a difference in the lives of every family I assisted.
To me, pastoral care is an extension of my ombudsman work and an important part of my call to ministry. I think one of the most difficult parts of grief is being able to sit with the pain, to endure what feels unendurable. During these times, many of us need someone to literally sit with us and the pain-- to help us believe that we can survive the pain with the help of our faith and/or loved ones-- to help us see that we are not alone in our pain.
The second ring of my call came when I discovered UU religious education with my son. When our congregation offered my son roots so that he would "always have a home" and wings so that he might "learn to touch the heavens," I first felt the power and beauty of the UU commitment to our children. I believe wholeheartedly that one of the greatest strengths of our UU faith is our ability to encourage, direct, support, and celebrate the spirit of our young members. However, what really pushed me to move forward with my ministry plans was my first Bridging Ceremony.
Although the sanctuary was packed with people, I felt as if each youth advisor was speaking solely to their young person, celebrating their strengths, gifts, and futures. Over and over again, the advisors told their students to go out in the world proudly with their heads held high, always remembering what special gifts they have to offer. They told them to speak loudly and never apologize for what they believe or who they are. I was completely awe-struck. I wondered what my life would have been like if I had people who believed in me this much-- what an incredible gift these advisors had given the congregation's teens. I wonder what the world would be like if every child and teen was nurtured with this much unconditional love.
Once I decided to accept my call to ministry, I became the director of faith development at Second Unitarian Church of Chicago. I began my Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School the following year. During my second year of study, I transferred into the dual degree program and completed a 2-year hospital chaplain residency. For my thesis project, I created a workshop for faith communities on suicide awareness and prevention, combining my own experience as a 1991 attempt-survivor with the QPR prevention model.
For the final portion of my ministry preparation, I completed a 2-year congregational internship at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park, IL. In addition to my congregational work, I am starting my fourth year as steering committee chair of UU Class Conversations, a project working to make Unitarian Universalism more class-inclusive. In May 2018, I graduated with a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Leadership Studies. On June 9, 2018, Unity Temple ordained me into the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Hip, hip, HOORAY!!!
On the personal side, I am divorced and live with my son, Matt (born in 2005). I use she/her pronouns. Matt and I are excited to put down roots in the MVUUF community and create a home in Dayton. My favorite activity is talking with my son about all the things that make his eyes dance, like paleontology, Magic the Gathering card game, turtles, drawing dragons, and his favorite video-game of the week. On my own, I love to walk under bright blue skies, practice yoga (emphasis on practice), sing off-key, pretend I am part of flash-mob dances, act/improv, laugh loudly (and often hoot), listen with my heart, and TALK A LOT.
If you’d STILL like to know more about me, my website offers lots of other ways to get to know me. So please feel free to browse through my sermons, newsletter columns, Twitter tweets, and even my bookshelves. You also can follow me on Twitter @kellieuukelly and Facebook kellieuukelly. Of course, you can always send me an email or call me at MVUUF (937-436-3628). Can’t wait to talk with you!
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
|
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
|
More About Me....
Theology
|
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
|