Rev. Kathy Huff, Senior Minister Senior Minister - Rev. Kathy Huff
The Reverend Kathy Huff is currently on sabbatical (February through August, 2008). Ministerial sabbaticals have deep roots in Unitarian Univeralism and other traditions. The sabbatical offers a time for rest, reflection, study, and renewal -- all ingredients for sustained, effective ministry. A sabbatical also presents a unique opportunity for congregational renewal. Learn more about Kathy's plans and our plans during the sabbatical.
Rev. Kathy has served our congregation since 2002. She is an accomplished minister with a deep commitment to transformative spiritual growth, religious pluralism and social justice. Raised as a Roman Catholic in the South Pacific islands, Kathy has traveled and lived around the globe and is a life long student of world religions. She was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry in 1998. Prior to coming to Oakland, she served the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Rev. Kathy holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. She has received numerous awards for her dynamic leadership, social justice work and visionary preaching. Most recently, she was named as the 2007 East Bay Express Readers Poll Favorite for the area's “Most Inspirational Sermons.” As a recognized leader in our movement Rev. Kathy addressed the 6,000 delegates at the opening plenary of our 2003 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in Boston. She spoke about the imperative of giving body and form to our justice centered faith. A sought after public speaker and workshop leader, her writings and quotes frequently appear in magazines and meditation manuals.
Kathy is passionate about our mission to build the beloved community. Her many years of work to end racism and eliminate heterosexism is helping us grow into a more inclusive congregation. With her inspiration we have become active in the UUA's Journey Towards Wholeness initiative and the Welcoming Congregation process.
Prior to ordained ministry, Kathy was the founding member and producing artistic director of a New England touring theater company based in Maine. She eventually left the professional theater to work with battered women and children. As the Director of the YWCA Family Violence Project in Cincinnati, Ohio, she became recognized as an expert in the field of domestic violence and was co-founder of the Alliance Against Same Sex Domestic Violence.
For more about our senior minister, read our Interview with Rev. Kathy
Rev. Michelle Favreault Rev. Michelle Favreault
Rev. Michelle Favreault has been hired to serve as the Acting Assistant Minister of Religious Education at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland.
Some of you may recall Rev. Michelle’s previous time with First Unitarian in 1997-1999 as our Life Span Program Coordinator. She is a 2000 graduate from Starr King School for the Ministry, and she was ordained by the Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church in Hayward . Her recent work includes serving as an Acting Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Sunnyvale; Education Consultant to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis; and Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley. She has also worked as a growth consultant with the Pacific Central District, and on the associate faculty at Starr King School for the Ministry. Michelle brings to us many years in religious education in Unitarian Universalist settings.
People who have worked with Rev. Michelle in other settings rave about what a delight she is to know and work with. The transition team that hired her was very impressed as well, and in its June letter to the congregation announcing her hire, quoted a portion of Rev. Michelle’s philosophy of religious education that got to the heart of her excitement about this role.
“Michelle views religious education as ‘learning about all things that matter…awakening the mind, quickening the spirit, drawing forth powers that counter hatred and fear, compelling action and striving toward the holy.’ She exudes warmth, a passion for UU religious education, and a palpable love for this church.”
In addition to an M. Div, Michelle also holds an M.A. in Public Administration and a B.A. in French Literature and Theater Arts. She has a UUA certification in religious education and fellowship in parish ministry. She has written extensively on issues in leadership development, intergenerational community building and has been involved in local advocacy for arts education, affordable housing and economic justice. She has been a fundraiser for many grassroots organizations and has taught in settings ranging from Head Start classrooms, to military bases, hospitals and universities.
In addition to her love of “mystagogy and pedagogy,” Michelle is a fan of the Boston Red Sox, and Oakland A’s. (As she seeks to honor both her New England family roots and bay area wings).
Chris Long, Intern Minister Intern Minister, Chris Long
Chris Long, currently a student at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, says he has spent most of his life engaged in the struggle to end oppression either in his work or as a social activist. His passion to end oppression ranges from the fight to end homelessness, working for and with people with disabilities, educating himself on the issues that matter to woman, battling for equal rights for people with many sexual orientations, and working for disadvantaged, struggling youth and young adults. For nearly 10 years he worked for the job corps program (a national program for ‘disadvantaged, high-risk’ youth) because of his strong belief that the future of our society requires that all citizens reach their potential. Wanting to continue to make a difference locally, but also to be able to effect change in a more global manner, Chris felt the call to become a professional Unitarian Universalist Minister.
Chris clearly expresses his strong feelings for our faith: "In becoming a Unitarian Universalist in December of 1999 at the James Reeb Church in Madison, Wisconsin, I found a religious freedom I never dreamed possible while growing up in a non-traditional, but very Catholic household. As an African-American, Chinese, gay male, Unitarian Universalism has begun the process of empowering me to live out, what I believe to be, my calling in life."
With a desire to nurture his liberal voice and to further develop his analytical and critical thinking skills about the issues of our time, Chris enrolled at Starr King, a place where he can continue to learn how to discern his authentic voice and its potential impact in making a difference.
Chris began his two-year Ministerial Internship with us in September-2006. We look forward to our second year learning from Chris as he, in turn, learns from and with our congregation. After his two year's of ministry here, he will spend another year of full-time at Starr King, completing his Masters of Divinity and hopefully moving on to be a UU Parish Minister.