At the time of her ordination in 1978, Carolyn joined a group of less than 60 female Unitarian Universalist ministers in the United States. A pioneer in many ways, Carolyn was the first woman President of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the first woman President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. After her undergraduate degree in Art she completed a Doctor of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School and served as the co-minister, with her husband Tom, of First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego for 22 years. Carolyn has also been an unwavering champion of LGBTQIA rights. She offered pastoral care to the gay community from the earliest days of the AIDS crisis, performed civil unions for same sex couples when acceptance in any kind of church was a rarity and championed the rights of transgender people. 

A Loving Testimony to Carolyn & Tom Owen-Towle On Behalf of the Queer Community
by Jan Garbosky 6/28/02 
For the past 24 years—since their first autumn at First Church—Tom and Carolyn have provided a place in which “affirming the inherent dignity and worth of all persons” is a beloved norm. Together and in their individual ministries, they have found ways to help this community explore “otherness” and support “oneness.” Because of their pioneering and support, this church has welcomed first gay; then lesbian and gay; then lesbian, gay and bisexual; and now lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals and organizations. It is because of Carolyn and Tom’s vision and leadership that these church grounds have become a safe place where all of us can share our gifts.