Our New Lead Minister Is...

With great pleasure and gratitude, the Board of Trustees and the Developmental Minister Search Team announce that the Rev. Justine Sullivan (she/her/hers) will be our new Lead Minister, effective August 1, 2022. Ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, MA, Rev. Justine served our UU faith for several years before entering seminary as a leader in her congregation and a congregational consultant and facilitator across New England and beyond. Prior to ministry, Rev. Justine worked for 20 years as a social worker and psychotherapist and as a technical writer and manager in high technology. Her ministerial record speaks to her passion for transitional ministry: mentoring, leadership development, preaching, pastoral care, and leading congregations through major transitions of growth and service. She served as president of the Clara Barton district board in New England from 2012 to 2015 and president of the District Presidents’ Association from 2014 to 2015. She was recently nominated to run for the UUA Board of Trustees and, if elected, will begin her 3-year term in July of 2022.

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Rev. Justine believes strongly that times of major transition in the life of a congregation are not just something to get through but offer great possibility for healing, discernment, and transformation.  She has served congregations in Massachusetts, Maine, and Virginia as an interim minister. She looks forward to joining us for her 4-year commitment as our developmental minister. Her top goal for First UU is to help our members gain clarity and renewed enthusiasm for our mission. She will also be helping to guide us through the board's developmental goals, including governance and staffing needs, rebuilding trust and engaging conflict in healthy ways, and deciding whether to stay in Hillcrest or find a new location.

Rev. Justine will be moving to San Diego with her wife Dale and their dog Callie over the summer. She is looking forward to joining Rev. Dr. Omega Burckhardt and our amazing team of staff and volunteer leaders. Welcome, Rev. Justine, Dale, and Callie!

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