OUR MINISTER

REV. BOB RENJILIAN -- MINISTER

Rev. Bob Renjilian (he/him/his) arrived in August, 2020. He comes to us with 30 years of experience serving Unitarian Universalist congregations of all sizes. He grew up in this religion, at a small Unitarian Universalist fellowship in rural Connecticut, and moved around the country as he and his wife, Christy, raised their (now grown) children. “Rev. Bob” says that the beauty of the region and the wonderful vibe and energy of the congregation helped draw him here as our settled minister.

“I realize I’m preaching to folks on Sunday who have come from all religious backgrounds, and many who were not raised in a religion. We make a point of encouraging each other in spiritual growth, with a spirit of generosity as we see how each of us seeks varied paths that help us grow. I love that so many in our midst are seeking a community such as this congregation where they are welcomed regardless of where they came from. We celebrate the diversity of races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, ages and walks of life - and we’re always making room for more. We’re folks who also want to make a difference in the wider community, collectively engaged in charitable projects and social justice initiatives.”

Rev. Bob is available for individual or family appointments for when you need a pastoral ear for the issues you face. He is also available for weddings, and has performed ceremonies for same-gender and different-gender couples. He can be reached at RevBob@UUTC.org

UUTC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ian Cowie – BOARD PRESIDENT

Ian moved with his wife, Vanessa, to Brevard found a new home with UUTC. They were charter members of Georgia Mountains UU Church in Dahlonega where Ian served in several leadership roles. Ian enjoys singing in the church choir and has sung with the General Assembly choir several times.
Raised in Ontario, Canada, Ian moved with his family to Ohio as a teen. After graduating from college, he worked in Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia in the agricultural field. In 2013, he retired from the University of Georgia Extension Service. Ian has a love for the outdoors as he enjoys bike riding and hiking throughout the area. Vanessa and Ian take pleasure helping raise two grandchildren who live in Mills River.  

NANCY RICHARDS – BOARD PRESIDENT-Elect

Phillip and his husband Rick moved to Brevard ten years ago from Atlanta Georgia where Phillip was a chaplain at Emory University Hospital in the areas of oncology and HIV/AIDS and was also minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta.  During his time in Brevard, he has had opportunities to share his story at UUTC and found during that time a special place where his spiritual life and his justice filled theology of life found a forever home.  He enjoys traveling, reading, theater and is an avid fan of The University of Tennessee Lady Vols.  He and Rick have a wonderful schnauzer named Eleanor (yes…you guessed it after Eleanor Roosevelt) who continues to be one of his role models in life.

KAY WEBB – Board Secretary

Born in south Georgia, Kay grew up in a military family, and spent her childhood and youth in several southeastern states, as well as the Philippine Islands, North Africa, and Hawaii. Earning an MEd in middle school education, Kay taught gifted students for 32 years in Tifton, GA, before retiring in 2002. Her 60th birthday led her to take a leap of faith with her partner and move to Brevard in 2008. 

When initially visiting UUTC, she was warmly welcomed and immediately felt accepted; by the time she became a member in 2010, she knew she had found a home in the UUTC community. It took a few more years before she was ready to say “yes” to service in the UUTC organization; once she made the commitment, she became immersed in the life of UUTC, serving as a choir member, Administration Committee member, Grounds Team member, Facilities Team Leader, and, now, she is serving a fourth term as Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

michael griffith – BOARD Treasurer

Michael Griffith and his wife of 58 years, Donna Reyburn, realized they were Unitarians when they found the majority of their friends attended the Unitarian Church in Wilmington, DE. After moving to Philadelphia, they joined the Mainline Unitarian Church. Their last stop before Brevard was in Charleston, SC, where they were active members in the Unitarian Church in Charleston for 23 years.

Michael grew up in Louisiana, and met Donna at Northwestern University, where he received a BS in chemical engineering. He holds a PhD in physical-organic chemistry from LSU, and a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Minnesota and worked in industrial R & D for 30 years.

Donna and Michael have two adult sons and triplet grandchildren, now 20 years of age.

MARJORIE DOTY — BOARD TREASURER-ELECT

Marge and her spouse Shelley visited Brevard and fell in love with the area’s beauty and the generosity and kindness of its people. Brevard also has the four features they were hoping to find in a retirement community: a good hospital, a large library, a Starbucks and a UU church. Marge had been a member (and treasurer) of her UU church in Virginia. Although raised a Lutheran, she found she identified more with the principles of UU.

Marge is a retired medical technologist, serving eleven years in the Army and then in various hospitals and research departments, lastly in the education of future medical technologists. She and Shelley share their home with three cats and a two year old golden retriever who they hope one day will be calm enough to be certified as a therapy dog.

Vicki Held – Board Member At Large

Vicki is sure she has always been a UU but it took her a while to find it. A lifelong Presbyterian affiliation with lots of leadership roles ended when a divorce gave her the courage to seek a new life. She landed happily in a UU congregation and never looked back. When she and husband John married, they moved to Connestee Falls, visited UUTC and joined. They love the friendships that have developed and opportunities to serve. Vicki considers it a privilege to join the Board and continue her service.

jill beach – Board Member At Large

Jill has been a resident of Brevard for 8 years and recently moved to downtown.  She loves the walkability of her location and the friendly neighbors. She has a beloved Shih Zu named Little Man who is blind and deaf but is still enjoying life and the trails nearby. Jill is originally from Ohio and lived in Atlanta, Georgia and New Orleans before deciding to retire to Brevard. She is a retired educator who spent the best part of her career teaching scientific research in a STEM high school in Conyers, Georgia.  Jill was raised Presbyterian and tried several other congregations until she was invited to attend UUTC and the rest is history!. Outside of church she is on the Board of the Haven and a volunteer at Through the Trees.  She enjoys being out in nature, singing in the choir, reading, kayaking and doing pastel drawings.

Glenn Cockerham – Board Member At Large

Glenn was drawn to the UU community in his 30s with an appreciation of its moral and ethical principles, its comfort with blending secularism and spirituality, and the absence of the dogma and superstition of the Southern Baptist church of his youth. Years later, he was again drawn to UU in a search for progressive voices in a deeply conservative area. He found those progressive voices and more. Glenn met his wife, Roberta Carver, at UU Savannah, and they were married by Rev. Ian White Maher in 2017. Glenn earned his PhD in musicology and currently serves as the president of the Brevard Philharmonic. At UUTC, he has sung in the choir and served on the Social Action team.

OPERATIONAL LEADERS

R.K. Young – CONGREGATIONAL ADMINISTRATor

RK believes she was probably born to be a UU but was pathetically slow in discovering it. She grew up in the Presbyterian faith, but has encountered Buddhist leanings within herself. A student of the humanities and the arts, RK entertains a lively curiosity about almost everything and loves learning new things about members of UUTC. A former award-winning art teacher, she shares Brevard with her spouse Kay. Her diverse employment background has made her well-suited to the multiple roles necessary to her work at UUTC. When not working, RK enjoys reading, singing in the choir, gaming and photography. 

kevin lausch — director of FAMILY MINISTRY

Kevin Lausch was raised in Alabama before being lucky enough to move to Western North Carolina in 2006. He has a Master's Degree in public administration and worked in South Carolina state government for several years before transitioning into United Methodist youth ministry and then summer camp administration. He was the summer camp director for YMCA Camp Greenville and then an administrator for Pleasant Ridge Retreat Center/Camp Spearhead, a summer camp for people with special needs. Kevin also serves on the board for Mountain Sun Community School.

TRISHA M. WESLEY — Communications & administration

Trisha has been living in NC for the past 16 years from Raleigh, Oak Ridge, Brevard, and now Fletcher. Trisha was born in Pittsburgh, but raised in the suburbs of Georgia. She went to school for education and used her degree to successfully homeschool her children Luke and Jovie through their Elementary and Middle school years. She is now happily married to her new husband, and is enjoying life playing board games, attending concerts, and traveling when she can. She loves Jesus and the message he wanted his followers to practice. Love one another. Trisha hopes to brighten others lives with her light and love others like Jesus would want the world to do.

chelsea caldwell — bookkeeper

Chelsea moved to Brevard six years ago after visiting the area often in college to go backpacking and kayaking. She majored in Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte and is pursuing an accounting degree at Blue Ridge Community College. In her free time, she likes to mountain bike and hike. She has a daughter named Zoe who is 18 months old. Zoe loves spending warm days splashing in the local rivers and exploring nature.

OUR MINISTER EMERITUS

REVEREND ERNEST L. MILLS, JR.

The title Minister Emeritus is granted to honor long and meritorious service to a congregation where the minister has given devoted and competent ministerial leadership. This title was granted to Ernie by the Congregation on the date of his final service for UUTC: April 26, 2015. Ordained to the UU ministry in 2007, Ernie completed a BA in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, a Master of Religious Education from Duke Divinity School, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He began his ministry in the United Methodist Church, serving as director of education, assistant pastor, and minister. Prior to joining UUTC in June 2002, Ernie was Chaplain and Instructor at Brevard College. 

Leaving his long-time affiliation with United Methodism was, as Mills has said, one of the most difficult decisions of his life. But in 2002 he resigned his position at Brevard College and became part-time minister to the small congregation of Unitarian Universalists who are now known as UUTC.

His strong interest in depth psychology and his love of folk guitar and mountain storytelling enhance his theology and brought an added dimension to his ministry. As lead singer and guitarist for the Eclectics, Ernie performed regularly for the congregation. And for more than a decade he led a lively men's discussion group open to anyone within the community to discuss weekly a wide variety of religious and secular issues--a group which continues to thrive today.