After a year-long search process, members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) voted on June 2 to call Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner and Rev. Joel Miller as the congregation’s new settled co-ministers. Concluding a week of conversations, meetings, and events with the candidates, 99% of voting members chose to call this team of ministers to serve.
“We struck gold with Rev. Debra and Rev. Joel,” reports Erin O’Donnell, Chair of the FUUSN Ministerial Search Committee. “Their compassionate and thoughtful approach let us know the hearts of the FUUSN congregation will be in good hands. Their energy, clear direction and dedication to social justice let us know the broader community as well as our own congregants will be well-served by their presence.”
A UU minister for 21 years, Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner is the President Emerita and co-founder of the Religious Institute and author of Beyond the Big Talk, From Diapers to Dating, and What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know. She is the creator of the Sexually Safer Best Practices Initiative used by the Unitarian Universalist Association. FUUSN notes that she has has been recognized for her dynamic worship, loving approach to congregational life, social justice work, and ability to give and receive feedback.
Rev. Joel Miller has been a UU minister for 33 years. FUUSN notes that he has been praised for his pastoral care, organizational leadership, worship services, and thoughtful presence. He is a co-founder of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry, based on his personal experience serving the Littleton, CO, Unitarian Universalist congregation during the aftermath of the Columbine High School mass shooting.
Starting in September, each minister will preach solo once a month and once together from the FUUSN pulpit. Services are at 10:15AM on Sundays, in person and on Zoom.
