Faith Development Update:
Minister of Faith Development
Hello UUCUC:
We are excited to announce that Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto has accepted our invitation to serve as our new Minister of Faith Development beginning this fall.
Rev. Julián will visit with us for several days, beginning this Sunday, June 14. They will have opportunities to meet our congregation, connect with families and Faith Development volunteers, and to explore Urbana-Champaign.
We hope you can all join us to welcome and meet Rev. Julián at any or all of the below events:
Sunday, June 14:
10:15 am - Sunday Service "Beyond the Butterfly Effect" with Rev. Beth
11:15 am - Fellowship Hour
12:00 pm - Visioning Taskforce presentation of spring Listening Circles (Fellowship Hall)
3:30 pm - Getting to Know Each Other a fun and information-filled session with Rev. Julián. All are welcome to attend but we especially invite families, children, youth and Faith Development volunteers.
In compassion and care,
Rev. Beth Monhollen
Dear UUCUC members and friends:
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Minister of Faith Development search team, I’m thrilled to share that we have selected a Minister of Faith Development: The Rev .Julián Jamaica Soto will begin working with us in August.
I offer sincere thanks to the Board for their support during this process and gratitude beyond measure for the Search Team: Katie Goslin, Emily McKown, Connor O’Neill, Debbie Rugg, Melissa Watson, and Jim Weursch. They invested many hours of time and energy into the search, to review the job description, to work with the UUA posting process, to review candidates and interview three very impressive ministers. Rev Julian’s experience set them apart and it was a unanimous decision that they are the ideal candidate for our congregation and this role.
Rev. Julián is a UU minister who brings a depth of experience and knowledge that spans more than two decades and includes not only ministry but also classroom teaching and family law. They are trained across the lifespan for OWL (Our Whole Lives sexuality education) and are also an OWL trainer. They design rich, multi-sensory, multi-generational worship experiences and are passionate about religious education, supporting programs that allow students to grow spiritually through creativity, play, and exploration. Rev. Julián supports Safer Congregation policies, both in their creation and implementation.
Rev. Julián’s ministry experiences include hospital chaplaincy, congregational ministry, and institutional ministry in their recent role as the Executive Director of TRUUsT, the Trans UU Religious Professionals organization. They are fluent in Spanish, and their personal religious practices include Judaism, a faith they have been increasingly drawn to in recent years which enriches their Unitarian Universalist practices.
Rev. Julián will visit us in person June 13-17 and we are working on a schedule for them to meet as many people in the congregation as possible, in small and large groups. Because they are joining our ministry team in a contract (rather than a called) role, the congregation does not need to vote on Rev. Julián. The Board and I are empowered to hire them directly on behalf of the congregation. You can learn more about Rev. Julian by visiting their website.
This is an exciting time in our congregation and I’m looking forward to welcoming Rev Julián and continuing the good work this amazing congregation is already doing.
In gratitude and love,
Rev. Beth Monhollen
