Minister and Staff

Community Unitarian Church has a staff of professionals that includes an interim minister, director of religious education, community minister, church administrator, bookkeeper, music director, choir director, and choir accompanist.

Interim Minister

The Reverend Benjamin Maucere

We are very pleased to announce that we have chosen an interim minister, Reverend Benjamin Maucere (mah-chair-ah). He and his wife will move into the parsonage in August, 2011 and serve through June, 2013. Reverend Benjamin provided the following biographical information:

“I discovered Unitarian Universalism in the mid-70’s and served in various capacities as a lay-leader. Sometime in the mid-nineteen eighties, I realized that I felt most alive and best utilized in my church work, and decided to pursue ministry. In 1988, I enrolled in Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California.

I completed the M. Div. program and was called to the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in 1992. My wife, the Reverend Dr. Holly Horn joined me as co-minister in 1998. We left in 2005 and since then I’ve served as interim minister to congregations in a suburb of Houston and in Iowa City. I received the Accredited Interim Minister designation in 2010.

I enjoy collaborative problem solving. I value the liminal aspect of the interim period, both looking back at what the congregation has and has not done, and helping them look forward to future possibilities. I look forward to working with CUC to help you lay the groundwork for a successful settled and shared ministry.”

Interim ministers are specially trained to help congregations through transition periods between longer term settled ministers. Much more than just place holders or seat warmers, the interim ministers help congregations reflect on where they are coming from, focus on their particular mission and strengths, and re-energize as they look to the future in calling their next settled minister. The UUA increasingly recommends that congregations have two-year interim periods, both because the search for a settled minister is a nine-month process but also because of the valuable experience of going through the interim period with an experienced leader.

Reverend Benjamin brings the energy, experience, and wisdom to help guide us through this next exciting phase in CUC’s history. - Board of Trustees

Director of Religious Education

Lara Campbell

Lara Campbell has served as the Director of Religious Education at Community Unitarian Church at White Plains, NY since 2003. She is a fifth generation Unitarian, originally from Minnesota but more recently having lived in Michigan and New Jersey. Lara has an extensive Unitarian Universalist leadership background, including having served as a Religious Education program assistant, middle and high school youth advisor, chaplain for district and continental Young Religions Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) conferences, and participating in Young Adult programming. She is also a continental trainer of teachers for the both the Our Whole Lives 7-9/10-12 and the K-1/4-6 programs and one of the developers of the YRUU Chaplain Training Program. Lara has a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy and a BA in Family Social Science. Her previous employment includes being a youth development specialist, a health educator, an elementary school counselor, and a substance abuse and reproductive health counselor. In September, 2007 Lara began a Master’s of Divinity at New York Theological Seminary.

Community Minister

Deb Morra

The Rev. Deb Morra is affiliated with our congregation as an ordained minister whose calling is to work in the wider world rather than in the parish. She makes her living as a therapist and social worker, but this congregation provides her the context in which she can view that work as ministry. She preaches here twice a year and provides other leadership.

Church Administrator

Liliana Keith

Liliana was promoted to church administrator in 2010. She reports to the minister and works closely with other staff and volunteers.

Bookkeeper

Susan King

Susan joined CUC in 2010. She is a part-time employee who reports to the minister and works closely with the administrator and the volunteer treasurer.

Music Director

Adam Kent

Please visit the "Our Music, Musicians" section of this web site to read Adam's bio.

Choir Director

Lisa Meyer

Please visit the "Our Music, Musicians" section of this web site to read Lisa's bio.

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