Staff
Minister:Rev Bill Neely |
Reverend Bill Neely came to First UU Church in August 2010, having previously served as minister of Neshoba UU Church near Memphis, TN. He is a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and served as a student minister at churches St. Paul, MN, Rockford, IL, and Fond du Lac, WI. Raised Presbyterian, Bill found Unitarian Universalism in college when he joined the Unitarian Church of Norfolk, Virginia. He was active in the faith from the beginning, serving in numerous lay leadership roles and attending district events before beginning seminary in 2002. Bill remains active in district and national events. |
Music Director:Todd Ballou |
Todd Ballou grew up in Hickory Corners, MI, near Kalamazoo. He earned his Bachelors of Musical Arts in piano performance from the University of Michigan, and has served as Music Director of the 1st Unitarian-Universalist Church of Detroit since 1997. Since 2005, Todd has owned his own architectural firm specializing in residential architecture. He lives with his partner, Dan, on a small farm in Ypsilanti with a few horses and goats. |
Cantor: Gwen Foss |
Gwen Foss is a second-generation UU who was raised in the Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington, Michigan. She makes a living buying and selling used nonfiction books and serves on the board of directors of TomFolio.com, a cooperative of independent used book and paper dealers. Ms. Foss is the author-publisher of two general books for UUs: a UU joke book called The Church Where People Laugh, and a biographical compendium called A Who's Who of UUs. She has a special interest in Universalist history and is currently preparing a book on the history of the Farmington congregation, founded in 1838. As a youngster, Ms. Foss served part time as her church's pianist and soloist. At Schoolcraft College she earned high marks in music theory, composition, singing and conducting. She joined the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit in April 2006 and has been honored to be first choir director and now cantor. |
| Office Administrator: | Jenn Hurtt |
| Publicist and R.E. Assistant: | Katie McIntosh |
| Building and Grounds: | Joe Brimmer |
| Sunday Assistant: | Leonard Swint |
Leonard Swint
Sunday Assistant
Officers & Trustees
| President: | Marilyn Mitchell |
| Vice President: | Bill McKnight |
| Treasurer: | David Lingholm |
| Secretary: | Kathleen Johnson |
| Past President: | Dan Wiest |
| Trustee: | Sally Borden |
| Trustee: | Robert Johnson |
| Trustee: | Julie Brock |
| Trustee: | Dessa Cosma |
Dan Wiest
Past President