Committee on Ministry

The purpose of the Committee on Ministry is to serve as a communication channel between the congregation and the minister. Members of this committee are elected by the congregation.

The most important functions of the committee are:

  • To aid the minister in carrying on an effective ministry by being available for counsel;
  • To keep the minister advised concerning conditions within the congregation as they affect relations between minister and members, with the main thrust to strengthen and improve relationships;
  • To be available to interpret to the congregation the nature and scope of work of the minister, including clarification of role expectations for the minister and development of realistic priorities for minister and members;
  • To consult with the minister and submit an annual compensation recommendation to the Board;
  • To work with the minister on her continuing education program, sabbatical planning or other professional development, and to present such plans to the Board and congregation.

Members or friends of the congregation are encouraged to discuss any concerns they might have with regard to ministry first with the minister and then if needed with members of the committee.

These are the current members of the Committee on Ministry

Hubert Brown
Jean Cannella
Katie Lapins
Robert Nichols
Vicki Ruwitch
Keith Searight

Biographies of Members of the Ministerial Relations Committee

Hubert Brown

Term Expires 2014

Hubert was born in Wichita, Kansas, attended school in Wichita and graduated with a music degree from Friends University, a Quaker college in the same city. He taught vocal and instrumental music in western Kansas and received a Master of Music from Northern Colorado State. Hubert met Sheila while teaching in western Kansas and they have two sons, David and Chris. David lives in Boulder with his wife and two children and is on the faculty at CU. Chris lives in Lawrence, KS with his wife and two young boys and is on the faculty at Kansas University. After receiving a PhD in music education from Kansas University, Sheila and Hubert, with their two young boys, moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for two years where he taught music in an American School. Hubert & Sheila joined the UU church while in Lincoln, NE and then moved to Boulder in 2005 and they joined the Fellowship soon after. In addition to the Committee on Ministry, Hubert also leads the congregation in hymn singing many Sunday mornings.

Jean Cannella

Term Expires 2012

Jean was born and raised in New Orleans, LA in a practicing Catholic family. Church teachings and the family were very conservative which led to an “ugly duckling” syndrome in that she has always been liberal and inclusive in her thoughts and actions. Social action and volunteerism was a strong component of her life as Jean grew up. The UU Principles and humanism of BVUUF was (and is) a good fit for her. Jean believes that ministry is a shared event and that in everything we do we are called to serve each other.

Katie Lapins

Term Expires 2013

Katie first stumbled on Unitarian Universalism in North Carolina. She had just quit smoking and knew she had to get out of the house that first Sunday morning. Church seemed like a good place to go. Katie selected Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship simply because she regularly drove by it and remembered the service times from the sign. Having sworn off organized religion 20 years earlier, it was quite a surprise to realize that she had magically found a spiritual “home.” Katie started attending BVUUF in 2005, shortly after moving to Erie. Since becoming a member, she has sat on the Social Justice and Action Committee and has been a Worship Associate. Katie has lived in Colorado for the majority of the last 25 years, leaving a couple of times to join the Peace Corps and for graduate school.

Robert Nichols

Term Expires 2014

Robert grew up as a Presbyterian in Oklahoma and attended a Southern Baptist college. With his partner Jillian, he attended Quaker Meeting in the Washington, D.C. area, then joined the Fellowship some 23 years ago. Robert has served on several committees in the Fellowship and is currently in a covenant group, and on the worship services committee as well as the committee on ministry. Robert and Jillian’s daughter, Julie, lives in Denver where she attends law school.

Vicki Ruwitch

Term Expires 2012

The Ruwitch family moved to Colorado from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in1952, and two years later, Vicki’s husband, Joe, opened his veterinary practice in Boulder. They lived in Boulder for 25 years where Vicki taught at Boulder High for 10 years and they raised their four children, two of whom attended the old Unitarian preschool. Vicki & Joe spent much of the next 14 years in rural Idaho. Joe passed away in 1993. Vicki joined the Fellowship in 2004 and has enjoyed being involved with the Care Coordinating Committee and the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA).

Keith Searight

Term Expires 2013

Keith grew up in a small college town in Central Illinois, went to college at the University of Tulsa and went on to get his Masters Degrees in geophysics at Stanford and computer science at CU. During his career, Keith has worked as an applied geophysicist and a software engineer in the earth sciences and geographic mapping. Currently, he manages development of weather forecasting systems at NCAR in Boulder. Keith has lived in Louisville since 2001 with his wife, Sherlene, and sons Will (15) and Ben (11). He joined the Fellowship in 2004 and has participated in UU churches for more than 20 years. Before serving on the COM at BVUUF, Keith taught in CYRE and worked on the Stewardship Committee.