UNIVERSITY UNITARIAN CHURCH

Ministers

Rev. Jon Luopa

The grandson of Finnish immigrants, Jon grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with his two younger sisters. The family religion was Lutheran, but by his early teens, Jon began to question those beliefs. He became a Unitarian Universalist in 1978, after hearing the Rev. Dr. Wallace Robbins of the First Unitarian Church in Worcester. Jon went to Clark University, where he majored in philosophy and the classics. Then, at Dr. Robbins’ urging, he went on to the Harvard Divinity School.

At Harvard, Jon met Annie, and they were married in 1981. She had come to Cambridge from Denison University, after growing up in a Baptist minister’s home in Ohio. After their graduation, Annie worked at Harvard for a few years, while Jon served churches in the greater Boston area. Over those years, Jon had the privilege of working closely with both the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley, first president of the UUA, and Professor James Luther Adams, renowned Unitarian social ethicist.

1986 brought many changes to their lives. Their first daughter, Laila, was born in Boston. At 29 years of age, Jon was called to follow the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Lauriat, and the family moved to Hartford, Connecticut. Jon and Annie’s younger daughter, Julika, was born there in 1989. The family enjoyed a rich and rewarding thirteen years in Hartford.

The Luopas moved to Seattle in 1999 when Jon began his ministry at UUC.

Call 206-454-7712

Rev. Beth Chronister

Beth (she/they) is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist raised on the plains of Kansas. Beth is one generation off the farm, raised in the capital city of Topeka where her family was active in the local UU fellowship. From her early church and youth group experiences which emphasized social change and justice work, Beth studied social work and immigration in college. However, it was when she was living far away from home and serving as Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, South America, that she felt her call to ministry.

Upon returning to the states (following a short stint selling Birkenstocks), Beth moved to Denver, Colorado, where they attended the Iliff School of Theology and began their ministry as the Assistant Minister at First Unitarian Society of Denver and consulting minister at High Country UU Fellowship in Dillon, Colorado.

With great excitement and anticipation, Beth relocated to Seattle from Denver to begin working at University Unitarian Church as the Assistant Minister in the fall of 2016. their primary responsibilities include pastoral care, supporting UUC’s social justice ministries, and presence in Sunday morning worship. Beth lives with their partner, Danny, two cats, a corgi named Butternut, and too many houseplants bought during the pandemic. Outside of UUC, Beth loves dancing, hiking, drag shows, and good books.

Call 206-454-7714

Ministers Affiliated

UUC formally and gratefully recognizes a covenantal relationship with our Ministers Affiliated. These ordained UU clergy are not employed by the church, but serve ministries in the larger community, as chaplains, counselors, spiritual directors, or in other capacities. They choose to affiliate voluntarily with UUC, and we with them through vote of the congregation, as an integral and important part of our beloved community. Each Minister Affiliated offers specific service to UUC in addition to their professional work elsewhere, or in retirement.

Rev. Justin Almeida

The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Justin grew up among the yucca and sage of the Mojave desert. Raised in Las Vegas, NV the family religion was Roman Catholic with Justin even contemplating being a priest. Which brought him to the University of San Diego where he received a BA in philosophy and theology. Choosing a different path, he worked in broadcast journalism until marrying his partner Heather, whose dream was to serve in the Peace Corps.

Six months after marriage, Justin and Heather left the US for Romania for 2½ years. While there, Justin encountered Hungarian Unitarianism in the Hargita valley of Transylvania which opened him to a new relationship with spirituality and religion. On returning to the US, they moved to Seattle and found University Unitarian in 2012. Inspired by Unitarian Universalist principles and sources, and the ministers and mission of the congregation, Justin entered seminary in 2014 at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. He graduated in 2020 with a Master of Divinity (Chaplaincy).

Justin was ordained by University Unitarian Church to Unitarian Universalist ministry in 2021. He serves as a hospital chaplain specializing in palliative care and hospice. He is also involved in UUC’s equity team, religious education, and the UUA Pacific Western Region’s youth and emerging adult activities.

Rev. Justin Almeida, MDiv (he/they)

Palliative Care Chaplain Fellow, VA of Puget Sound

Spiritual Care Provider, Harborview Medical Center

Affiliated Minister, University Unitarian Church

justinalmeida.com

Affiliated Ministers Emeriti

Rev. Linda Pashby Kaufman

The Rev. Linda Pashby Kaufman retired in 2017 after 10 years as Chaplain at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. A long-time member of UUC, she served the church in many lay leadership capacities before joining staff from 1996-2001 as Director of Membership and Fund Development.

After leaving UUC staff, she earned her Master of Divinity and Post Master’s Certificate in Transforming Spirituality at Seattle University. She was ordained by UUC in 2006 and called as Minister Affiliated in 2007.

With her colleague the Rev. Deborah Raible, Linda has overseen the UU Wellspring program in Spiritual Deepening at UUC since 2010. Linda has also served on a Search Committee and the Faith Formation Team, and frequently volunteers in other ways.

Linda and her husband Bill both grew up in Iowa but have lived in Seattle since 1968, and have been members of UUC since 1988. They have two grown children, Bob and Kim, living in the area. Linda loves travel, movies, reading mysteries, cooking dinner for friends, nature, photography, and watercolor.

Rev. Deborah Raible

The Rev. Deborah Raible is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, following three previous generations of Unitarians in her family, and the third generation to go into the Unitarian (and now) Universalist ministry.

Deborah is also a lifelong member of University Unitarian Church in Seattle, which ordained her in 1996 and called her as a Minister Affiliated in 1997. She retired in 2022 from her work as a community minister in private practice as a pastoral counselor.

Deborah put her private practice on hold and stepped in more than once to help UUC as an additional parish minister when needed. She has also been an active volunteer at UUC with the UU Wellspring Program, the Faith Formation Implementation Team, and the Partner Church program.

Deborah is married to another lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Kevin Clark, who is also a PK (preacher’s kid), and the two of them have delighted in raising two more of the same, Nathan and Caleb Raible-Clark. In addition to her family, Deborah enjoys the spiritual practices of praying, playing classical piano and taking walks.