UNIVERSITY UNITARIAN CHURCH

Ministers

Rev. Dr. Doug Wadkins

Interim Senior Minister

Rev. Doug began serving UUC as our Interim Senior Minister in August, 2024, and will be with us for two years.

He grew up in the southeastern United States, but has lived the greatest portion of his adult life in the Pacific Northwest. He completed his M.Div. at Brite Divinity School (Ft. Worth, TX) in 1989, and earned his Doctor of Ministry from Boston University School of Theology.

His first ministry was at the United UU Congregation in Waukesh, Wisconsin. He was called to the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship in 1999 and served until 2012, when he began specializing in Interim Ministry. He has served UU congregations in the Midwest and Florida over the course of twelve years.

Doug’s Unitarian Universalist ministry is particularly informed by his Taoist leanings. His continued explorations of liberal Christianity, Religious Humanism, Jewish Mysticism, Buddhism and Earth-Based Spirituality continue to deepen both his own spiritual path and his work as a parish minister.

He also credits years of teaching, work as a therapist and involvement in musical theater as significant assets to what he brings to ministry.

Doug (shown with Moo, above) and his partner James Magoffin live within walking distance of UUC. They have permanent homes in Portland, OR, and St. Petersburg, FL.

Call 206-454-7712

Rev. Victoria Poling, Acting Associate Minister, Community Engagement

UUC welcomes the Rev. Victoria Poling to a new position at UUC to begin in August, 2025. Recognizing that the church is in a time of ministerial transition, her position begins as a two year commitment, eligible to transition to a regular, ongoing position as may be determined by Rev. Victoria and UUC's incoming Senior Minister (anticipated to be called in spring 2026 and to begin in late summer).

Her ministry at UUC is part of our new staffing structure that emphasizes shared leadership with congregational teams. Rev. Poling will guide several essential ministries of the church, including welcome, caring community, social justice, and collaborations with other UU congregations and the larger community.

Victoria brings us an insightful and experienced understanding of ministry, wise and compassionate understanding of the ways of church life, and considerable experience working with lay teams in congregations.

She is deeply called to serve the land, water, and people of the Salish Sea. She looks forward to enaging in UUC community through various roles, including collaborating with UUC family ministry leaders and leading summer services.

Victoria holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Seattle University School of Theology & Ministry. In addition to her ministerial experience, Victoria has an impressive background in nonprofit management and environmental education.

As Rev. Poling concludes her service to two other local congregations, she is likely to begin some behind-the-scenes work at UUC in late July. When her full-time ministry with UUC begins in August, her contact information will be posted here.

Rev. Jon Luopa

Minister Emeritus

At its 2025 Annual Meeting, the congregation enthusiastically voted to designate the Rev. Jon Luopa as Minister Emeritus of University Unitarian Church. Rev. Luopa had served the church with distinction as Senior Minister for 25 years, from 1999 to his retirement in 2024.

As Minister Emeritus, Jon has the right to serve as one of UUC's religious professional delegates to the UUA's General Assembly. His continued involvement at the church or occasional service to the congregation is guided through mutual covenant with the Senior Minister.

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, and entered Harvard Divinity School, earning his M.Div in 1981.

Jon served several churches in the greater Boston area for 17 years. During that time, 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.

Jon and his wife Annie continue to live in the Seattle area, as does their younger daughter's family; their elder daughter lives in Atlanta, GA.

Rev. Janine Seitetsu Larsen

Covenanted Community Minister

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 as Ministers Affiliated Emeriti.

Rev. Justin Almeida, Minister Affiliated

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.