Staff
Minister:Drew Johnston |
Reverend Drew is a graduate of the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California. He has served at churches in California, Washington, and now Michigan. Drew arrived in Detroit as a short term interim minister, but is staying with First UU of Detroit for the indefinite future as Consulting Senior Minister. |
Music Director:Todd Ballou |
Todd Ballou grew up in Hickory Corners, MI, near Kalamazoo. He earned his Bachelor's 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. Todd is also the music director of One Voice, Detroit's LGBT chorus, and owns his own architectural firm. He lives with his partner, Dan, on a small farm in Ypsilanti with a few horses and goats. |
 Minister of Faith Development: Athena Kolbe |
Originally from California, Rev. Kolbe moved to Detroit after completing seminary. She graduated with a Master's degree in Social Work from Wayne State University in 2006. Rev. Kolbe coordinates faith development programming for children, youth and families at First U.U. Detroit. Reverend Kolbe is the author of the acclaimed Bridges program for youth. |
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. |
 AssistantMinister: Lynda Smith |
Lynda Smith joined First UU Church in 1977 and has been an active member in the years since. In 2000, Lynda entered the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, leading to her ordination as a Unitarian Universalist minister in October 2006. Her preparation included working as a hospital chaplain and then a jail chaplain. As a Community Minister for the past two years, she worked with and on behalf of the homeless and impoverished in Detroit, through mentoring and leading Street Retreats. Lynda is also an ordained Buddhist teacher with the nearby Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple of Detroit. As of August 1, 2008, Lynda is Assistant Minister at First UU. Besides some preaching, her focus is working with our Senior Minister to support groups and volunteers at the church. |
| Office Administrator: | Wendi Winston |
| Building and Grounds: | Joe Brimmer |
| Sunday Assistant: | Leonard Swint |
Leonard Swint
Sunday Assistant
Officers & Trustees
| President: | Alicia Biggers |
| Vice President: | Dan Wiest |
| Treasurer: | Sharlene Gage |
| Secretary: | Alma King |
| Trustee: | Ivan Cotman |
| Trustee: | Trey Greene |
| Trustee: | David Lingholm |
| Trustee: | Bill McKnight |
Alicia Biggers
Congregational President
Trey Greene
Trustee