Leadership Team
Professional Staff
Jill Braithwaite (she/her)
minister@uuduluth.org
Minister
With a ministry grounded in connection, joy, and love, Jill believes in church as a place where people of all ages come together to create the beloved community, both within and beyond our walls. With a previous career in book publishing, Jill brings to ministry decades of experience in creative collaboration, management, administration, and organizational change. About her theological grounding for ministry, Jill says: “My personal theology is grounded in deep reverence for and curiosity about this gorgeous and broken world of ours, with astonished gratitude that we are here at all and in possession of some freedom to choose how we respond to that fact.” Outside of ministry, Jill’s passions include art, literature, tennis, and walking her little dog, Betsy.
Karen Bauman
music@uuduluth.org
Music Director
UUCD Music Director Karen Bauman is no stranger to our faith community having led music programming for over 20 years prior to stepping away for awhile. As a credentialed UU musician and holding a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota she is well versed in the many incredible ways music helps to inspire us on our shared faith journey. Please join in!
Deb Johnson
she/her
In the UU tradition, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of each person that enters our space. We strive to create opportunities for the youngest among us to grow from the inside out through lessons of peace and fairness, justice and self-advocacy, reason, faith traditions and philosophies. We look to the sciences, arts, and wondrous natural world to guide us. Like our naturally curious youth, let us create safe welcoming spaces for all to explore, wonder, and question.
I served as the director of religious education at UUCD from 2001-2006. After years of teaching K-12 in the public schools, managing and leading, I’m happy to be back supporting this caring community as DRE.
When not at UUCD, I enjoy as much time as possible with family, friends, regular meditation, a little bit of gardening, reading, volunteering, and staying active outdoors in all seasons and in almost any weather.
kathy Stinnett (she/her)
uucduluth@gmail.com
Congregational Administrator
Kathy Stinnett loves the smiling faces she sees at her office door during the week! Kathy has served the UUCD congregation as Administrator since 2004, navigating many transitions (new building! new staff! new board members!) and worlds of previously unexplored technology. She wouldn't have missed it for all the tea in China. In Kathy's previous life (before UUCD), she has worked in various accounting and banking positions in Oklahoma, where she is from originally, and in northern Minnesota, where she moved in 1995 with her husband and daughter. Some people can still discern a little Oklahoma accent when they hear Kathy speaking for the first time. Kathy loves to play clarinet in the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra and sing in the Duluth Superior Symphony Chorus. Her other hobbies include summer gardening and all the time reading mystery novels, and occasionally painting in acrylics. But helping the good, caring, energetic members of UUCD keep the beacon of liberal religion in the Twin Ports bright is one of Kathy's greatest pleasures!
Board of Trustees
Sarah Monahan, Co-President
Russ Mattson, Co-President
Alisa DeRider, Treasurer
David Broadwell, Secretary
Jane Gilley
Troy Abfalter
Barbara Montee
Kathleen Culhane
Claudia Faith
