Experience & Training
Ministry and Professional Experience
Assistant Minister First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, CA August 2023-present Minister Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church, Des Moines, WA November 2018-July 2023 Sabbatical Preaching Minister Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Vista, CA April-June 2018 Chaplain Resident Sharp Healthcare, San Diego, CA September 2016-August 2017 Social Justice and South Bay Ministry Teams Coordinator First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, CA September 2009-August 2016 San Diego Regional Organizer California Faith for Equality, San Diego, CA September 2010-April 2011 Research Analyst and Campaigner SEIU Local 1877, Justice for Janitors, San Diego & Orange County , CA April 2006-February 2008 Program Coordinator, NY Union Semester Program Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies, New York, NY September 2004-March 2006 Intern/Researcher New York Jobs with Justice, New York, NY September 2002-August 2003 Education Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA Master of Divinity, January 2014-May 2017 Sharp Metro Campus and Sharp Home Health, San Diego CA Clinical Pastoral Education, 4 units, September 2016-August 2017 Sharp Home Health, San Diego, CA Clinical Pastoral Education, 1 unit, June-December 2015 University of San Diego, San Diego, CA Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies, August 2008-August 2009 Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY Bachelor of the Arts, September 2000-May 2004 Professional Development & Learning Opportunities Eco-Ministry Certificate Program, Center for Wild Spirituality October 2022 to present (year-long program) Poetry of Resilience Workshops, Winter & Summer 2022 UU Ministers Association (UUMA) Ministry Days, '16, '19, '21,'22 UUMA Institute for the Learning Ministry, '22 PNWD UUMA Professional Days, '18, '19, '21, '22 UUA General Assemblies, June '11, '12, '15, '16, '19, '21, '22 Collective Trauma Summit, '20 &'21 Revolutionary Love Conference: The Courage to Imagine, 2021 Critical Race Theory & Intersectionality Summer School, 2021 Mosaic Makers Conferences: DC, Tulsa & San Diego, Feb. '12, Nov. '13, Oct ‘17 Professional Chaplain Education Events, Sharp Spiritual Care, Feb & June, '16 & '17 Organizing for Change: Addressing Classism in our Faith Communities, March '16 UU In-Care Program/Ministerial Formation Network, 2014-2016 UUA Innovative Learning Circle: Multi-site Ministries, Summer 2015 Be Art Now, Earl Lectures, Pacific School of Religion, Jan '15 Leap of Faith Program, UU Pacific Western Region, Fall'14 -Spring '15 Border Immersion in Tijuana, UU Justice Ministry of CA, July '14 UUA Pacific Southwest District Assemblies, April '11, '12, '14 Multicultural Learning Circles, San Diego Organizing Project, March-May '14 Building Multicultural Power Conference, SD Organizing Project, Feb. '14 UUA Pacific Western Regional Assembly, April '13 Council I, II & III Training, Ojai Foundation, April '09, July '09, July '13 Leading Edge Conference on Building Multiracial Congregations, April ‘13 Seminarians to be Discernment Program, Jan-May '12 Industrial Areas Foundation Community Organizer Training, Nov. '10 Youth, Art and Action Delegation to Colombia, Fellowship of Reconciliation, March '09 Community Storytelling through the Arts, Feb-May '09 Volunteer, Prison Meditation Project, Feb'08-Oct '09 Sweetwater Zen Center, Board of Trustees and Guardian Council, '08-'09 Nurturing the Call to Service Program, Ojai Foundation, March-Dec '08 Trip Co-leader, Rebuilding Trip to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, Jan '06 Co-chair, Student Organizers for Social Justice, Sarah Lawrence, Nov '02-May '04 Skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Skilled facilitator of small groups and workshops Effective grant writer and detail-oriented administrator Computer proficiency, including all programs in Microsoft office Conversational in Spanish (comprehension 90%, speaking 70%) |
The mural pictured above can be found in the social hall of the South Bay Campus of the First UU Church of San Diego. One of my final projects as the coordinator was to facilitate a community mural project with an art professor and local students from Southwestern Community College. The students learned about the mission of the church, our work for justice, and our aspiration to create the beloved community. Together, they sketched and painted this mural: a vision of welcoming, community, support, and living together with peace, love and justice.
With the Saltwater UU Church Search Team
at my Installation “We experienced you as heart-centered, smart, wise, self-aware, self-assured, articulate, concise, prepared, integrated, polished and engaging! We appreciated your pastoral presence and enthusiasm, and experienced you as being theologically grounded and connected.”
--Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA, September 2017 Graduation from the Clinical Pastoral Education Chaplain Residency Program at Sharp Healthcare
"Wholehearted. That’s my one word assessment of the ministry of Kristen. And my most enthusiastic word of support. Kristen is an exceptionally well-prepared, deeply grounded, intellectually solid, creatively engaging pastor, preacher, prophet and teacher.”
--Rev. Michelle Favreault Celebrating receiving Full Fellowship at
General Assembly with colleagues "We love your commitment to your professional development and know that will continue to serve you well. Congratulations on reaching Full Fellowship!
--Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA, May 2022 |