Guest in the Pulpit

Emerging Practices for Guest Preachers in Unitarian Universalist Pulpits

I am a listener, a witness, a storyteller. 

I am a lifelong learner with an unrelenting zest and curiosity to explore and draw from experiences across various fields—sales, social and community liaison work, education and instruction, research and consultation, and the arts, to name a few.

I have worked with diverse populations: immigrants, language learners, special needs communities, women, and marginalized people. In my world, storytelling is not only a vibrant, contemporary art form and folk tradition, but also a means of celebrating life, bridging understanding and problem-solving, and an irreplaceable tool for personal and social transformation.

As an educator, I’ve worn many hats: classroom teacher, program administrator, contributor to standardized assessment initiatives, and advocate for equitable education. These roles have deepened my understanding of how people learn, what they need to thrive, and the power of storytelling as both a teaching tool and a path to self-awareness.

As president and event planner/facilitator for Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild, my commitment is brought to life with an annual hallmark event: World Storytelling Day. Its premise is “If you know my story, you won’t hate me so much,” and it is open to everyone who wants to share their story in whatever way they want to tell it. It is through such activities that I learn about the ordeals of others. 

As a video specialist, I have had the privilege to capture and share first-hand stories from marginalized individuals, including Native American communities, Black August initiatives, and immigrant experiences, in addition to community histories from people who are passionate about sharing them. These projects are not about speaking for others, but about offering platforms to highlight their voices.

In providing services to my own congregation, as well as facilitating the Order of Service for visiting guests in the pulpit, I try to ensure that one message is clear: All are welcome.

And, on a more local level, I coordinate the entertainment for our Green Fair, which likewise helps to foster understanding, highlight shared humanity, and create spaces where joy, connection, and empowerment thrive, giving deference to the living world of which we are part.

Ultimately, my work is rooted in creating spaces for genuine connection. It is through these efforts that we all learn, grow, and come together in pursuit of a more inclusive, just, and loving world.