Educational Experience:

• Pasadena (now Point Loma Nazarene University) College (Major:  Classical Theology and Biblical
• Literature; Minors:  Philosophy and Greek Language):  B.A., 1964.
• Fuller Theological Seminary:  Hebrew Language:  Summer, 1964.
• Nazarene Theological Seminary (Semitic Languages, Biblical Literature and History): M.Div., 1968.
• Hebrew Union Theological School:  Los Angeles:  Advanced Hebrew Language: Summer, 1966.
• School of Theology:  Claremont:  (Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Hebrew Bible, Contemporary Theology, and Social Ethics),  1966-1968.
• Claremont Graduate School and University Center:  (Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls, Contemporary Theology and Social Ethics),  1968-1970.
• Meadville/Lombard Theological School DMin program (Unitarian History and Thought), 1980-1982.
• University of Chicago PhD program(American History, History of Christianity, Hebrew Bible, and Philosophy of History), 1982-1984, 1988-1990 Completed successfully through language and area competency examinations, advanced to Candidacy (Dissertation level.)
• University of Chicago Dissertation Topic:  Writing the History of Religion in America:  A Philosophical and Historical Examination of a Genre in Generalist Historiography
• Dissertation Chairperson:  Martin E. Marty [Not defended due to assassination of Johan Culianu].
• Meadville/Lombard Thesis Topic:  An Historiographical Analysis of Unitarian History Writing in the Nineteenth Century, Thesis Chairperson:  John C. Godbey

Ministerial Experience

Long Beach Unitarian Universalist Church, Long Beach, California. 1972 through August, 1977

The minister at that time was Rex Styzens, who became a life-long personal friend.  I was active in multiple groups throughout the years, was the facilitator of the Friday night “Expand your Horizons” discussion group following the previous leader Charlotte Carson and attended my first General Assembly in Claremont, CA.

Grand Junction Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Grand Junction, Colorado.  1977-1978.

I periodically led services and participated in social action activities the Fellowship supported.  Also led a discussion in a Philosophy class on the history, impact and significance of Humanism in American religious life.  I was also interviewed for Unitarian Universalist ministry by the late Inter-district Representative Russel Lockwood, who was the Southwestern IDR based in Tulsa Oklahoma, at the request of the UUA.

Colorado Springs Unitarian Universalist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  1978-1980

The supervising Director for ministerial candidates requested I not start a new Fellowship in Caňon City but instead attend the Colorado Springs church and “Make them hungry for a minister.” I was there from 1978 to 1980.  They formed a Search  Committee the next year.  Attended all District meetings and was in a leadership role on the Youth Advisory Committee.  Led seminars in Colorado and New Mexico.

Meadville/Lombard Theological School, Chicago, Illinois.  1980 -1984, 1988-1990.

During this time I attended Chicago First Unitarian Universalist Church, then under the ministry of Duke Gray.  I was on the M/L student counsel, served as Student Body President, sat as student representative on the M/L Board of Directors and was for three years the Student body administrator in charge of finding and assigning students to fulfill requests by congregations from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa for students to fill their pulpits as guest speakers.  If no students were available on the desired dates I personally filled the request to make sure our congregations were covered by M/L representatives.  Co-sponsored a political campaign reception with Gene Reeves, President of M/L, for Harold Washington, who was duly elected as the first Black Mayor in Chicago’s history.  During this time, while serving on the M/L Board (under the Presidency of John Wolf who was then the Minister of the Tulsa Unitarian Universalist Church [then our largest congregation]), I also initiated the process that first put together a committee to pursue student scholarship assistance for M/L students and thus alleviate their heavy student debt subsequent to graduation.  This committee was expanded to include Thomas Star King School of Theology in the San Francisco Bay Area, Harvard Divinity School in Boston and the UUA department that oversaw students in other than UUA seminaries.  That process culminated in the nationwide Scholarship fund voted into reality at our General Assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Big Rapids Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Big Rapids, Michigan.  1982-1984.

Pulpit Minister, once per month.  Weekend pulpit minister, consulting minister and minister for special events and services.  Attended District and Ministerial meetings in the Michigan District

Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Northwoods Unitarian Church, Houston Texas.  1985-1988.

Under the direction of UUA Interdistrict Representative Russel Lockwood, I was assigned to solve the resistance issues of the Bay Area congregation to the initiation and completion of relocating their Church facility from Pasadena, Texas to Clear Lake City, Texas, and to solve the financing issues of the Northwoods congregation who were attempting to finish their new building but had “hit the financial wall,” as it were.  The Northwoods issues were addressed and completed with relative ease.  The Bay Area issues were almost intransigent, overcome only with great difficulty … but they were overcome.

Meadville/Lombard Theological School and University of Chicago:  Swift Hall, Chicago, Illinois.  1988-1990.

Completed language exams in German and French for the University as well as PhD qualifying exams in Hebrew Bible, Ancient History, Medieval History, Renaissance and Reformation History, and History of Religion in America.  Also worked as assistant to the President of Meadville/Lombard, Spencer Levan.  Was the General Contractor for Meadville/Lombard in converting their telephone systems to digital and merging them with the University of Chicago and also installing a multi-building networking system for M/L and integrating them with the University.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Waco, Texas.  Waco, Texas.  2011-2012.

Certified and appointed Interim Minister to stabilize a previously traumatized congregation and to reestablish a congenial milieu wherein they could set up a search committee to find and call a full-time minister.  During that year I participated in District events and UUMA chapter meetings but otherwise concentrated on internal issues in the life of the congregation.  At the end of this assignment I moved to Sacramento, California where my wife Carla was living as care-giver for her aging mother who could no longer live alone.  Carla had requested I join her in this family project of love and I did so with the intent of also continuing my academic work.