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Our New Minister
The Rev. Molly Housh Gordon
The Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, 27, has been called as the
next settled minister of our church. She will be only the third settled
minister in our congregation's history, and by far its youngest.
More on our church history.
Rev. Molly was in Columbia April 20-29 to meet the
congregation. On the Sundays of April 22 and 29, 2012, our sanctuary was
filled to capacity for worship services led by Rev. Molly, and members
unanimously voted to call her as our next minister at a congregational
meeting after the April 29 service. She enthusiastically accepted the call
and will begin her ministry here in August, 2012.
The Rev. Molly Housh Gordon
Rev. Molly's candidacy was announced by the Ministerial Search Committee at the March 18
worship service. Photos/video of announcement.
Rev. Molly is currently serving as Assistant Minister at
First Parish in Milton, Massachusetts, where she has led and co-led worship,
provided pastoral care, overseen religious education programming for
children, expanded the small group ministry program, increased Wednesday
evening adult education programming, and implemented an ongoing Wednesday
evening Vespers worship program.
Previously Rev. Molly served two years as intern minister at First
Parish in Needham, Massachusetts, under the tutelage of a former Unitarian
Universalist Association President, the Rev. Dr. John A. Buehrens, who said:
"The Rev. Molly Housh Gordon is one of the outstanding
young ministers and future leaders of Unitarian Universalism. The
congregation that is smart and lucky enough to call her will find in her the
whole package of ministerial gifts that a growing congregation needs
– personal charisma, an articulate voice,
spiritual depth, pastoral sensitivity, high energy, adroit staff work,
creative program development, social justice commitment, and genuine
leadership."
Molly with John Buehrens
Rev. Molly grew up in our denomination's largest
congregation, All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She decided she
wanted to become a minister while in high school, and her husband James
Gordon says she is one of the very few people he knows who has actually
ended up doing exactly what she set out to do. She and James met at Hendrix
College in Conway, Arkansas, which she attended on a full merit scholarship.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an English minor from
Hendrix, graduating at the top of her class and Summa Cum Laude
with Distinction in 2006.
After graduation from Hendrix College, Rev. Molly went on
to Harvard Divinity School on a full scholarship, graduating in May 2010
with a Master of Divinity degree.
During her time in the Boston area, Rev. Molly also worked in
two different capacities at UUA Headquarters. She was an intern in the
Office of Congregational Growth Services from August 2007 through May 2009,
and she managed the website and Facebook page for the UUA's 50th Anniversary
Task Force from September 2010 through June 2011.
Upon accepting the congregation's call, Rev. Molly said:
"James and I are thrilled to join the Columbia community and the ministry of
the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia. The congregation's desires to
spread its message of human dignity and inclusion and to serve the broader
community match my passion for our faith and its ongoing work for justice. I
hope to bring a new energy for outreach, a keen listening ear, and an
inter-generational sensibility to this warm and wonderful congregation. And
I look forward to many years together full of vital and moving worship,
thought-provoking programming, and service to the community of Columbia, the
state of Missouri, and beyond."
Rev. Molly and James were married in June 2010.
James currently works in the growing field of political technology, and he
is considering pursuing an advanced degree at the University of Missouri.
Together, their priority is to be engaged citizens, hooked into the broader
progressive community. They love casual bike-riding and hiking, indoor rock
climbing, and listening to various NPR podcasts. Most evenings they can be
found cooking a creative dinner, using new-to-them local vegetables, and
trying some new craft beer.
They both value hospitality, authenticity, and
compassion, and they seek to maintain a home that has those values as a
foundation. And, having been introduced to Columbia's trails and dog parks,
they are hoping to add a new canine member to their home after they get
settled.
Find more information by clicking the links below:
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