Our Ministerial Search Committee
David Batt: I’m the Systems Administrator at the Premier Group wine and liquor
stores and have an IT and teaching background. I came to Buffalo in 1987
so that I would not lose day to day contact with my two daughters. We
joined the UUCB in the fall of 1987 so that they would have some liberal
religious experiences. I got started here helping
with “Souper” Sunday setup. I benefited from two GLBT
groups (Interweave and GLUU) that were active at the time I finally came to
terms with being gay. Since then, I've been giving back as best I
can. You only get out what you put in!
I've served on and Chaired the RE committee, the Tech Committee (my daytime job is Systems Administration for the Premier Group of wine and liquor stores), currently serve on the Stewardship (formerly the Canvas committee) and previously ran two relatively successful campaigns. I've served a couple of times on the Board of Trustees and was Chair for 2 consecutive years recently as we began our transformation into a truly medium sized church.
I love this church and its people. The words and music on Sundays bathe my spirit. My friends are here. I will do whatever I can to keep this community thriving. I pledge at the Visionary level according to the UUA giving guidelines because I value this community and want it to survive. I'm looking forward to helping select the Minister who will lead our church into the future, inspiring us to be better people and to do more to make this world a better place.
I've served on and Chaired the RE committee, the Tech Committee (my daytime job is Systems Administration for the Premier Group of wine and liquor stores), currently serve on the Stewardship (formerly the Canvas committee) and previously ran two relatively successful campaigns. I've served a couple of times on the Board of Trustees and was Chair for 2 consecutive years recently as we began our transformation into a truly medium sized church.
I love this church and its people. The words and music on Sundays bathe my spirit. My friends are here. I will do whatever I can to keep this community thriving. I pledge at the Visionary level according to the UUA giving guidelines because I value this community and want it to survive. I'm looking forward to helping select the Minister who will lead our church into the future, inspiring us to be better people and to do more to make this world a better place.
Rita Capezzi - In 1994, I transplanted my family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after being hired as an English professor at Canisius College. We all began attending UUCB in 2004—with girl child in RE, boy child in Youth Group, husband in Choir, and me seeking solace in the sanctuary. As a scholar of 19th Century American Literature, I felt immediately much familiarity at the church. In recent years, I have become more interested in and valued UU attention to meditation and eastern religious philosophies.
Since then, the children have grown up and moved into their own lives, but the church is more like a second home to Jeff and me. I have been the facilitator and now simply a member of a Covenant group for 8 years, I served on the Governance Task Force and now serve on the Governance Committee, and I am a member of the Worship Team. I am always happy to help out in the kitchen during pancake breakfasts and choir dinners.
My work with student learners is very good work for me, and I am especially interested in my work with students outside the classroom. I have been able to travel to Chennai, India and the Lower West Side of Buffalo, sharing in and witnessing the shock, horror, and change that such experiences can create in privileged American teenagers. I again travel to India in January 2015 and to Tanzania in East Africa in May 2015, eager for more soul-enlarging work.
Since then, the children have grown up and moved into their own lives, but the church is more like a second home to Jeff and me. I have been the facilitator and now simply a member of a Covenant group for 8 years, I served on the Governance Task Force and now serve on the Governance Committee, and I am a member of the Worship Team. I am always happy to help out in the kitchen during pancake breakfasts and choir dinners.
My work with student learners is very good work for me, and I am especially interested in my work with students outside the classroom. I have been able to travel to Chennai, India and the Lower West Side of Buffalo, sharing in and witnessing the shock, horror, and change that such experiences can create in privileged American teenagers. I again travel to India in January 2015 and to Tanzania in East Africa in May 2015, eager for more soul-enlarging work.
Gigi Pooley Helliwell - Buffalo
is my beloved childhood home, but after high school, I lived away for 20 years until
my 2 daughters were approaching school age. I returned to this place with
“roots” and continue to live here with them and my fabulous mother.
I entered the doors of UUCB as part of a spiritually grounding journey in 1998 and haven’t stopped attending ever since. Over the years, I’ve served on the Religious Education Committee, helped to create the WomanSpirit Conference in 2003, participated in a covenant group for 11 years, served as a visiting steward and have sung in the soprano section of the choir for over 15 years.
When I’m not at UUCB, I am fortunate to work in a job I really love as a Reading Teacher for Buffalo Public Schools. I find my career both purposeful and gratifying as I help students learn a vital skill for life. In my down time, I swim, get together with friends & family and travel.
I entered the doors of UUCB as part of a spiritually grounding journey in 1998 and haven’t stopped attending ever since. Over the years, I’ve served on the Religious Education Committee, helped to create the WomanSpirit Conference in 2003, participated in a covenant group for 11 years, served as a visiting steward and have sung in the soprano section of the choir for over 15 years.
When I’m not at UUCB, I am fortunate to work in a job I really love as a Reading Teacher for Buffalo Public Schools. I find my career both purposeful and gratifying as I help students learn a vital skill for life. In my down time, I swim, get together with friends & family and travel.
Richard Leimbach - I was
raised in the Lutheran faithh but by the time I was in my early twenties I no
longer found it relevant to my life. I remained “unchurched” for some
time after that.
I returned to Buffalo and had occasion to attend services at this church a number of times on a casual basis over several years. Every time it was a refreshing and uplifting experience. I was always impressed by the less formal but stimulating and thought provoking aspects of the worship services.
I continue to find inspiration from the pulpit, the music, and members of this congregation. The people here can inspire in many different ways, but they are always positive and encouraging in supporting the endeavors we undertake here, whether as individuals or as a group.
In recent years I have served on the Board of Trustees (Chair during the preceding year), Stewardship Team, Finance Committee, and Endowment Committee. I also teach English at a Vive la Casa, a local refugee center.
Prior to my retirement I worked for many years as an urban planner for a first-ring suburb where my partner and I still reside. As a planner I took great satisfaction in seeing ideas as well as physical things take root and grow. Now I take that same satisfaction as a gardener and in my work at UUCB.
I returned to Buffalo and had occasion to attend services at this church a number of times on a casual basis over several years. Every time it was a refreshing and uplifting experience. I was always impressed by the less formal but stimulating and thought provoking aspects of the worship services.
I continue to find inspiration from the pulpit, the music, and members of this congregation. The people here can inspire in many different ways, but they are always positive and encouraging in supporting the endeavors we undertake here, whether as individuals or as a group.
In recent years I have served on the Board of Trustees (Chair during the preceding year), Stewardship Team, Finance Committee, and Endowment Committee. I also teach English at a Vive la Casa, a local refugee center.
Prior to my retirement I worked for many years as an urban planner for a first-ring suburb where my partner and I still reside. As a planner I took great satisfaction in seeing ideas as well as physical things take root and grow. Now I take that same satisfaction as a gardener and in my work at UUCB.
Martha Malkiewicz - I came to UUCB when I married a man who was very involved at this
church and the larger denomination. Since then, it has been my home and where
we raised our two children. I have been involved with Denominational Affairs,
the Church Council, served on the Board, and was the Director of Religious
Education for 6 years. Currently, I teach 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders in
RE, am on the Family Promise Committee (which helps our church host up to
14 people who are temporarily homeless), and I lead an International Folk Dance
Class once a week.
This denomination is my spiritual home. I have attended three General Assemblies, a few District Assemblies, and several Youth Cons. I love the people at UUCB and enjoy my time at church. I am honored to be on the Ministerial Search Committee.
When I am not at church, I teach ballroom and etiquette to children, teach at Canisius College, and play bassoon with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. I also host an International High School Student from China.
This denomination is my spiritual home. I have attended three General Assemblies, a few District Assemblies, and several Youth Cons. I love the people at UUCB and enjoy my time at church. I am honored to be on the Ministerial Search Committee.
When I am not at church, I teach ballroom and etiquette to children, teach at Canisius College, and play bassoon with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. I also host an International High School Student from China.
Juli Van Woert - As new parents, my husband and I first became members of UUCB in 1986. Since then there has been ebb and flow in my involvement but never in my sense of place. This is where I belong. Raised in a loving Congregational/UCC home, I converted to Catholicism as a lost young adult seeking ritual and clarity. But the conflict between church teachings and my own values prevented spiritual wholeness. After nearly 10 years, my need for faith-in-action drew me away from the church and into the vital work of gender equality and reproductive rights. This was an amazing time. Through this work, I met my husband, Tom Muka. Though fulfilled in so many ways, I missed belonging to a spiritual home. We found our way to this beautiful place.
For over 35 years my faith in the possibility of recovery has guided my work in the fields of addiction, mental health and trauma. Bombarded by constant reminders of the soul-depleting struggles people seek to transcend every day, UUCB has remained a touchstone. Solid ground in a way-too-fragile world. After cycling through circumstances of absence and return, Tom and I again took the formal steps toward membership, and renewed our covenant with the church in 2012. We are committed to give back. I am grateful for this opportunity to work with the dedicated members of the MSC, and our resilient congregation, to insure that UUCB will remain solid ground for seekers, like me, for generations to come.
For over 35 years my faith in the possibility of recovery has guided my work in the fields of addiction, mental health and trauma. Bombarded by constant reminders of the soul-depleting struggles people seek to transcend every day, UUCB has remained a touchstone. Solid ground in a way-too-fragile world. After cycling through circumstances of absence and return, Tom and I again took the formal steps toward membership, and renewed our covenant with the church in 2012. We are committed to give back. I am grateful for this opportunity to work with the dedicated members of the MSC, and our resilient congregation, to insure that UUCB will remain solid ground for seekers, like me, for generations to come.
Steve Wixson - Growing up, I observed my parents who were “pillars of
their Presbyterian church”. Much of their social life revolved around church
people. While I was not comfortable with that theology, I wanted a church
community to be involved with. A friend from graduate school who was a
member of a UU congregation impacted my interest in becoming a UU. I joined
UUCB in 1986 when I moved to Buffalo. I feel very connected to this extremely
caring and welcoming congregation. I've had the opportunity to consider
different theological perspectives and learned so much about being a Unitarian
Universalist. UUCB has been a wonderful liberal community and I am proud of our
presence in the Buffalo.
I have been involved in many projects, activities and committees including RE, a ministerial committee for one of our intern ministers, the Nominating committee, and the Board of Trustees on two different occasions. Currently I am serving on the Worship Team, I am a co-facilitator of a Covenant Group as well as assisting the Care Network team. Partly because of retirement, I’m more active now but I am also pleased with the direction and energy generated during the three-year interim.
I have been involved in many projects, activities and committees including RE, a ministerial committee for one of our intern ministers, the Nominating committee, and the Board of Trustees on two different occasions. Currently I am serving on the Worship Team, I am a co-facilitator of a Covenant Group as well as assisting the Care Network team. Partly because of retirement, I’m more active now but I am also pleased with the direction and energy generated during the three-year interim.