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Our Team

LEADERSHIP  |  MUSIC |  COMMUNITY & CARE  |  LEARNING & FAITH DEVELOPMENT |  OPERATIONS & SUPPORT

LEADERSHIP

Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
Senior Minister

Rev. Dr. Daniel C. Kanter leads strategic visioning, works with the church Board of Trustees, preaches, teaches, and leads the church staff and ministerial teams.

Rev. Beth Dana
Rev. Beth Dana
Minister of Faith Development

Rev. Beth Dana leads the Adult & Children’s Ministries staff, guiding children, teens, and adults in their spiritual exploration, faith development, and understanding of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.

Rev. T.J. FitzGerald
Rev. T. J. FitzGerald
Minister of Worship & Community Engagement

Reverend T. J. FitzGerald directs engagement within the church and beyond, preaching and helping the ministerial team plan and conduct worship.

Kay Ashley
Executive Director

Kay is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of operations related to finance and budgeting, general administration, facilities, risk management, human resources, and communications.

MUSIC

Grant Wareham
Director of Music and Organist

Grant oversees all aspects of the music program including conducting our church choirs and providing in-service keyboard music.

Alan Dyer
Alan Dyer
Sanctuary Choir Accompanist

Alan serves as accompanist for the Sanctuary Choir, providing piano and/or organ accompaniment for worship services and choir rehearsals.

COMMUNITY & CARE

Jerry Hawkins
Director of Equity Initiatives

Jerry is leading our church in a two-year effort to build a racial equity pillar in the strategic plan, using local Dallas history to support understanding, collective memory, and truth-telling and repair.

Sharon Thompson
Sharon Thompson
Director of Membership and Hospitality

Sharon directs the new member and visitor processes, working with ushers, greeters, parlor hosts, and Inquirer’s facilitators and the class itself.

Karen Stanton
Director of Pastoral Care

Karen Stanton directs our Pastoral Care Ministry which supports and cares for the congregation through all phases of life’s journeys, from birth to death.

Jean Ann Powers
Jean Ann Powers
Director of Senior Programs

Jean Ann leads Unforgettable Friends, the Aging Well series, and other programs and services that support and enrich the lives of older adults.

Kathryn Bryant
Pastoral Care Coordinator

Kathryn coordinates the training and orientation of new volunteers for volunteer care teams; triages congregant care and assists the Director of Pastoral Care with holiday events, seminars, and retreats.

LEARNING & FAITH DEVELOPMENT

Josh Esparza
Director of Adult Ministries and Leadership Development

Josh leads faith development programs for youth, young adults, and adults designed to help adults explore, clarify, and develop their spiritual values and grow into engaged church members and leaders.

Shelley Ruprecht
Director of Children's Ministries

Shelley supports our church’s ministry with children in the Nursery through 9th grade through coordinating the Sunday School program, supporting our volunteer teachers, and creating a loving community for children.

Courtney Christensen
Children’s Ministries Assistant

Courtney provides administrative and logistical support for our church’s ministries with children and families.

Betty-Jeanne Rueters-Ward
Faith Forward Coordinator

Betty-Jeanne is the point of contact for Unitarian Universalist congregations outside of Dallas who are interested in or are currently implementing Faith Forward: From Visitor to Leader.

First Church Nursery Staff

OPERATIONS & SUPPORT

Sharon Nissen
Director of Communications

Sharon collaborates with church leadership to develop and expand the church’s messaging and brand. She is responsible for all church communication including the DU Weekly, website, and social media.

Martha Norton
Martha Norton
Director of Finance & Stewardship

Martha spends her days recognizing and appreciating our wonderful congregants and assisting them with church-related financial questions.

Enrique Trejo
Enrique Trejo
Director of Facilities

Enrique supervises the management of buildings, property repair, and maintenance.

Sean Stone
Director of Video Production

Sean is responsible for live-streamed and recorded video production at church including worship, educational productions, podcasts, and special events.

Nohemi Reynoso
Nohemi Reynoso
Senior Minister Support & Event Coordinator

Nohemi acts as the assistant to the Senior Minister and handles all events.

Scotty Martin
Scotty Martin
Building Maintenance Technician

Scotty assists our facilities management team in the overall maintenance of our church campus.

Eva Trejo
Eva Trejo
Custodian

Eva is responsible for campus cleaning and making sure we are presentable every Sunday for our members and friends.

Latest News
ALL NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming Services
Inspired by Improvisation | Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
June 28 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm CDT
Inspired by Resilience | Rev. T. J. FitzGerald
June 21 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm CDT
Inspiration – Summer Series Kick-Off | Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
June 14 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm CDT