What is Community Ministry
Community ministry describes various ways of serving people that is beyond the walls of the congregation. We are chaplains, spiritual directors, state action network advocates, entrepreneurial ministers, community organizers, justice makers, and more.
We preach with our lives.
What is UUSCM?
UUSCM is a professional, membership-based, organization that is an affiliated ministry of the UUA. We are in covenant with one another, while still being in relationship with the other similarly affiliated ministries and communities in our UU faith.
Executive
Administrator
Rev. Crystal Saiyge (she/her) joined us in March 2024 as our first executive administrator. She works alongside the president to create partnerships and build out programming. She also oversees our membership process and chaplaincy endorsement.
Board of Directors
Ben Gabel (he/they)
In October 2019, Ben Gabel was selected to serve as the lay community minister Co-President for the UU Society for Community Ministries. He is now serving as president. He is active in community ministry doing community organizing involving racial, LGBTQ, and disability justice.
Ben is also active at the UUA national level. Read more...
Rev. Terra Collier-Young
(she/her)
While in discernment on how to develop her community ministry, Terra conceived of Five Seeds Ministry offering service to Unitarian Universalists and other spiritual folx through these metaphorical seeds: Tending Grief, Communication and Justice for All, Dance as a Spiritual Practice, Celebrations That Honor Life and Death, Artistic and Somatic Insights. These seeds are her Spirit's calling through theological, social, and artistic expressions. Read more...
Rev.Dr. Betty Stapleford
(she/her)
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford has been involved in social justice since her days of civil rights action in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 60’s and has been involved in numerous social justice causes in Ventura County since her arrival in 1998. She served as the minister of the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Thousand Oaks for 12 years,
Jane Davis (she/her)
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Rev. Jane Davis describes her ministry as a healing ministry providing spiritual support and connection to community resources supporting those struggling with recovery from addiction and supporting those returning to our community after incarceration. She began this work because she saw such a need for spiritual support for this population in a way that honors diversity and provides support in a non-prescriptive, non-proselytizing way. Read more...
Lincoln Statler (he/him)
Chaplain Lincoln is passionate about the potential for Unitarian Universalism to change the world. Our liberating, covenantal faith saved me from a world that sought to condemn my existence.
He is graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry (M.A.S.C.) and completed 4 units of CPE with the San Francisco Night Ministry. He was Commissioned by the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists for lay ministry in 2019. Read more...
Membership Benefits
Professional
Developement
Often community ministers have variegated backgrounds. We build on our skills by offering learning to one another .
Beyond the Walls
Newsletter
This newsletter is full of goodies and a reflection each month from the board member who hosts our First Friday
Community Ministry
Resource Library
From covenant examples to affiliation agreements, this is bursting at the seams
[Launching Soon]
Collegial
Connections
Ministry is better together.
First Friday Salon and our Facebook group create powerful connections for our
members
Professional
ID Badges
The opportunity to obtain an official Member ID badge for identification in public witness, work settings, and beyond.
Code of Conduct
A code of ethics will help you be accoutable to others and yourself. It also creates trust for the communities looking to partner with your ministries.
This also includes Good Offices.
Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Bcci- ACPE
The opportunity to apply for faith endorsement is essential for many people's professional goals
Joint UUMA membership dues
Collegial opportunities to be dual members is an unique opportunity.
This also comes with a UUMA discount!
Community Ministry
Resource Library
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Worship
Playlist
This playlist is for individuals and congregations seeking worship-ready videos to increase bipoc representation in their worship spaces. Curated by Sistersouurce, Inc.
UU
Resource
Guide
This resource guide was compiled by the newly formed UU Related Ministries Network. It is a list of services and service providers that include prices and reviews.
Archive
Site
This archive includes a large collection of things that disappeared offline in 2025. Is is password protected.
Disability Justice
This section will have a full guide to creating accessible spaces. For now, enjoy this video that Amber Brown created
for our GA cohort, "10 Mindset Essentials for Creating Accessible Community Ministries"
Chaplain
Support
Chaplain Treehouse is a stellar organization by our member, Rev. Karen Hutt. It is a place for online resources, community building, and timely messages of inspiration.
The full resource library will go live during the summer of 2025. Please enjoy this sneak peek!
Become a Member!
The Unitarian Universalist Society for Community Ministries (UUSCM) is a Unitarian Universalist movement of lay ministers & ordained clergy committed to promoting a broad spectrum of healing and social justice ministries.
Inspired by the religious values expressed in the Seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association, our work is guided by the UUSCM Code of Practice. Our practices bring knowledge, compassion and healing to the people in our care informed by our training and life experiences.
UUSCM Members may be Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Spiritual Directors, Public University or Theological School Faculty, Social Justice Activists, Medical Professionals, Human Services Professionals, UUA/UUMA/LREDA Officials, or practitioners of a wide range of other activities of service.
All members of UUSCM must be members in good standing of a Unitarian Universalist Congregation or UU Community of Accountability.
While rare exceptions are possible, all have a reference from their parish minister in addition to other references, credentials, and experiences relevant to their Unitarian Universalist Community Ministry.
Embracing the Call: The UUSCM Faith Endorsement for UU Professional Chaplains
The Unitarian Universalist Society for Community Ministries (UUSCM) extends a sacred invitation to those Unitarian Universalists discerning a call to professional chaplaincy. Our Faith Endorsement process is a focused spiritual and vocational assessment, designed for individuals seeking certification by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCi).
UUSCM is a vibrant covenantal community of ordained and lay ministers dedicated to serving the wider world beyond congregational walls. We champion diverse ministries that strive to heal brokenness, embody justice, inspire humanity towards its highest aspirations, and cultivate profound harmony with the Spirit of Life. This endorsement pathway, created in collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), offers a distinct route to BCCi certification, centering on your lived UU faith without requiring UUA Ministerial Fellowship.
The Essence of UUSCM Faith Endorsement:
This endorsement affirms your deep grounding in Unitarian Universalist traditions, your capacity to articulate and embody our living faith, and your commitment to serve as a professional chaplain with integrity and compassion. It is a testament to your journey of preparation to minister in diverse settings, upholding UU values.
For inquiries, send us a message below!
Membership applications and chaplaincy endorsement will reopen in July after GA25
Please use this form to express your interest
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