Meet our regularly visiting Ministers

the Rev. Johanna Boeke
The Rev. Jopie Boeke is a long-time friend of the fellowship - she has been coming to Paris for 18 years. She lives in England now but was born and raised in the Netherlands where she met her husband, Dick Boeke, an American Unitarian Universalist minister. They lived and worked together in the US for 23 years. Jopie studied for the ministry in Berkeley, CA and has been a UU minister since 1987. The Boeke’s have lived and worked in the UK for the last many years. They are now both retired, but continue their involvement in UU and interfaith organizations. (updated Nov. 2008)

the Rev. John Harley
The Rev. John Harley, is a British Unitarian minister currently coordinating youth events for young Unitarians across the UK. He combines this with art-teaching and studying to be a drama therapist. When he finds the time, he likes to walk up mountains and have attempts at writing poetry. (updated Feb. 2009)

the Rev. Art Lester — currently minister at the Croyden Unitarian & Free Christian Church in Croydon, Surrey
Originally from North Carolina, after working as a journalist and running a Mexican restaurant, Art studied rural development in England. He then worked for many years doing development work in Africa and in the Dominican Republic. In 1989, he entered training for the Unitarian ministry in the UK where he has served several churches. He has a second home in the Alpujarras, Spain.
Art is also a writer: our favorite is his prize-winning book "Seeing with Your Ears: Spirituality for Those Who Can't Believe" (iUniverse, 2003). Using the insights of teachers, philosophers, and psychologists from all ages, this series of essays invites readers to use their own experiences to find the way to a personal spirituality. As to the title, Art writes "... the Indian spiritual master Meher Baba said that asking to understand God was like asking for the privilege of seeing with your ears." (updated June 2009)

the Rev. Jim Robinson — currently minister at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel in Hampstead, London
The Rev. Jim Robinson formerly served two parishes in Massachusetts: Concord (1978-82) and Brewster (1982-2004). Jim has been awarded recognition in many areas of his ministry, for example: by the Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom for his peace and justice work in 2003; a Certificate of Appreciation from the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2002 for his anti-racism work; The Gayla Award for his commitment to gay/ lesbian/ bisexual/ transgendered issues in 1997. (updated Sept. 2008)

the Rev. David Shaw — currently minister at Old Chapel (Unitarian) in Great Hucklow, Derbyshire
The Rev. David Shaw is currently serving as treasurer of ICUU (International Council of Unitarians and Universalists). He discovered Unitarianism about 35 years ago at a local Unitarian youth club. In the intervening years he has been involved with many Unitarian activities and events, locally, nationally and even internationally. After thirty years in education, as a teacher, working for local education authorities and then as a head teacher, early retirement led him to pursue the Unitarian ministry. He qualified in June 2007 and is currently serving a church in the centre of Britain in the small rural village of Great Hucklow. (updated April 2009)

The Rev. Gretchen Thomas grew up in the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee in the 1950s and 60s, and has been a Unitarian Universalist minister since 1988. After ten years in Europe, when she was one of our regular guest speakers, she moved to Melbourne, Australia and has been writing a book about the early years of the UU partner church movement. (updated Oct 2008)

Sermons

• the Rev. Art Lester: The Invasion of the Book Believers, March 9^th 2008
• the Rev. John Harley: Where do we Come from? What are we? Where are we Going?, February 17^th 2008
• the Rev. Gretchen Thomas: The Gift of a Year, October 14^th 2007
• the Rev. Jim Robinson: Uncertainty and Faith, September 23^rd 2007
• Professor Don Bailey: We Happy Heretics, May 7^th 2007
• the Rev. Art Lester: Notice the Rose, April 7^th 2007
• Rev. Jim Robinson: Peace Making: Living Non-Violently in a Violent World, January 27^th 2007
• the Rev. Gretchen Thomas: Turning Toward the Morning: When Hope Knocks Out Fear, October 24^th 2004
• Professor Don Bailey: Through the World to the Sacred, January 18^th 2004
• the Rev. Gretchen Thomas: Servetus, October 26^th 2003
• Rev. Orloff W Miller: Orloff - what took YOU to Selma?, January 26^th 2003