Speakers

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  Rev. Deanna Vandiver

  Bridge Minister
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Team Members



Rev. Deanna Vandiver

Bridge Minister

Rev. Deanna Vandiver (she/her/they) will serve on contract part-time to conduct about eight Sunday services, support our pastoral team, and staff through the end of the calendar year.  She will join us in the pews for the Sept. 15 Ingathering service!

Rev. Deanna comes highly recommended by Rev. Christopher, Rev. Tandi Rogers of the UUA’s Pacific Western Region, and Rev. Nancy Bowen, adviser to our recent Ministerial Search Team. Members of our Westside staff, worship and pastoral teams, TWG and Board have also interviewed Rev. Deanna.

Ordained in 2012 by the three member-congregations of the Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists (GNOUU) cluster, Rev. Deanna served as a Community Minister for that religious collective and as Co-Director of the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (www.celsjr.org). She serves on the Committee for Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Multiculturalism of the UU Ministers Association. Rev. Deanna has made a “family-inspired” move to the Puget Sound region in June of 2018 and currently resides on Bainbridge Island.

We are full of gratitude for the opportunity to work in fellowship with Rev. Deanna while we await Rev. Christopher’s R1 Visa completion.

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  Rev. Cynthia Westby

  Director of Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
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Team Members



Rev. Cynthia Westby

Director of Religious Exploration for Children and Youth

Reverend Cynthia Westby comes to us with a rich and diverse background that includes curriculum development, program administration, mindfulness coaching, and teaching children and adults in a variety of settings. Cynthia is an active member of the Seattle Storyteller’s Guild, and a long time storyteller and artist. She has studied and taught animal tracking and is a Master Wildlife Steward.   She has a Master’s degree in Theology and the Arts, and graduated in Interfaith Studies from the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley.  She was ordained as an Interfaith Minister and Chaplain with the Chaplaincy Institute Interfaith Community.

She brings a focus on healthy communication and the importance of listening to people of all ages, as well as strong administrative and program management skills. But we are most struck by Cynthia’s passion for sparking inquiry and awareness in children.  Igniting children’s passion for religious exploration and awakening their curiosity for what is meaningful for them is deeply rewarding and in service to her calling.