Regional Staff
Regional Lead | Program Team | Administrative Team
On July 1, 2015, Ballou Channing District, Clara Barton District, Massachusetts Bay District and Northern New England District of Unitarian Universalist Congregations began sharing all staff across the four districts. Staff sharing provides all four districts with talented and resourceful professionals. At the same time, it enables each staff member to concentrate on their area(s) of specialty.
Our Core Purpose
The core purpose of our work as a staff team is
- to deepen INTERCONNECTION by cultivating relationships between and among congregations;
- to grow INNOVATION by inspiring and coaching new and innovative models of "doing church;" and
- to enhance IMPACT by midwifing existing congregations to their next level of impact.
New England Regional Lead
As the Regional Lead for UUA field staff in New England, Rev. Sue Phillips is responsible for helping congregations grow in health and impact by setting the overall vision for the regional staff team and aligning the team's work with our UUA's strategic vision. She works closely with congregations and their leaders, especially in conflict situations, and coaches ministers and other religious professionals. Sue has a special love for helping lay leaders expand their comfort and skill at preaching and worship leading, so you'll also find her leading workshops in these and other areas.
Phone: 617.948.4372
sphillips [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Program Team
Program staff are often the first and primary source of support, counsel and information for lay and professional leaders. Our time is largely devoted to
- individual and group consultations and coaching
- board/leadership retreat facilitation
- conflict transformation
- support for ministers and congregations in ministerial transition
- search and settlement support for interim, part-time and consulting ministries
- support for lifespan religious education and faith formation
- support for congregationally-based justice ministries
Program staff also designs and delivers learning events. See the events that are planned for the 2015-2016 church year. Program Team members and their areas of specialty include:
Hilary Allen
Innovation and Growth
Phone: 617.948.4257
hallen [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Karen Bellavance-Grace
Congregational Collaboration
Phone: 617.948.4258
kbellavancegrace [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Meck Groot
Justice Ministries
Phone: 617.948.6414
mgroot [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Sean Neil-Barron
Ministerial Intern
617.948.4608
SNeil-Barron [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Joe Sullivan
Stewardship, Consultants Program
617.948.4383
jsullivan [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Kim Sweeney
Faith Formation
617.948.4297
ksweeney [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Rev. Marta Valentín
Ministerial Transitions
617.948.4379
mvalentin [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Douglas Zelinski
Congregational Redevelopment
Phone: 617.948.4390
dzelinski [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Administrative Team
All administrative staff are available to take your calls and answer general questions by phone or email. They provide general assistance with events information and registrations; invoices and payments; records, web postings, and more. They also each have their area of specialty or focus. Please check below to see if your question or concern might most easily be addressed by a particular person. If not, simply call the office at 617.948.6415 or email one of the administrators.
Joy Blanchette
Regional Administrator
617.948.6415 
jblanchette [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Dawn Casstevens
Events and Communications Coordinator
Phone: 617.948.6429
dcasstevens [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Meck Groot
Operations Director
Phone: 617.948.6414
mgroot [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
Judy Murray
Bookkeeper
Phone: 617.948.6431
jmurray [at] uua [dot] org (Email)
