- Overview
- 2020-21 Board of Trustees and Officers
- 2019-20 Board of Trustees
- 2018-19 Board of Trustees
- 2017-18 Board of Trustees
- 2016-17 Board of Trustees
- 2015-16 Board of Trustees
- 2014-15 Board of Trustees
- 2013-14 Board of Trustees
- 2012-13 Board of Trustees
- 2011-12 Board of Trustees
- Presidents and Chairs Since 1951
- Gathering of Past Presidents
Overview of Board of Trustees
Under our church bylaws, a nine-member Board of Trustees is the governing body of the church. New board members are elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting in April, May or June each year and serve three-year terms. The minister is an ex officio member of the board.
As noted on the Church Governance page, a reorganization of the church’s organizational structure assigns to the board the primary responsibilities for making policies, effectuating the church’s vision and mission as articulated by the members, providing resources, and evaluating programs, while responsibility for supervising staff members and volunteers in the work of the church’s ministries is assigned to the minister.
The board generally meets at church on the third Thursday of each month in the evening. All board and board committee meetings are open to all friends and members, except that the board may close portions of its meetings under its policy on executive sessions, and the Committee on Ministry is authorized to close portions of its meetings when sensitive personal matters are discussed.
The board has designated the President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer to constitute the Executive Committee, which may exercise the board’s authority to the extent provided by board resolution. The current President chairs the Executive Committee. The Minister also participates ex officio in the Executive Committee’s deliberations.
We welcome the participation of our members in the ministry of our church through any of our committees, teams and ministries, and as board members. Members interested in participating should contact the Minister or Church Administrator (see Contact page).
2020-21 Board of Trustees Members and Officers
The terms of the members of the 2020-2021 Board of Trustees officially began on July 1, 2020.
Members and Term Expiration Dates
| Terms Expiring 6/30/21 | Terms Expiring 6/30/22 | Terms Expiring 6/30/23 |
|
Mark Johnson |
Jeremy Duke |
Kara Braudis |
Officers for 2020-21
President: Rebecca Graves
President-Elect: To be elected by board at August 2020 meeting
Secretary: Jan Swaney
Treasurer: Jeremy Duke
Board Members and Email Addresses
Rebecca Graves
Rebecca is in her second year on the board and will serve as 2020-21 President. She has been attending UUCC since 1999 and has been a member since 2001. She has been a member and chair of the Worship Associates. Before that, she was a member of the search committee for our minister. She also served as a Worship Associate during Rev. Bill Haney’s tenure. Rebecca had prior experience as a Board of Trustees member from 2001 to 2004 and was president the final year of her term.
By day, Rebecca is the education librarian at the MU Health Sciences Library.
Mindy McPherson
Mindy served as President in 2019-20. She was selected by the board to complete the third year of a term that expired June 30, 2018 and was elected to a full three-year term beginning July 1, 2018. She began attending UUCC in January 2013, and along with her husband Josh joined in January 2017. Their children, Axel and Anja, are in our religious education program.
Mindy is an assistant professor in the Columbia College Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, where she specializes in Forensic Science.
Mark Johnson
Mark is in the third year of his second three-year term on the board. He has been a member of UUCC since Oct. 6, 2013. He brings significant experience as an officer of several congregations in Kansas, as well as nine years as a national board member of a 5,000+ member hobbyist organization with an annual budget of approximately $500,000.
Mark is employed as a computer security analyst.
Jeremy Duke
Jeremy served as the 2019-20 Treasurer and will hold the same position in 2020-21. He is in his second year on the board and has been a member of UUCC since 2001. In the past he was active in RE including teaching the Junior High OWL class for many years. He is currently a Chalice Circle facilitator and looks forward to becoming more involved in the church now that he and his wife Kyna Byerly are “empty nesters.” Their three children, Eli, Jacob and Rachel, grew up in the church and always look forward to attending when they are in town.
Jeremy works as a counselor in private practice in Columbia.
Jan Swaney
Jan was elected in June 2020 to fill a one-year vacancy on the board. She will serve as 2020-21 Secretary. She joined UUCC in 1993 when she and spouse Chuck were looking for a liberal religious experience for their young family. Like so many, she came for the kids and stayed for herself. She has previously served a term on the board; served on, and then led, the Stewardship Team; been a member of the Welcoming Team; and been involved in RE when her children were young. Jan has also been on the boards of the American College of Physicians (MO Chapter), Columbia Public Schools Foundation, and Heart of Missouri United Way, serving terms as president of the latter two non-profit organizations.
She is a retired physician (Internal Medicine) with over 30 years of experience in medicine as a practicing physician, medical school faculty member, medical director of a Medicaid health plan, and entrepreneur.
Ginny Ramseyer Winter
Ginny was elected to fill a two-year vacancy on the board. She started attending UUCC in the fall of 2015 with her spouse, Jeremy, and their two children, Emma and Jonathan. Their family joined UUCC in November, 2018. Ginny has taught OWL at the elementary and middle school levels.
She works for MU as a faculty member in the School of Social Work.
Kara Braudis
Kara is in the first year of a three-year term on the board. She and her husband Scott joined UUCC in 2010. Their children are in our R.E. program. She has been active in the music program and served on the Music Director Search Team.
She is a physician specializing in dermatology with University Physicians.
Timothy Dickerson
Timothy is in the first year of a three-year term on the board. He started attending UUCC in July 2015 and became a member of the church on October 15, 2017. He has helped with Junior Youth Group and Service Sunday. He has taught Children’s and Adult RE and is a co-facilitator for 7th-9th Grade OWL. Tim currently serves on the Service Auction Team, Technical Team, and Worship Associates Team.
Outside of church, Timothy creates online learning for a computer software company and enjoys spending time with his friends, family, and spouse Shanon.
David Leuthold
David is in the first year of a three-year term on the board. He has participated in UUCC for more than 50 years. Most recently he has participated in Forum, Choir, Book Group, Men’s Breakfast, Writers Group, Dining Group, Caring Committee and Investment and Endowment Committee. He has previously served on the Board, on Building Committees, on Stewardship Committees, Building and Grounds Committees, and on the Ministerial Search Committee. David is also a member of the UU Fellowship in Billings, Montana.
David is a retired University of MIssouri political science professor.
Rev. Molly Housh Gordon
Our minister, Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, serves as an ex officio board member, providing her perspective during board deliberations.
She began her tenure at UUCC in August 2012.
Note: The Minister as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees also receives messages sent to this address.
2019-20 Board of Trustees
No group photo was taken of the 2019-20 Board of Trustees.
Members were Mindy McPherson, President; Michela Skelton Birk, President-Elect; Sam Buffaloe, Secretary; Jeremy Duke, Treasurer; Barbara Rupp, Past President; Elaine Martin; Mark Johnson; Gretchen Maune; and Rebecca Graves. Michela Skelton Birk and Elaine Martin resigned, and Rebecca Graves was then selected as President-Elect.
2018-19 Board of Trustees
No group photo was taken of the 2018-19 Board of Trustees.
Members were Barbara Rupp, President; Mindy McPherson, President-Elect; Sam Buffaloe, Secretary; Patty Daus, Treasurer; Todd Iveson; Mark Johnson; Peter Holmes (partial year until resignation from board); Gretchen Maune; and Elaine Martin.
2017-18 Board of Trustees
Members were Todd Iveson, President; Barbara Rupp, President-Elect; Sam Buffaloe, Secretary; Patty Daus, Treasurer; Mark Johnson; Peter Holmes; Jenny Bossaller; Gretchen Maune; and Mindy McPherson.
2016-17 Board of Trustees
No group photo was taken of the 2016-17 Board of Trustees.
Members were Jeremy Milarsky, President; Todd Iveson, President-Elect; Steve Scott, Secretary; Patty Daus, Treasurer; Gregg Suhler; Mark Johnson; Janice Smith; Jenny Bossaller; and Peter Holmes.
2015-16 Board of Trustees
No group photo was taken of the 2015-16 Board of Trustees.
Members were Jeremy Milarsky, President; Steve Scott, Secretary; Gregg Suhler, Treasurer; George Bunyea, Jr.; Jeanne Murphy (completing the term of Past-President Mary Denson, who resigned to attend college out of state); Jan Swaney; Mark Johnson; Ramzie Siebuhr; and Janice Smith.
Ramzie Siebuhr resigned effective June 30, 2016, and the congregation elected Melissa Ensign-Bedford to complete the remaining two years of her term. Melissa later resigned, and the board selected Jenny Bossaller to fill the seat.
2014-15 Board of Trustees
No group photo was taken of the 2014-15 Board of Trustees.
Members were Mary Denson, President; Jeremy Milarsky, President-Elect; Steve Scott, Secretary; Gregg Suhler, Treasurer; George Bunyea Jr.; Ene-Kaja Chippendale; Todd Iveson; Pack Matthews; and Jan Swaney.
Maria Oropallo started the year as a 2014-15 trustee, but resigned in November 2014 and was succeeded for the remainder of the year by Todd Iveson.
2013-14 Board of Trustees
2012-13 Board of Trustees
2011-12 Board of Trustees
Presidents and Chairs Since 1951
Under the original church bylaws, the church leader was called “Chairman.” In later bylaws, the title was changed to “President.” Presidents and Chairs are listed in reverse chronological order:
2020-2021 – Rebecca Graves
2019-2020 – Mindy McPherson
2018-2019 – Barbara Rupp
2017-2018 – Todd Iveson
2015-2017 – Jeremy Milarsky
2014-2015 – Mary Denson
2013-2014 – Steve Scott
2012-2013 – Maria Oropallo
2011-2012 – Stephanie Dorman
2010-2011 – Gregory Brown
2009-2010 – Kevin Fritsche
2008-2009 – Walter Gassmann
2006-2008 – Stephen Blower
2005-2006 – Larry Dorman
2004-2005 – Leslie Luchene
2003-2004 – Rebecca Graves
2002-2003 – Alan Arnold
2001-2002 – Bob Breitenbach
1999-2001 – Kathleen Knepper
1998-1999 – Jan Weaver
1997-1998 – Kevin Fritsche
1996-1997 – Judy Siebert Pallardy
1995-1996 – Robert Johnson
1994-1995 – Bernice Cudd
1993-1994 – Greg Bergman
1992 – Fran Reynolds
1990-1991 – Pat Tanner
1989 – Gene Weinheimer
1988-1989 – Larry Jones
1987-1988 – Brian DeFacio
1986-1987 – Jan Parenteau
1985-1986 – Brian DeFacio
1984-1985 – Dan Spies
1983-1984 – Marti Kardinal
1981 – Fran Reynolds
1981-1983 – Dana (Sally) Brown
1979-1980 – David Leuthold
1977-1979 – Clotilde Miller
1976-1977 – Carl Kardinal
1975-1976 – Larry Zimmerman
1974-1975 – Richard Thoreson
1973-1974 – DeWitt Barker
1972-1973 – Maudine Wheeler
1971-1972 – James Harrington
1970-1971 – Arthur McArthur
1969-1970 – Morton Kenner
1968-1969 – Donald Creighton
1967-1968 – Robert Morgan
1966-1967 – Roberts Eastman
1965-1966 – John Pederson
1964-1965 – Gene Cox
1963-1964 – Roland Hultsch
1962-1963 – Henry Bent
1961-1962 – Gloria Roden
1960-1961- Ted Keats
1959-1960 – George Parker
1958-1959 – Harvey McCaleb
1957-1958 – John Murdock
1956-1957 – N.S. Patterson
1951-1956 – Philip Stone
Gathering of Past Presidents
