The Rev. Chris Long

Responsibilities

Rev. Chris is our Acting Assistant Minister. The areas “Under his Care” within and outside of the church include full support of the Pastoral Care programming of the church (Pastoral Care Associates, Pastoral Care Providers and associated programs), Welcome and Belonging (formally known as church Membership), Theme Circles and Affinity Groups. He looks forward to getting to know each of you and to learning what has brought you to this church, and what continues to keep you here.

Background

Rev. Chris Long was born in Memphis, TN, in 1968 into a family with African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Black Catholic, and Black Baptist religious roots.  He became a Unitarian Universalist (UU) in 1999 in Madison, WI. Within five years of becoming a UU, he felt his professional life at the time was not “it.” So, in the fall of 2005, he entered Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA graduating in May 2009. He completed his two-year, part time Ministerial Internship at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland and was ordained on June 7, 2009.

Over the last 16 years, Rev. Chris has served as the Minister of Congregational Life at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, Minister of Pastoral Care and Programming at Community Church of NYC (Unitarian Universalist), as West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church’s first Justice Minister (outside of Cleveland, OH); Visiting Professor at Starr King School for the Ministry (Berkeley); and as part of an anti-racism team at the Leadership Institute at the University of Wisconsin on the Madison campus. Rev. Chris is a leader in anti-racism efforts throughout the UUA, and has consulted with several UU congregations on leadership, and transformation in a variety of ways.

Rev. Chris is humbled and delighted to join the First Church Ministerial Team, Staff, Board and each of you, as we all work to co-create more of the “Beloved Community” within and beyond this historic and alive church.

Please feel free to email him to set up time for tea, coffee or a meal.