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Ministers and Staff

Rev. Gretchen Haley

Senior Minister
gretchen@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Rev. Gretchen

Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Associate Minister
sean@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: he/him/his

About Rev. Sean

Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink

Assistant Minister
elaine@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Rev. Elaine

Katie Watkins

Director of Finance & Operations
katie@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Katie

Eleanor VanDeusen

Director of Family Ministry
eleanor@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Eleanor

Lauren Farley

Engagement & Family Ministry Manager
lauren@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Lauren

Jenn Powell

Events & Operations Manager
jenn@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Jenn

Holly Ayala

Facilities Coordinator
holly@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Holly

Vanessa Way

Bookkeeper
vanessa@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Vanessa

Caitlin Seifert

Family Ministry Assistant & Administrative Coordinator
caitlin@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: they/them/theirs

About Caitlin

Kara Shobe

Children’s Music Leader
kara@foothillsuu.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers

About Kara

Community Ministers

The need for ministry and for Unitarian Universalism extends beyond the congregation out into the wider community. Ministry is often needed in hospitals, mental health care, hospice settings, prisons, universities, community organizing, and many other places. This is where Unitarian Universalist community ministers come in. 


Community ministers extend the reach of Unitarian Universalist ministry beyond the congregation. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t still connected with our congregations. Every community minister affiliates with a local congregation as a way of grounding their ministry in the local church, and to establish a source of clear accountability and support for their ministry.

Rev. Christopher Lamb

Community Minister: Lead Chaplain at Poudre Valley Hospital
christopherwatkinslamb@gmail.com
Pronouns: he/they

About Rev. Christopher

Rev. Roger Butts

Community Minister:

Community Minister: Hospice Chaplain, Pathways Hospice

rogerbutts80905@gmail.com

Pronouns: he/him

About Rev. Roger

Rev. Gretchen Haley

Senior Minister
gretchen@foothillsuu.org

Rev. Gretchen Haley has an audacious ambition for the liberal church, believing in its capacity to transform lives and our world by way of hyper-local relationships and partnerships that inspire the unleashing of courageous love. She oversees worship, community resourcing and outreach, and the intersectional work of our justice teams. She also serves as chief of staff, and ministry lead to the Board. In all of these, she is inspired by the commitment of the countless people who show up to do the sometimes-messy work of the church, and who are leading us to live into our mission for Northern Colorado as it is growing and changing. Her ministry is infused with her relentless curiosity about most things, especially the big stuff of theology, the beauty of creation, the magic of collaboration, and the joy of pop culture. She’s all in on adrienne maree brown’s emergent strategy, and finds solace in the trails in and around Fort Collins. She moved to Colorado from Washington state over 20 years ago for grad school in theatre, and knew immediately that she would never leave. She and her amazing partner, Carri, have 2 teenagers, Gracie and Josef, who both relish and resent being PKs, and who keep her grounded, frustrated, inspired, and humbled, everyday. She is basically obsessed with her two dogs, both large mutts, Charlie and Archer.
 
 
Responsible for: Worship, Community Resourcing and Outreach, Justice Ministries, and Congregational Leadership

Rev. Sean Neil-Barron

Associate Minister
sean@foothillsuu.org

Rev. Sean dreams of a time when progressive people of faith are as equipped to impact society as our conservative siblings. That together we can proclaim and live our core conviction: that all are worthy of love & belonging and that we are all in this together. Sean was born on Treaty 7 land in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and comes to Foothills after four years in New England where he completed seminary at Harvard Divinity School where he studied alongside future imams, rabbis, justice activists, and other Unitarian Universalists. Sean is a self-proclaimed nerd — particularly about history, current politics, science, and Star Wars. Outside of ministry you will find Sean hiking or cooking up a storm with his partner Charles, and their dog Dollie.

Responsible for: Spiritual Deepening, Small Groups, Digital Ministry

Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink

Assistant Minister
elaine@foothillsuu.org

Elaine believes in the transformative power of deep listening. She is passionate about creating spaces that invite us to turn toward each other to cultivate compassion, offer care, and discern the movements of the spirit.

Elaine served as First Universalist Church of Minneapolis from 2013-2019 as Minister of Membership and Adult Ministries, focusing on spiritual deepening and radical hospitality. She has served as a hospice chaplain for Allina Health in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a hospital chaplain in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to entering the ministry, she served in the Peace Corps in Cape Verde, West Africa, and led the social justice and legislative advocacy program of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Elaine is a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School and Grinnell College.

Elaine grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City in an interreligious household. Her mother was raised Methodist on a farm in Kansas. Her Jewish father was born in Israel and moved to the United States when he was thirteen. As a teenager, she discovered that the wide embrace of Unitarian Universalism was a natural fit.

Spending time with her husband, Jason, and their two children brings Elaine great joy. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, the magic of trying a new recipe, any excuse to dance, and the board game Settlers of Catan.

Responsible for: Pastoral Care

Katie Watkins

Director of Finance & Operations
katie@foothillsuu.org

Katie believes the best things in life are the result of collaboration and diverse perspectives coming together to produce something greater than any individual could. She is passionate about systems, efficiency and collaboration for better community outcomes. She loves dreaming up the big picture and drafting the roadmap to make it happen. She has a background in operations, fundraising, communications and program development, as well as over a decade of nonprofit management experience in Northern Colorado.

Her greatest joy in life comes from her family. Her husband, Steven, a principal at Wellington Middle School, and daughters Emmaline and Esmae are the lights of her life. Together they love mountains, music and all kinds of food. She is passionate about women supporting other women in all stages of life and especially through the critical moments that make or break us. She believes that one of the most important things in life is to be kind.

Being outdoors makes her soul come alive. It always roots her in gratitude and is one of the reasons she loves living in Fort Collins.

Eleanor VanDeusen

Director of Family Ministry
eleanor@foothillsuu.org

Eleanor is a Colorado native who grew up in a lay-led Unitarian Universalist congregation in western Colorado. Her Colorado childhood and her background in the performing arts have influenced her love of nature and the sacred human experience. She completed the Religious Education Credentialing Program of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) in 2013 and is an active member of LREDA (The Liberal Religious Educators Association.)

As Director of Family Ministry, Eleanor is passionate about helping families connect at Foothills to experience mystery and awe, find community and purpose and manifest courageous love in their lives and in the world. 

Responsible for: Family Ministry which includes children, youth, parents and families as well as our Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs.

Lauren Farley

Engagement & Family Ministry Manager
lauren@foothillsuu.org

Lauren grew up in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, and moved to Colorado in 2014 with her husband Chris and their two children, Sylvia and Jack. She has worked as a consultant and educator in leadership and organizational development, communication, and diversity and inclusion. She loves bringing those skills together with her experience as a parent and partner to serve Unitarian Universalism and all the youth and families at Foothills. She believes in the power of our church to cast a wide circle of loving support around us as we navigate the tangled gorgeous chaos of our lives. Lauren likes to talk a lot, play word games, and dig in to great novels. She loves the Muppets. She is an ardent friend and focused parent; a gardener, yogurt maker, nature explorer, and dog lover; as passionately devoted to nurturing all those lives around her as she is to sometimes being blessedly alone. Lauren found her true home in Colorado but still feels the pull of the Atlantic Ocean, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Jenn Powell

Operations & Events Manager
jenn@foothillsuu.org

Jenn is from the East coast, grew up a PK (a priest kid) and has a background in the performing arts, operations, marketing and event production. She moved to California after college, and moved to Fort Collins with her family in 2010. It was then she joined Foothills Unitarian and found her spiritual home in Unitarian Universalism. Jenn was an active leader at Foothills and was called to work in this faith and go to seminary. However, her call found its way to joining the staff of Foothills in 2021 instead. Jenn is deeply honored to serve this community full time, forwarding our shared mission of spreading Courageous Love in Northern Colorado and beyond.

As Manager of Operations and Events, Jenn is responsible for our facilities both online and in person. She oversees all of Foothills’ events including Special Services, and our Sunday Services. Jenn helps members find ways to serve, and supports our lay leaders and group leaders.

Holly Ayala

Facilities Coordinator
holly@foothillsuu.org

Holly joined Foothills Unitarian Church in July 2022 as a facilities/IT coordinator. She has always had a passion for helping others. Holly has lived in Fort Collins for over 20 years, but grew up in Kansas. She worked in the corporate world and needed a change of pace and balance in her life.

She enjoys camping, gardening, canning, reading and playing computer games. She has a wife, son, 2 dogs, cat, hedgehog and fish to keep her occupied.

Vanessa Way

Bookkeeper
vanessa@foothillsuu.org

Vanessa joined Foothills in late May 2018, she works part-time as the bookkeeper.  She lives in Loveland with her husband, three children, three dogs, and two guinea pigs. She likes to be active in the disability community and advocate for people with disabilities, like her son. She also enjoys time with her family as well as date night with her husband. She loves concerts, makeup and coffee. Vanessa enjoys working at Foothills because she appreciates how much the church gives back to the community. The connection with other non-profits and social services in the area are important to her and make me feel proud to be a part of the work done by Foothills.

Responsible for: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Human Resources and Payroll.

Caitlin Seifert

Family Ministry Assistant and Administrative Coordinator

caitlin@foothillsuu.org

Caitlin grew up in Aurora, CO and moved to Fort Collins first in 2018, and again in 2022. They were raised in the UU church at first Universalist in Denver and were highly involved in the MDD YRUU program as a youth. At that time, they served as part of the youth leadership team as well as the District Peer Chaplain, so when they came to Foothills in 2023, they received the opportunity to join our staff and found it to be a perfect fit. Their love of the UU faith and value for the religious education they received makes their role in our family ministry program feel like giving forward a gift they once held. Their career has spanned from cooking in kitchens to administrative work for local businesses. In their spare time, they find joy in hiking, knitting, and spending time with their two kids and partners.

Kara Shobe

Children’s Music Leader
kara@foothillsuu.org

Kara moved to Colorado in 2006 to study at Northern Colorado and Colorado State earning her Masters in Music Therapy. She works as a music therapist and music educator in the Fort Collins area. She joined Foothills in the Fall of 2017. While still new to Unitarian Universalism, the message of spreading courageous love is what resonated most with her. She enjoys furthering that message with families at Foothills through moving, playing instruments and singing. When not making music, she tries to spend time hiking, skiing, running or reading as many books as she can.

Rev. Christopher Lamb

Community Minister

Christopher (they/them or he/him) is an eco-chaplain, song-leader, and spiritual care practitioner in Fort Collins, CO. They currently serve as Chaplain Supervisor at Poudre Valley hospital, providing multi-faith and belief interdisciplinary spiritual care to staff, patients and families. Their ministry is focused on the intersection of ancestral healing and trauma work, critical ecology, creative beauty-making, and imaginal perception.


A lifelong UU from Knoxville, Tennessee, Christopher was raised at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on youth conferences and UU camp culture. This foundation has fed their passion for nature-based ministry, group work, and crafting embodied worship. Christopher earned a Master’s of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology and holds a BA in French and Global Studies from Middle Tennessee State University. They have previously served Foothills as young adult coordinator, children’s music coordinator, and most recently as Music Lead from 2019-2021. Christopher is a husband and father to two girls and enjoys spending time outdoors, doing yoga, cooking with fresh vegetables, and performing queer animist folk as Crispy Watkins.

Rev. Roger Butts

Community Minister: Hospice Chaplain, Pathways Hospice
 
Reverend Roger Butts (he/him) has been ordained in the UU tradition since 2002. He has served congregations in North Carolina, Iowa, and Colorado. He has over ten years of experience as a chaplain, in hospital and hospice settings. He is proud to be a Community Minister at Foothills UU. His writings have been in several UU Meditation Manuals (How We Are Called, 2002; Sources of Our Faith, 2012; Shelter in This Place, 2021). His book, Seeds of Devotion, was published in 2021. For one year, he worked as an organizer against the death penalty.
 
He has two black labs, three young adult children (17, 20, 22). His wife is the Associate Pastor at Plymouth Congregational UCC, which is how they ended up in northern Colorado. He currently works at Pathways Hospice as a chaplain and is a PRN chaplain at UC Health-Medical Center of the Rockies. If you are interested in his spiritual direction practice, please let him know. He believes grace and humor will save us all. 
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