Meet our Ministerial Candidate

On Sunday, April 10, Search Committee Chair Jon Montan announced that the committee had found “a match,” and introduced James Galasinski to the congregation. He said:

“I wish to thank you for the trust that you have placed in us. It is a great honor to serve our religious community.

With a nod to the late Max Coots’ fondness for alliteration, I am thrilled to tell you that after many meetings, meals, miles, machinations and musings, we are able to tell you that, after unanimously agreeing, we have invited a minister to be our candidate and he has accepted.

We are delighted!”

James, who is 37 years old, has most recently served as Ministerial Resident and Youth Coordinator at First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. He was ordained by that congregation this month. He holds a master of divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School and a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Cardinal Stritch University. He and his wife Ulrike (pronounced ool-REE-keh) are the parents of an almost one-year-old son Miles Noah. James enjoys listening to live jazz, hiking, making and consuming his own red chile, and riding his bike.

You can learn more about James and his ministry on his website.

[Special note: You can see the video of James’ ordination in Albuquerque here. Enjoy the whole ceremony or go the 56:35-minute mark for a special and familiar treat!]

Candidating Week

The eight-day Candidating Week is taking place from May 7 through 15. James and his family will be here for the entire week. James will deliver the sermon on Sunday, May 8, he will meet with various committees, congregants, staff, and Church Council during the week, and he will deliver another sermon the following Sunday, May 15.  After that last service, the membership will vote on whether or not to ratify the choice of the Search Committee and thereby accept James as our new minister.

Learn more about the Candidating Week schedule and the congregational vote here. Please contact the Search Committee if you have questions.