Our Minister and Staff
OUR MINISTER: Rev. Leslie Runnels
Leslie Runnels is from New Orleans, Louisiana who became a Unitarian Universalist in 2005, right before Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Floods devastated New Orleans and the southern coast. She became involved in recovery and relief efforts and supported housing and orientation of over 100,000 volunteers who came to help with recovery. Some of that work included understanding how racism showed up before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. This led her to become an organizer and trainer with the People’s Institute for Survival & Beyond – a 45 year old organization founded by two black men – who do 2-day Undoing Racism workshops across the country.
It was while doing anti-racism work, that she started to see how connected her spirituality was to liberation work …. and the seed was planted for ministry. She graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School with a Masters of Divinity in 2022. Her family and network of support have accompanied her all the way through this process, which has led her to the eastern shore of North Carolina, to serve the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship in Morehead City.
OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRIES ADMINISTRATOR: Sarah Grenier
Sarah Joan Grenier attended Appalachian State University earning a degree in dietetics. She joined the Army and attended Baylor University for a master’s in nutrition. After serving six years in the military as a dietitian, she wanted to focus on her two kids and moved home to Carteret County. She is a member at the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship and is Cubmaster for Pack 446. Sarah is also a local artist and teaches preschool at the Camp Albemarle Nature School.
OUR CHOIR DIRECTOR: Karen Baggott
Karen Baggott has stepped into a leadership position with UCF music as Choir Director beginning with an Aloha Oe for Tom and Marilynn Cullison as they move to Hawaii. Karen joined UCF in 1988 and began to participate in music immediately with an instrumental quartet named Unitunes. Pianist Ann Odell then volunteered to lead a choir and Karen joined, also playing piano on occasion.
In 1978 she attended University of Maine for Popular Music to study music theory, composition, arranging, ear training and comp band. Three of her compositions have been performed at UCF.
Karen enjoys working alongside accompanist Meganne Smith with our choir to bring meaningful and moving music to our worship services and community events such as caroling at Empower and singing at the NAACP Gospel Fest. If you are interested in joining the choir, please contact Karen at the address below.
OUR ACCOMPANIST: Meganne Smith
Meganne teaches English from middle school through college levels and has been a piano/music teacher, church pianist, and on-call musician for weddings and other events for about fifteen years. She was also an All-State clarinetist in her youth and played the clarinet in the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) Concert Band while attending there. Another talent she has shared with our congregation is writing poetry. She brings a contemporary ear to finding music for UCF’s services.
CONTACT OUR STAFF:
Minister
Leslie Runnels
Children and Family Ministries Administrator
Sarah Grenier
Choir Director
Karen Baggott
Accompanist
Meganne Smith