No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here at University Congregational United Church of Christ. Young, old, sure of your path, or still searching --- we invite you to join us in imagining love and justice - as Jesus did - in acting to change the world.

We would love to welcome you at our in-person service each Sunday at 10 am. A digital service is also offered on line on Sunday evening at 5 pm. Our service is streamed on YouTube and Facebook. You will find the links just below this section on our home page. The weekly 5 pm service is  available on line after it is initially presented on Sundays..

We strive to walk in the path of Jesus, and to offer an authentic welcome to everyone who walks through our door or joins us online. If you are new to us, we would love to get to know you and answer your questions about our church, even if we cannot greet you in person. A member of our Welcome Committee, or a pastor, would be happy to correspond on email or talk with you on the phone. Click here to arrange for a meeting.

Our in-person worship service starts at 10 am and includes hymns, prayers, scripture reading and a sermon. It usually lasts about an hour and fifteen minute.. During the 10 am service we also offer live-streaming to a nearby room that offers those with compromised immune systems to be more isolated. We also offer a separate space for children, with supervised play and crafts during the 10 am service. Sections of the 10 am service are programed into the 5 pm digital service, which is offered as a "vespers."

Children are an important part of our community, and are welcome for all or part or the service.

UCUCC Parking Map

View for detailed Google Map.

Parking can be a challenge in the University District! Persistence, patience and an early start are keys to success.

UW has free parking on Sundays. Enter the main campus gate at NE 45th and 17th Ave NE and turn left past the toll booth. It's about a three-block walk to the church. The UW Meany Garage at 15th Ave. NE and NE 41st St. is a five-block walk.

The church also owns three parking lots - Lot A is across the street from the church on 16th Ave. E. Lot B is beneath Sortun Court, just north of the church on the east side of 16th Ave. E. (It closes at 2 p.m.) Lot C (for those with difficulty walking, young children and visitors) is at the corner of 15th NE and NE 45th St., next to the church.

If you need to be assured of a close parking spot, you can call the church office before noon on Friday to reserve one: 206-524-2322.

From time time we host lunches for people who are interested in learning more about our church and/or possibly becoming a member.  We are also happy to meet with you over coffee or at the church to explore and explain a range of topics about our church, from history, to theology, to membership. Click here to arrange a meeting with a Welcome Committee Volunteer or pastor or to set up a meeting and/or to learn when the next Welcome Lunch is planned.

Thank you for your interest in our church community.

We are an inter-generational church and strive to be family-friendly, with an active ministry for children and youth. All ages are welcome in worship. We also offer nursery and child-care, Younger children begin the 10 am service with us and usually leave after about 15 minutes. Older children have the option of leaving for a special sermon time. Junior high and high school youth meet at 9 am and then often sit together in worship. Give us a call at 206-524-2322 for more specifics or email Margaret Swanson, our Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries..

Our programs for children and youth continue during this pandemic. Sign up at the bottom of the home page to receive our Children's Ministries and/or Youth Ministries newsletter.

Hearing Impaired: Our sanctuary has an induction loop system that uses the T-Coil mode of your hearing aids. You can get the necessary equipment just before entering the Sanctuary on the right or ask any usher.

Visually Impaired: We offer each Sunday's program in large print for easier readability.

Wheelchair Access: The front entry is wheelchair accessible as are the rest rooms. Please don't hesitate to ask for assistance.

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Leadership and governance at University UCC

Leadership at University UCC is shared by a leadership team consisting of the three clergy (shown below), the Director of Finance and Operations, an elected Church Council of volunteers, and by the congregation itself. There are some decisions, such as calling a pastor or approving the budget, that only the congregation as a whole may make.

Other decisions, including matters of finance and policy are made by the Church Council in consultation with the leadership team. In addition to the church officers, each of the five church ministries is represented on the Council. When the Council makes a decision, it is understood to be acting on behalf of the entire congregation.

Rev. Amy Roon

Rev. Amy Roon

Minister of Vision and Stewardship (MVS)

She/her

Days off: Monday and Saturday
Preferred communication: Text or Email
Email:  aroon@universityucc.org
Text: 206-605-6893
Schedule a meeting (in person or by phone/Zoom): Calendly
Facebook | Twitter
Reverend Amy Roon Amy’s educational background includes a Master of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion (2002), and a BA in Vocal Performance from Oberlin College (1996). She has served as Associate Pastor at the United Churches of Olympia and as Interim Pastor at Lummi Island Congregational Church. She was also Music and Arts Director at First Baptist Church of Alameda (CA) for three years.

Amy is trained as a Stephen Ministry leader and has participated in and helped lead the Stephen Ministry pastoral care process in other churches and at University UCC.

Amy has tremendous passion and creativity, and is a musician with experience in piano, choral music, solo voice, and theater. She occasionally sings in worship, but generally prefers helping others to fulfill this role. She is an enthusiastic practitioner of InterPlay, a discipline that combines theater, dance, and spirituality.

Amy has one son, Benjamin, and also serves as a foster parent.

Her responsibilities include liaison to the Education Ministry, Christian education staffing, communication and public relations.

Amy regularly posts on Facebook, and you can read her posts there by clicking on the Facebook link above. If you are not on Facebook you can also view Amy’s posts on Twitter by clicking the link above.

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Rev. Michael Ellick

Rev. Michael Ellick

Minister of Worship and Care (MWC)

He/him

Days off: Thursday and Saturday
Preferred communication: Email or Text
Email: mellick@universityucc.org; 
Text: 1-646-734-0162
Schedule a meeting: Calendly

Reverend Michael Ellick joined us as the Minister of Worship and Care in the Summer of 2023. This is something of a homecoming: after growing up in Olympia and Bainbridge Island, he received his B.A. in Comparative Religion at the University of Washington before moving to New York City to earn an M.Div. at Union Theological Seminary. Since then he has served churches in New York City and Portland, OR, but most recently served as the Director of Public Engagement for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, where he developed multi-faith peacemaking efforts and an organizing curriculum to help churches reckon with their legacy of racism and colonialism.

Along the way Michael worked as a Public Finance Analyst, served as a Faith-Based Movement Builder and Community Organizer (most notably helping launch the New Sanctuary Movement and Occupy Wall Street), apprenticed under various Centering Prayer Teachers, and studied and practiced for seven years with a Tibetan Buddhist Lama (Khenpo Pema Wangdak). These eclectic influences reflect his ongoing passion for bridging the “inner world” of contemplative practice with the “outer world” of engaged public ministry.

Along with his spouse and best friend Alana Hartman, he spends his off-time raising two children (Zuzu & Desmond) and joyfully getting re-acquainted with – and re-rooted in -the Western Washington Wilderness

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Rev. Steve Jerbi, n/OEF

Rev. Steve Jerbi, n/OEF

Minister of Christian Formation, Love and Justice (MCFLJ)

He/him

Days off: Friday and Saturday.
Pastor Steve is half-time,  typically available Monday – Thursday and onsite for 2-3 Sundays per month.
Preferred Communication: Text or Call
Email: sjerbi@universityucc.org
Text: 1-414-238-7030
Schedule a meeting: Calendly
Facebook | Instagram

Rev. Steve Jerbi leads in communities by connecting faith, justice, and action. He began his call at UCUCC in 2021 and serves half-time as the Minister of Christian Formation, Love & Justice. Pastor Steve previously served congregations in Lana’i, Hawai’i, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee.

Pastor Steve is ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves under the full communion agreements of the ELCA and UCC. He is also the coordinator of community organizing for the ELCA and is the national director of the Organizing for Mission Network.

Pastor Steve is passionate about the intersection of racial, economic, and environmental justice. He offers training in racial justice work and faith-based community organizing. Youth ministry has been at the center of his congregational work and he loves cultivating experiences where faith comes to life – through worship, study, and play. Pastor Steve is also a novice with the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans.

Pastor Steve and his partner Jennifer spend their free time shuttling their two teenagers to events and trying to get their little dog to drop the ball when playing fetch.

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The Church Council and our five ministries

Our goal is to live out our call in the world as Christians. In order to accomplish this we have organized ourselves into five ministries: Worship and Music, Love and Justice, Christian Education, Calling and Engagement, and Stewardship and Finance.

The Church Council provides oversight for the work of these five ministries. Current membership of the Council is listed below. All church council members and alternates welcome communication from the congregation. However, to protect their privacy, their contact information can be most easily be obtained through the online resource MyUCUCC or by using the printed church directory. Or you can send an email to  info@universityucc.org  with the message and person you wish to reach.  Church staff will forward your message to the appropriate person.

  • Moderator, Br. Stephan Gerhardt
  • Assistant Moderator, Tamara Roberts
  • Treasurer, David Glick
  • Secretary, Mary Sue Galvin
  • Racial Justice Representative, Ginger Warfield
  • At-Large Representative, Virginia Felton
  • At-Large Representative, Kathryn Robinson
  • Director of Finance and Operations, Kyna Shilling  Email Kyna
  • Pastor Amy Roon Email Amy
  • Pastor Steve Jerbi Email Steve
  • Pastor Michael Ellick  Email Michael

Worship & Music Ministry

  • Margaret Stine, Worship and Music Representative

Christian Education & Spiritual Growth Ministry

  • Eleanor Jerbi, Christian Formation Representative

Calling, Engagement & Community Ministry

  • George Vestal, Calling, Community & Engagement Representative
  • Jan Von Lehe, Calling, Community & Engagement Alternate

Love & Justice Ministry

  • Carol Nelson, Love and Justice Representative

Stewardship & Administration Ministry

  • Kathy Williams, Stewardship Administration Representative

Further information about church governance and each ministry is available in the Resources Section.