FEBRUARY REFLECTIONS
FROM SALLY

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SALLY B. WHITE
[photograph by Karen Baggott]

The Reverend Sally B. White began her full time ministry with The Unitarian Coastal Fellowship in August, 2003. Sally brings to us the heritage of Jewish-Presbyterian parents and grandparents, the richness of 43 years as a Unitarian-Universalist, and the experience of more than 20 years as a religious educator. Her demeanor is attentive and insightful, her writings are expressive and meaningful and her personality is calming and charming.

Sally was born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio and received a degree in Biology from Earlham College, a Quaker liberal arts school in Indiana. For three years she studied Developmental Biology at the University of California in San Diego where her research focused on cellular slime mold. She holds a teaching certificate in secondary school science and a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the ministry where her concentrations were in theology and religious education.

Sally has been actively involved in seven different Unitarian Universalist congregations from Southern California to Maine. She was a professional religious educator in five of those churches. Most recently she was Acting Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkley, California.

Her deep commitment to the ministry arises out of her definition of religion as "that which reminds me that I am connected to something larger than myself." She says of her ministry that "we are all born knowing, in our flesh and in our bones, that we are connected. Our sense of the religious can be deepened and heightened in the religious community as we practice and share and honor and explore experiences which remind us of these connections, remind us that we are connected. This goes to the heart of the meaning of the word religious-to bind together again; to re-connect. The work of ministry is undertaken in community, but is enacted in relationship; in one-to-one encounters between individual people and between each of us and those places, those moments, when we know ourselves to be connected, to be in relationship with the holy. The work of ministry is the work of reminding one another of these connections, of the web of relationships which holds and supports us. And this is the educational work; the work of drawing out of each of us, and out of each other, that which we are born knowing--that we are not alone, that we participate in that interdependent web. This educational work of ministry is the work of being present with one another, of reaching out to give of our gifts and to partake of the gifts of others, of bridging the spaces between us."

More about Sally: "Sally has a quiet and graceful way of being. She is very easy to get to know, outgoing with a warm personality, has a good sense of humor and a wonderful ability to really listen to others." "Her sermons have been thoughtful, well presented and very well received by the congregation. She is an exceptional storyteller, who can both amuse and challenge." "She has excellent facilitative, time management and organizational skills and great sensitivity to church dynamics." "Sally's basic leadership style has been to develop collaborative relationships. She has been very successful in creating this sort of community culture for she listens well, synthesizes what she hears and then inspires with her responses." "Her long experience as a lay leader gives her deep insight in how to work beside and with lay leadership." These are some of the many comments we received from Sally's references and speak to her style, maturity, poise and intellect.

Sally, a UU for more than 40 years, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Earlham College, spent three years pursuing graduate study in developmental biology, and received a Masters of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry in 2001. She is presently acting Director of Religious Education at the UU Church of Berkeley (California), where she works with more than 70 adult volunteers and 150 children. In that position she shares in the ministry of worship, learning and service to the larger community. She has been actively involved in 7 different UU churches, working as a professional religious educator in 5 of them, including the UU Fellowship of Eno River in Durham from 1994-96.

Sally writes in her ministerial record that one of the formative experiences in her life has been the challenges and rewards of her interracial family and of parenting four children of color (three of whom are adopted). "From this I am learning about balancing the demands of career, family and personal growth, and about the value of flexibility, humor, clear-headedness and staying engaged with the struggle."

Theologically, Sally considers herself multi-lingual, and enjoys the energy generated by good spirited conversation among people of different theological orientations. Among her ministerial skills she rates highest in preaching, children's and adult religious education, recruitment and support of volunteers, and leadership followed closely by membership growth and community building. She has a passion for parish ministry and looks forward to our growing together.

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