Ministry

Rev. Barbara Coeyman
Interim Minister

Rev. Barbara Coeyman’s role is to facilitate UUFD’s work to transition to a settled minister, for whom we expect to begin a search in the spring of 2024.

Rev. Coeyman is a trained, credentialed, experienced interim minister, having worked with and built valuable perspective from her interim work in eight other congregations from the east coast to Littleton here in Colorado since 2005. In addition to her ministerial degree, she has three degrees in music, including a Ph.D. in musicology, as well as a master’s in public management. She is a hiker and a biker, contra- and Scottish dancer, writer, UU historian, and volunteer musician in a wide range of UU events. Read more about Rev. Coeyman at her extensive and wonderfully revealing website.

Faith Formation

Sharon Mignerey
Family Ministry & Faith Formation

A summer resident for many years, Sharon returned to Durango after 16 years in Houston and 30 in Denver. She was a licensed practitioner with the Centers for Spiritual Living for 12 years, has taught college-level English and Composition, has worked as a technical writer, and is the author of twelve novels. She regards herself as a writer, teacher, and spiritual seeker always ready to explore new ideas. One of the principles she strives to live by is “Look for the Good and praise it.

Harrison Wendt
Youth Programming Coordinator

Harrison has a strong background in child care, social justice and advocacy work. Harrison has previously worked as a Kids’ Camp teacher at Durango 9-R for two years and served on the organizing team for the Southwest Movement for Black Lives. He studied Sociology and Music at Fort Lewis College. He lives out his values not only through teaching but also in community political engagement.

Harrison also has a deep connection with theater.  He has been seen in local productions and co-founded a summer musical theater company “ART Co.” in 2019. He is excited to bring his passion for teaching and core beliefs of acceptance, love, and justice to the UUFD community.

Nikki Bauer
Faith Formation Teacher

Music

Holly Quist
Music Director

Holly Quist has performed, collaborated, and taught within communities throughout the United States, Ireland and Italy. Holly studied piano and chamber music at the Bay View Summer Music Festival, the Interharmony International Music Festival in Arcidosso and Aqui Terme, Italy, and the Dublin International Piano Festival in Dublin, Ireland. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At Western Michigan University, she received her Bachelor of Music degree in keyboard performance. Following that, she studied at the University of Missouri where she received a Master of Music degree and held a graduate assistantship.

Marilyn Garst
Classical Pianist & Artistic Director, concert series

Marilyn Garst holds three degrees in music including a Ph.D.  She spent most of her career teaching and performing at Pittsburg State University in Kansas and at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  She is a classical pianist. Music has always served as Marilyn’s spiritual grounding, and she believes that music is an important part of a church’s ministry.

Operations

Nikki Bauer
Office Administrator

Tricia Bayless
Finance Clerk

Tricia has been a member of UUFD since 2003 and values its guiding principles. She served twice on the Board as secretary and member at large and has also been on the Sunday Service, Music, Caring, Frolic, and Nominating Committees. She has enjoyed being a Worship Leader, the Greeter Chairperson, and an RE teacher for middle/high school. Tricia is a retired secondary Speech, English, and French teacher and currently works part time at the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall.

Caesar Sanchez
Sexton

Caesar brings a palpable exuberance to the facilities and space of our Fellowship. You’ll see his smile during the week, or on Sundays during coffee hour, in addition to supporting youth, kids and faith formation activities..