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

Welcome to our new Coordinator of Faith Formation Sharon Mignerey! A summer resident for many years, Sharon is happy to have returned home to Durango last year after living in Houston TX for the last 16 years and Denver for the previous 30. She has been 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.” Sharon takes up her new position on July 1. She is looking forward to new friendships at U.U.F.D.

Harrison Wendt
Sunday Morning Learning Coordinator

Harrison Wendt serves as the Sunday Morning Learning Coordinator. He 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 is a returning student to Fort Lewis College and is studying Sociology and Music.

Harrison also has a deep connection with theater.  He has been seen in a couple of musicals at Fort Lewis 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.

Programs

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.

Lawrence Nass
Contemporary Pianist

Lawrence believes that music is a bridge to all good things. He has been an active musician, performer and piano instructor in the Durango area since 1990. He has opened shows for jazz artists Mose Allison and Maynard Ferguson and performed duets with Native American flautist, R. Carlos Nakai. Also, he has performed with the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, Music in the Mountains Symphony Orchestra, and teachers/musicians from Fort Lewis College. Performing a wide variety of musical styles, he has been singing/playing for the UU Fellowship of Durango since 2014 as our contemporary pianist.

Operations

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 Durango Welcome Center and 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.