Minister
Rev. Aaron Stockwell Wisman
Greetings, Grosse Pointe!
I’m the Rev. Aaron Stockwell Wisman (pronounced like Wise-man), though you can call me Aaron or Rev. Aaron. I am so thrilled to be named as your candidate for settled minister! Since 2020, I’ve been the Senior Minister at the First Parish of Framingham, MA. Before that, I served for two years as the interim minister at the UU Congregation of Lawrence, KS. Before Kansas, I served three years as the developmental minister of the UU Church of the Brazos Valley in College Station, TX.
I was born in Massachusetts and, like many people, was raised in no religious tradition. In middle school, my form of rebellion was realizing that I actually did want to go to church. I started investigating the nearby congregation after attending a Unitarian Universalist chapel service at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2001. We started attending and found exactly what we were missing. On the day that I became a member of the First Parish Church of Groton, MA, my mother, father, and grandmother all joined as well. I quickly became involved in the Senior High Youth Group, Membership Committee, and also as a Lay Service leader. I bridged out of the youth group, and then ten years and a day after, that same congregation ordained me.
I felt the call to ministry in high school, but then most strongly at the end of college, and made plans to enroll in seminary shortly after graduation. I received a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. I graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA, with my Master of Divinity and pastoral and spiritual care certificate. I completed two 400-hour units of Clinical Pastoral Education at two area hospitals. I recently started a Doctor of Ministry program in Spiritual Direction at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This program is completely online. I’m in full fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister and have supervised two ministerial interns.
My passions in ministry include good preaching, teaching spiritual practices, learning about the local history of congregations, mentoring seminarians, and helping lay leaders in congregations best understand the congregations they serve. My passions outside of ministry include hiking, letterpress printing, and taking up way too many smaller hobbies to remind myself how to be a beginner (welding, upholstery, pottery, small-boat sailing, and woodworking are some of them… don’t worry, I’m not very good at any of them). I completed two sprint-length triathlons last year and hope to complete a few more in the coming years.
My wife Lizzie (born and raised near Grand Haven, MI) and I were really impressed with your search committee and how well they helped us imagine how life could be in Grosse Pointe. I found our conversations with the search committee to be just wonderful, and I’m so glad we get to continue them as a larger congregation. Be sure to thank them. They have done such good and hard work. I’ve worked with more than a few search committees over the years, and I found them insightful and passionate about this place you care about so much. Also, thank your interim minister, Rev. Mitra. Her insights proved invaluable as I navigated the search.
I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and, hopefully, years to come!
I’m the Rev. Aaron Stockwell Wisman (pronounced like Wise-man), though you can call me Aaron or Rev. Aaron. I am so thrilled to be named as your candidate for settled minister! Since 2020, I’ve been the Senior Minister at the First Parish of Framingham, MA. Before that, I served for two years as the interim minister at the UU Congregation of Lawrence, KS. Before Kansas, I served three years as the developmental minister of the UU Church of the Brazos Valley in College Station, TX.
I was born in Massachusetts and, like many people, was raised in no religious tradition. In middle school, my form of rebellion was realizing that I actually did want to go to church. I started investigating the nearby congregation after attending a Unitarian Universalist chapel service at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2001. We started attending and found exactly what we were missing. On the day that I became a member of the First Parish Church of Groton, MA, my mother, father, and grandmother all joined as well. I quickly became involved in the Senior High Youth Group, Membership Committee, and also as a Lay Service leader. I bridged out of the youth group, and then ten years and a day after, that same congregation ordained me.
I felt the call to ministry in high school, but then most strongly at the end of college, and made plans to enroll in seminary shortly after graduation. I received a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. I graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA, with my Master of Divinity and pastoral and spiritual care certificate. I completed two 400-hour units of Clinical Pastoral Education at two area hospitals. I recently started a Doctor of Ministry program in Spiritual Direction at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This program is completely online. I’m in full fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister and have supervised two ministerial interns.
My passions in ministry include good preaching, teaching spiritual practices, learning about the local history of congregations, mentoring seminarians, and helping lay leaders in congregations best understand the congregations they serve. My passions outside of ministry include hiking, letterpress printing, and taking up way too many smaller hobbies to remind myself how to be a beginner (welding, upholstery, pottery, small-boat sailing, and woodworking are some of them… don’t worry, I’m not very good at any of them). I completed two sprint-length triathlons last year and hope to complete a few more in the coming years.
My wife Lizzie (born and raised near Grand Haven, MI) and I were really impressed with your search committee and how well they helped us imagine how life could be in Grosse Pointe. I found our conversations with the search committee to be just wonderful, and I’m so glad we get to continue them as a larger congregation. Be sure to thank them. They have done such good and hard work. I’ve worked with more than a few search committees over the years, and I found them insightful and passionate about this place you care about so much. Also, thank your interim minister, Rev. Mitra. Her insights proved invaluable as I navigated the search.
I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and, hopefully, years to come!
Director of Children's Religious Education
Julie Artis
It gives me great pleasure to serve as the Director of Religious Education for Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church. I have served in this position for the past ten years. Before I was recruited for this position, I served for ten years as the director of a preschool and the director of "The Tutoring Tree", an organization that served deserving children in the Detroit area in need of educational support. My formal education is in Health Education and advanced study in Health Services Administration. I have attended five UU Modules and am OWL (Our Whole Lives) trained in Elementary and Junior/Senior High School.
I have been members of GPUC since 1990. Our two daughters were raised in the UU faith and attended GPUC. They all went through the Religious Education program and OWL at GPUC.
My personal mission as a Unitarian Universalist is to empower leaders of all ages to explore and fulfill their spiritual journey while making social change in our community. I am eager to continue my work at GPUC and look forward to greeting present and future parents and students in the Religious Education Program.
I have been members of GPUC since 1990. Our two daughters were raised in the UU faith and attended GPUC. They all went through the Religious Education program and OWL at GPUC.
My personal mission as a Unitarian Universalist is to empower leaders of all ages to explore and fulfill their spiritual journey while making social change in our community. I am eager to continue my work at GPUC and look forward to greeting present and future parents and students in the Religious Education Program.
Director of Music
Hans Barbe
Hans joined GPUC in 2024 as our Director of Music. He is a classically trained pianist and vocalist who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music. He also plays guitar, percussion, violin, Irish whistle, and the sitar. His breadth of experience and skills include 14 years of vocal and instrumental teaching, conducting, directing, versatile performance styles, arranging and composing, sound engineering, and arts organization and management.
At GPUC, Hans directs and plays music for services, directs the adult choir, and will develop a children’s choir, if there are eager participants. We are confident that Hans’ leadership will allow GPUC to continue its tradition of offering a rich musical component to our worship, church and community events.
At GPUC, Hans directs and plays music for services, directs the adult choir, and will develop a children’s choir, if there are eager participants. We are confident that Hans’ leadership will allow GPUC to continue its tradition of offering a rich musical component to our worship, church and community events.
Office Administrator
Ameera Bandy
I joined the GPUC Team in July, 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. After working in Bookkeeping, Property Management and Administration for 10 years, I felt I was not growing in the ways I needed. I found myself restless searching for a position that would be different from what I had done in the past and lo and behold I found an ad for Office Admin here at GPUC. Since being here, I have found that the opportunity for spiritual and emotional growth I've experienced here, was exactly what I had been longing for.
I am a mother to a beautiful little girl and the wife of a carpenter. In my free time, I enjoy writing, singing & spiritual exploration. I am a life long learner and couldn't be more grateful for being here in a space where I can continue to expand my mind in a positive manner. I look forward to getting to know the community here at GPUC!
I am a mother to a beautiful little girl and the wife of a carpenter. In my free time, I enjoy writing, singing & spiritual exploration. I am a life long learner and couldn't be more grateful for being here in a space where I can continue to expand my mind in a positive manner. I look forward to getting to know the community here at GPUC!
Sexton
Willie Barber
GPUC Personnel Policy Manual 2024 |
| ||
