Minister
Rev. Mitra Rahnema
Rev. Mitra Rahnema returns to Grosse Pointe as our consulting minister for the 2024-2025 church year. Previously, between 2009 and 2011, she was our interim minister. Rev. Mitra is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. She has offered ministry to congregations in Missouri, California, and of course here in Michigan. Over the past 20 years, she served our larger Unitarian Universalist denomination in several ways including as DRUUMM Trustee and as a UUMA Committee on Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, and Multiculturalism member. Mitra is the editor of the 2017 book and UUA Common Read, “Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry.” Mitra is passionate about cooking, her fur baby Bayley, and gardening. When not in Grosse Pointe she lives in Portland, Oregon. She is dedicated to building vibrant and engaged anti-oppressive communities.
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 |
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Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: 17150 Maumee Avenue, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 Phone: 313-881-0420
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