Board of Trustees

Meet the 2011-2012 Board of Trustees

Ed Greenlee, President; Dan Widyono, Vice President;

Eva Baker,Treasurer; Anne Slater, Secretary

Trustees-at-Large: Beth Ralston, Ken Olin.

The Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is the elected body that governs the congregation. Aware that the members are the highest governing authority, the Board of Trustees uses the Policy Governance model to govern the church. This means that Trustees govern with an emphasis on intended long-term Ends of the Church—their effect on members, prospective members, and the wider community, whereas the Ministry Leadership Team manages the administrative or programmatic means of achieving those Ends. To learn more about the governance structure, please review our policy documents.

Ed Greenlee, President: Ed Greenlee is the Associate Director for Public Services at Biddle Law Library at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Ed also is an adjunct faculty member in the iSchool at Drexel University. In addition to graduate degrees in law, information science, and anthropology, in 2008 Ed received a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Penn which focused on spirituality and contemporary art. At First Church, Ed has organized and participated in leading, the Sunday morning meditation group since its inception in June, 2008. He is a worship associate and a member of the Social Justice Committee. Ed has also been part of the Development Working Group and is currently involved in assembling First Church’s application for designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Dan Widyono, Vice President: Dan was raised Catholic, discovered philosophy in high school, psychology in college, and First Unitarian in 1996 (becoming a member in 1997). Since then he has: raised Vincent among the Children's Religious Education family, taught C.R.E. and Adult R.E. classes, served on and led committees,learned when to say "no", ministered to and was ministered by church leadership (pastoral, administrative, musical), met and learned so much from many wonderful people of all genders, theologies, ages, abilities, colors, classes, and sexual orientations, grew tremendously as an amateur choral member, served on and led Campus Ministry (now Young Adults) and the Committee on Ministry (now Ministry Leadership Team), fixed up homes with Christmas in April (now Rebuilding Together), and opened and closed those rafter panels you see above you in the sanctuary (our beautiful and historical church's cooling system, now... well, those remain the same). Dan is blessed to be supported by the warm and loving family of First Church, and is honoured to serve on the Board Trustee where he will continue living out his values and giving back to all of you, his spiritual family.

Eva Baker, Treasurer: Eva Baker came to Philadelphia (and the church) in June of 2005 for graduate school, and the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia played a role in helping her to decide to stay post graduation.  Eva was raised UU in a suburb of Boston, started the UU Campus Ministry group at Syracuse University, and has been extremely involved with First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.  She was on the Membership Ministry Team for two years, one of which she was a co-chair, where she helped new members join the church, was an usher/greeter, contributed to coffee hour food, and developed and implemented the Membership 101 class. This past year, Eva was on the Fundraising Ministry Team, helped run the Annual Budget Drive, and helped organize the Church Auction for the third year.  Because of Eva's transition from Membership to Fundraising, she has unearthed some real concerns over the financial health of this church and questions how to better educate such a transient, inner-city congregation on the financial responsibilities and governance structure of this church.  Outside of church, Eva is an (almost licensed) architect with a focus on science laboratory planning.  Her big project, besides studying for 7 architecture licensing exams, is helping her Grandfather and Grandmother write and self-publish books about themselves as she recognizes that everyone's personal stories are important.  Eva bought a home in South Philly last year and lives with her ex-stray cat, Number 5, ex-racing greyhound, Rockwell, and fiance, Franz, who you might get to see on a rare UU occasion.

Anne Slater, Secretary: Anne Slater grew up in Lancaster, PA, the oldest of 5 children. She went to Bryn Mawr College where she majored in Anthropology. Half way through college, she married her high school French teacher (who introduced her to Unitarian Universalism).   She is a retired college librarian.

A member of the church since April 1966, Anne’s biggest passion and involvement outside her family is the health and stability of the church. She loves singing in the choir, taking minutes at Board meetings (which she did decades ago, before there were PCs), and going to services.

In addition to church, Anne volunteers in the libraries of two city elementary schools. She loves to knit, read (mysteries and autobiographies), drive long distances with a grandson, walk on beaches or down country lanes, do yard work (really), and cook for and schmooze with her friends.

Ken Olin, Trustee: Ken Olin first visited First Unitarian Church in 1986 with his partner, Bill Caldwell, and has been a member of the church since 1989. Ken has served on numerous committees, chairing some; among them are the Committee on Ministry, the Ministerial Search Committee, the Music Committee, the Services Auction Committee, the Music Director Search Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the Bicentennial Committee. He has also chaired Interweave at various times, and has been a Worship Associate for two ministers. Ken has had the honor of being elected to the Board of Trustees in the early 1990s, and then again as Board President from 2002-2004. He subsequently served on the Philadelphia/Wilmington Regional Growth Planning Committee, representing First Church for the 18 months of the Committee’s existence, and was elected to serve on the Joseph Priestley District Board for six years, the last two of them as Vice President. His term on the JPD Board was completed in 2010. He is proud to have been a regular member of the choir for over fifteen years, and continues to work toward getting Unitarian Universalism’s message of an inclusive faith that is based on love, justice, and equality to the outside world, most recently during April’s Rebuilding Together Philadelphia project in North Philadelphia.

Elizabeth Ralston, Trustee: Beth has been a member of the First Unitarian Church for the past 14 years. While at First UU, she’s been a member of the Fundraising Committee, the Caring Associates and the Stewardship Committee. For the past several years, Beth has also been the coordinator of the Earth Based Ritual Group, and its semi-annual Solstice celebrations. Beth and her husband Stephen Nasobko live in the University City area of Philadelphia. Her favorite pastimes are painting, reading, writing and camping. A former school teacher and counselor, for the past several years Beth has worked in the financial and insurance industries.

Meet the Congregational Moderator

The Moderator is a non-Board position responsible for facilitating the congregational meetings.

Christine Carlson, Moderator: Christine moved to Philadelphia in 1998 and began attending First Church.  It quickly became a spiritual home.  Here she met and married her true love, and where their two children were dedicated.  In past years she has sung in the choir and chaired the Rental Committee.  She has served on several search committees, including the one which recommended Rev. Nate to the congregation.  Christine is currently involved with the CRE ministry team, the Worship Associates and Women’s Book Discussion Group.  Personal passions include child advocacy, and the separation of church and state, especially in education, reproductive health, end of life care, and marriage. She truly believes that “we need not think alike to love alike” and looks forward to the day when First Church stands strong as the voice of progressive social action and liberal religious education in our city and community.