Staff
Music Director
The Music Director of the church is responsible for directing and or supervising all aspects of church life that revolve around music. The realm of music is extensive and diverse in the life of the Unitarian church, including vocal and instrumental ensembles, adult and youth choirs, and full productions for rites of passage and theatre performances. Sacred, Jazz, Classical, Blues and Contemporary are only a few of categories expressive of our growing music program.
Ila Stoltzfus holds a BA in Music Education from Goshen College and an MME and Ph.D. in Musicology from Louisiana State University. She taught music in the Talented Arts Program in the public schools. She performs with early music ensembles, playing viola da gamba. She has been active in our music program since 1987. Ms Stoltzfus serves as Music Director and in that role directs the Adult Choir, plays piano for the services and oversees the music program for the church. In addition, she is active in the UUMusician's Network and served two terms as Vice President for Member Services. She is currently on the board of trustees for the Southwest Unitarian Universalist District.
Director of Religious Education
The Reverend Beth Williams begins as Director of Religious Education in June
Greetings and good wishes to you all. My name is Beth Williams and I am honored to have been chosen to serve this congregation as your next Director of Religious Education.
I don't know how to explain it, but when this Bostonian (me) first stepped off the plane in Baton Rouge, it felt like I was coming home; and when I walked through the doors of the church you, as they say, had me at hello. It is rare for a congregation to be both crackling with energy and excitement, and filled with warmth and welcome, but you have done just that. I look forward to working with you to continue this tradition, and to use my experiences to help take the religious education program even further than the wonderful program it already is.
To give you an idea of these experiences, I would first tell you that I have been a Unitarian Universalist for over twenty years. During that time, I received a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School, was credentialed by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Minister of Religious Education, served the First Unitarian Society of Chicago and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Lynn, Massachusetts as religious educator, and was a member of the board of the Liberal Religious Educators Association, the professional organization for Unitarian Universalist religious educators. For the past eight years I was on the staff of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in the role of Religious Education and Music Leadership Credentialing Director. My most satisfying moments at the UUA were collaborating with volunteers to create programs that uphold professional standards and develop pathways to professional excellence for Unitarian Universalist directors of religious education and directors of music. I am proud to say that one such volunteer who was critical to these achievements is Music Director at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, Ila Stoltzfus.
It may not surprise you that over thirteen years as a religious educator I have developed a vision of Unitarian Universalist religious education. First of all, I see the religious education program as a ministry, a ministry to children, youth, and families, to program volunteers as well as participants. I believe it is a ministry that is integral to the overall ministry of a congregation. Second, I think that Unitarian Universalist congregations are unique in their ability to help actualize the following outcomes for those who participate in their religious education programs:
- to feel that they belong and can be their true selves in their faith community, and to know that they are seen, welcomed, and loved by their church;
- to understand and articulate what they believe and why they believe it, and to know how these beliefs are represented by Unitarian Universalism and how they can express them in their daily lives;
- to have a moral framework from which to face the many challenges encountered in life, and to make ethical decisions in light of these challenges;
- to possess, and be inspired to use, the tools that help them look inward in order to tend their own spiritual lives, and look beyond themselves to help make the world a more just and healthier place for everyone.
While this is my vision for Unitarian Universalist religious education, I know that it may not be yours, and I believe that it is your vision that is most important. As a director of religious education my job, as I understand it, is to support children, youth and families in attaining the congregation’s goals for religious education. It is my hope that we can build on the successes of the past, particularly the exemplary work done this year by Marla Elsea and the Religious Education Team (Shannon Cavell, Diana Dorroh, Danielle Gurt) and collaborate in developing programs that will continue to make your vision a reality. I so look forward to working with you, and getting to know your hopes and dreams for religious education at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. I can’t wait to meet you!
Program Director
The Program Director of the church is responsible for coordination and support for Adult Programming within the church and for helping the minister, leadership and staff of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge realize the vision and mission of the church. Currently, the Program Director is a volunteer staff position.
Diana Dorroh Diana holds a PhD in Mathematics from Louisiana State University. She is retired from the State of Louisiana, where she worked as an Information Technology consultant and trainer. She was twice President of the congregation (1990 and 1991) and was chair of the Building Steering Committee for the building project which was completed in 1999.
Outreach Director
The Outreach Director is volunteer staff and leader of the Outreach Council that has the responsibility of promoting the activities of the church to our community, facilitating events with other churches and social service agencies of the Greater Baton Rouge area, joining the efforts of the Interfaith Federation of Baton Rouge in working toward equity, justice and peace among all our citizens. In addition, the activities of welcoming guests at our worship services and providing a path of membership in our church is directed by this Council.
Rebecca "Becky" Cureau holds the BA degree in music from Bennett College for Women, the M Mus degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and the Doctor of Arts degree in Humanities from Atlanta University. She is Professor of Music Emerita of Southern University, where she taught for thirty-five years on the music faculty and served as chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, earning in that capacity the University’s first Academic Leadership Award. A member of the church for more than forty years, she served for seventeen years as volunteer pianist, during which time she and organized and directed the Fellowship's first choir. She has served in several leadership capacities, including Membership Chair, President of the Congregation, and Chair of the Fiftieth Anniversary Committee; and has held membership on numerous committees, currently on the Planning, Nominating, and Congregational Care Committees. She currently serves as the church’s Historian, and as a delegate to the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
Assistant Program Director
The Assistant Program Director is a volunteer staff position of administrative and logistical support, primarily to the Program Director, but also to other staff members, the Board of Trustees and the Councils as needed. Dottie Kelly is retired from careers in both business management and nursing and has been a member since relocation from New Orleans after Katrina.
