We’re Here to Serve

Our staff are here to help you to understand our church and to offer a wide variety of church-related services to the congregation and public. More information is available on our Contact Us page.

Ministry

Reverend Rod Thompson

Reverend Rod Thompson is a Unitarian Universalist minister, who has served as a settled minister Kent, Ohio, Augusta Georgia, and Adelphi, Maryland. Reverend Rod then served for 6 years as the Ohio Meadville District Consultant/Executive. He was then trained for and was became an Accredited Interim Minister served congregations in North Carolina (Raleigh & Greenville), the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Toledo, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, and here in Las Cruces. Rod has also had careers as a teacher, a mental health counselor, and, for several years, as a radio salesman and sales manager, and as a play-by-play sports broadcaster.

Reverend Rod first retired at the end of 2014 and spend most of his time as a Volunteer Assistant Swim Coach for his alma mater, Hiram College. His wife and co-minister, Mary Alice, died of Covid in 2020 and her ashes have been scattered at The Mountain Retreat and Training Center, a Unitarian Universalist facility outside of Highlands, NC. He has 4 children and 6 grandchildren scattered all over the country and overseas.

Reverend Rod has come out of retirement to return to one of his favorite congregations and communities as your Half-Time Contract Minister starting in August 2023.

Catherine Massey, Director of Music

Catherine has been in charge of our music since 1998 and accepted the position of Music Director in 2000, the first year we had a choir. She has enthusiastically embarked on expanding the diversity of the congregation’s musical programming ever since. She takes pride in stating that, “Our congregation has moved from a very cautious and shy singing group to one that will enthusiastically sing anything I ask them to, from African chants to rounds and Jason Shelton’s hymns.”

Catherine is not afraid to try new things nor to encourage others to do likewise, and counts as one of her strengths her willingness to learn and do what needs to be done. “I had never conducted a choir before I started one at our church, but I did so because the need was so great – the need to have a choir sing on Sunday and the need for people to sing in a choir.

Education

Kellie Ingram, Director of Religious Education

Kellie was born and raised in New Mexico, where she met her husband Nick in high school. After traveling through the US while he served in the military, the family of six (two sons & two daughters) settled in the Southwest desert they love. Kellie enjoys working with children and has devoted 20 years of her life to working with youth in several positions, including daycare teacher, home daycare director and in-home nanny. You may reach Kellie Ingram at

Administration

Cheri Coffelt, Church Administrator

Cheri and her husband David moved to New Mexico in 1998. They love living in Las Cruces with their border collie, Jack. Cheri has an Associate of Arts degree in Theology, a diploma in Business from Trinity Baptist College, and a Bachelor of Arts from New Mexico State University.

You may reach Cheri at

Media

Michael Yaczko, Audio/Visual and Social Media Specialist

Mike Yaczko is a professional content creator and media personality with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a stage actor, voice actor, singer, musician, writer, and stand-up comedian. He graduated from NMSU with a degree in journalism and mass communications, with an emphasis on public relations, and a minor in sports/event marketing.

You may reach Mike at

Claire Neal-Wallace, Audio/Visual and Social Media Specialist

You may reach Claire at .

Brandon Hettinga, Church Sexton

Brandon graduated from New Mexico State University in 2020 with a major in Business Management.

Lorenzo Lujan, Groundskeeper

Our Leaders

Board of Trustees

Committees and Their Programs

• Adult Enrichment: Sara Thomas –
• Caring: Joan Dormody, Hale Huber –
• Committee on Ministry: Julie Woody –
• Facilities Management: Charlie Scholz, Bill Fitzgerald, David Rice –
• Finance: Katie Fitzgerald –
• Gallery: Lurene John, Cathy Cox –
• Hospitality: Open
• Leadership Development: Linda Peterson –
• Membership: Lyn Pearson –
  • Covenant Groups: Jeff Harrris –
  • Greeter Coordinator: Mark Sukontarak –
  • Eating Out Coordinator: Janet Martinique –
• Religious Education for Youth: Kellie Ingram –
• Social Justice: David Rice –
  • Animal Advocacy: David and Ilene Steele, Jeanne Gilbert –
  • Cooking at J Paul Taylor Center: Peggy Devlin, Elwin Nunn
  • Fine Dining at J Paul Taylor Center: Haney Pearson –
  • Hospitality for Refugees: Jan Thompson –
• Stewardship: Steve Hychka –
• Sunday Services: Katie Fitzgerald, Charlie Scholz –
• Welcoming Congregation: Open

Other Programs

• Campout – Charlie Welch and Jim Basler, sr.
• Death Cafe: Brooks Lewis –
• Dining Out: Janet Martinique,

Website

• Webmaster: Lyn Pearson –