A Conversation with Rev. Kevin Mann

Dear Beloved Community, 

This month, I had the honor and privilege of sitting down with Rev. Kevin Mann, a Starr King alum and current faculty member. Rev. Kevin is, at his core, a community organizer whose work has made a meaningful impact both locally and globally. As a hospital and hospice chaplain in the Bay Area, he has walked alongside countless individuals and families during some of life’s most tender moments. His commitment to community organizing and his vocation as a chaplain were deeply shaped and strengthened by his time at Starr King School for the Ministry. 

Rev. Kevin is a dual-degree graduate of the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Social Change programs. He fondly recalls the first time he stepped onto Starr King’s former Berkeley campus and placed his hand on the Starr King spiral embedded on the wooden beam in front of the old school campus. That moment carried a deep sense of resonance—one that affirmed his calling and solidified his decision to pursue his theological education at Starr King. 

In addition to his work as a chaplain and organizer, Rev. Kevin serves as a community minister at First Unitarian Church of Oakland and as a Consultant for Partnership, for the UU Church of the Philippines. Next fall, he will begin a two-year pilgrimage living in the Philippines and establishing the UU Church of Cebu. As a member of the Global Balázs Scholars Committee and the President’s Advisory Council, he continues to shape Starr King’s culture and contribute to its evolving vision of building the beloved community. 

During our conversation, I asked Rev. Kevin about his decision to pursue his spiritual formation at Starr King and how that choice has influenced both his personal journey and professional life. We reflected on how his experiences as a student now inform his role as a faculty member and shape his approach to teaching. I also invited him to share words of wisdom for those discerning their call and considering Starr King as a place to nurture that calling. 

Stories like Rev. Kevin’s remind us why this work matters—and they offer inspiration and hope for the future. 

Watch and listen to our full conversation by clicking here.