Meet Our 2018-2019 St. Lawrence Scholars

Suzanne Kimmel

Suzanne Kimmel is a third-year student at Starr King School for the Ministry.  She became a Unitarian Universalist by joining the UU Church of Davis 12 years ago.  She was the Director of Religious Education at Unitarian Universalist of Petaluma for the previous two years and is currently the adult chaplain for the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists of the Pacific.  She is the mother of three now young adults each who as a youth attended Our Whole Lives and Coming of Age programs.

Suzanne has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for two years building a relationship with a nine-year old boy in foster care and she works as a care giver for a 94-year old woman who has been experiencing increasing dementia.  She loves being a compassionate presence with that family as they do their best to take care of her. Suzanne’s spiritual practice includes daily meditation and prayer.  She also attend church for community worship as much as her work schedule allows.

This scholarship allows me to finish my last year at Starr King School for the Ministry a little lighter in student debt which is a great gift.  This blessing in turn will give me more flexibility with time to find the right ministerial position where I can help promote awareness of Universalist history and concepts whether through religious education or in the pulpit.” – Suzanne Kimmel, M.Div. student

Andrew Chirch

Andrew Chirch is a Master of Divinity student at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley California. Pursuing ministry as a second career, Andrew is learning how to sacralize his experience in the business world through his call to ministry. A writer, husband, and father, Andrew has been a Unitarian Universalist for nearly twenty years. One of his favorite early experiences at Starr King was studying Universalist and Unitarian history with Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson, where he first encountered his favorite Universalist – Elhanan Winchester – whose legacy lives on through our movement today.

Andrew currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he is completing Clinical Pastoral Education. He is currently working at the confluence of technology and theology by producing Done For, a podcast about living and dying well, and Prolificate, a podcast about spiritual support for skeptics and refugees from organized religion.

This award means the world to me and my family. As I answer this calling, I am mindful of how fortunate I am, and feel drawn to the work of amplifying the gift of the St. Lawrence Foundation through my ministry.” – Andrew Chirch, M.Div. student