About Us - Our Staff
Rev.
Curt D. Fuller, Minister
Rev. Fuller has been the Senior Minister at UCUC since 1999. He previously
served UCC churches in Colebrook, New Hampshire; Morris, Connecticut;
Reno, Nevada; and Agawam, Massachusetts. Originally from Plainville,
Connecticut, he earned a bachelor of science degree in social work
from Defiance College and completed his masters in divinity from Andover
Newton Theological School. Rev. Fuller has also completed graduate
work in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations from Hartford
Seminary and attended the Graduate Theological Institute's Summer
Session on Progressive Christianity. He and his wife, Louise, have
three children and two grandchildren.
Office hours: Monday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Rev. Douglas P. Koehler, Minister Emeritus
Rev. Koehler was the founding minister of the University City United
Church. Although born a native Californian, Doug spent his childhood
in the Midwest. He was a member of the evangelical and Reformed Church,
a predecessor of the United Church of Christ. His undergraduate training
included Harvard University and the University of Illinois. Rev. Koehler’s
graduate degrees include a BD and a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological
Seminary. He served for three years as student minister in the St.
Louis area. He was the park minister in 1956 in Olympic National Park
under the auspices of the National Council of Churches. After ordination
in 1957, Rev. Koehler served the Church of the Good Shepherd in Los
Angeles for seven years. While there, he helped organize two new mission
churches in Conejo Valley and Simi Valley, Ca. In 1964, Doug accepted
a call to establish a new church in University City. He chaired four
Conference Commissions, served as Conference moderator, spent six
years on the Board for Homeland Ministries, and was active in ecumenical
and campus ministries. Doug and his wife, Betty, have four children
and eight grandchildren.
Chris
Hause, Youth Director
Chris grew up in the Altadena UCC church in the Pasadena area. He
has been very involved at Pilgrim Pines for many years. He and his
wife, Dena, met when they were involved for many years with the ecumenical
young adult musical group called Great Day. The group toured all over
the United States, Europe and Australia. Great Day had their home
here at UCUC for several years. Chris has been very active on the
Youth Activities Committee. He helped our former Youth Director Kay
Cook build an outstanding program. Chris hopes to expand the program
with more outdoor activities and a deeper involvement with the UCC
in Association, Conference and National Youth Activities.
Jeanne Stutzer, Choir Director
Music has been a part of Jeanne's life since an early age. Her mother
was an organist/choir director, and Jeanne began singing in church
choirs while in grade school. She played clarinet from 7th to 12th
grade and cherished her time in marching and concert bands. At Converse
College in Spartanburg, SC, she switched to vocal studies and earned
her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Music Education there. She became
"hooked" on directing choirs after taking a conducting course during
her studies at Converse. She began her career at UCUC with the Seraphim
Singers in 1975. Her choral training/experience continued as a member
of Mesa College Chorus under the direction of Dr. Richard Chagnon.
Her musical horizon was greatly broadened in 1996 when she joined
the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus under the direction of Dr. David
Chase, who has been a mentor for her since joining that organization.
Jeanne has been the choir director for UCUC for over 20 years.
Ruth Sayre,
Organist
Ruth has been a church organist/pianist since the 5th grade, studying
piano and organ privately and at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Other
musical education received at Mesa College and Point Loma College.
Other churches served were in Maine, Washington State, and Izmir,
Turkey, before coming to San Diego where she has been organist at
Pioneer UCC, Lemon Grove UCC, and University Christian DOC. She has
been leading and ringing handbells for over 30 years. Ruth is a retired
teacher, having spent the last 20 years of teaching as a Special Education
teacher after obtaining a MS degree and credential from SDSU.
Bonnie Slade-Castro, Administrative Assistant
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM