I am overjoyed to be UUCB's Candidate for Settled Ministry, and I look forward to meeting each of you as we create ministry together. I have worked toward ministry since I was 16. 

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Ministry and religious studies are deeply engrained in me. For a long time, I tried to pursue ministry in the tradition of my childhood (United Methodism); after all, I knew that system well. My frustration with the UMC excluding the LGBT community and my Master thesis on non-canonical scriptures ​redirected my ministry into the inclusive, non-canonical UU tradition. My calling into UU ministry felt like coming home.

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I grew up in the plains, lived for a time in the northeast, and love to travel the world. My undergraduate degree is in Religion with a minor in Psychology from Oklahoma City University, and my graduate degree is in Divinity with a special program in Education from Harvard Divinity School. I have worked as a hospital chaplain, a high school social studies teacher, and a religious education professional. I have published RE curriculum, and I teach online World Religion courses. Most recently, I currently work as a chaplain to children and adults, focusing on trauma and end of life issues, while serving as the Affiliated Community Minister of First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City. All of these experiences have shaped the minister I am and will become. My path to ministry has not been as traditional as most, but I bring to ministry an array of skills learned in other professions.

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My spouse is Josue (Josh) Flores, who currently works as a Director of English Language Arts for a local public school district. He is an English teacher by trade and passion, and he speaks nationally at education conferences. 

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Our child is Stark Thoreau, and he turns 4 in April. He loves construction, space, animals, weather, and reading. 

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We share our home with a beagle named Molly Jane and two black cats named Seuss and SamIAm.

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UPDATE: We are thrilled to announce our family will be growing shortly after our arrival. Our baby's gender and name will be a surprise upon its delivery.

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