Reverend Lyn Cox - A Journey to Ministry

My journey to UU professional ministry began before I became a Unitarian Universalist. I grew up in Prince George's County, MD. My family attended a liberal United Church of Christ congregation, a church that I still love and respect. The pastors and seminarians in my childhood church were women and men I admired. When I was in high school, I considered following my role models and aiming for theological school. I thought about my personal theology, including my earth-centered spiritual leanings and my strong belief in universal salvation, and decided that I was too much of a heretic to be a pastor. A friend who heard about my spiritual journey told me, "You and the Unitarian Universalists would really get along." I thought about her prediction throughout my undergraduate years at the University of Maryland, College Park. When I graduated in 1995, I was still thinking about it.

How well I remember the day when I finally decided to check out the local UU church. Some friends had gotten married there, so I knew exactly where the church was. I was very nervous about meeting new people and learning about a faith that was unfamiliar to me. I put on my Sunday clothes, drove into the parking lot, and saw the sign that indicated worship times. I was an hour early. I turned the car around and headed home. Having had the experience of a nervous visitor, the warm welcome of the UU's of Fallston is all the more important to me.

A few years later, after I moved to California, I tried again with the UU Fellowship that was near my new home. This time I made it all the way into the sanctuary. Much like Fallston, the congregation had a modest-size membership and an infinite-size heart. I got involved right away, and rekindled my interest in professional ministry. I took evening classes at the community college in order to prepare to apply for seminary.

In between college and seminary, I worked in public relations. My projects included an internet service provider, a summer theater, and a women's college. After that, I moved to the education department at the Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University. My experiences taught me that organizations work best when people embrace their passions and communicate with each other effectively. I confirmed my belief that arts and education help people to improve their lives and their communities. Those lessons continue to be useful in professional ministry.

At Starr King School for the Ministry, I fell in love with the study of Unitarian Universalist history. Learning about our heritage helps us to understand who we are and clarifies our goals for the future. I was transformed by studying liberal theology, world religions, and religious education. Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA, is one of two UU-identified theological schools in the country. After I graduated in 2003, I became the Assistant Minister for Education at the UU Society of Sacramento, CA. In 2006, I moved back to the East Coast to serve a two-year term for the Joseph Priestley District (JPD), the regional association of UU congregations of which Fallston is a member. Currently, I am working toward a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling while serving the UU's of Fallston part-time. I live in Baltimore, halfway between school and church.

That's a little bit about my spiritual journey. I hope to see you soon at a Sunday service (11:00 a.m., 1127 Old Fallston Rd) and to learn more about the journey that has led you to this website. May your path be blessed, wherever your search for a spiritual home may lead you.

Reverend Lyn Cox is the part-time Consulting Minister to the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston