Sabbatical 2025
A GUIDE TO REV. JEN'S SABBATICAL
As she begins her fifth year of service to our congregation, our minister, Rev. Jen Youngsun Ryu, will take her first sabbatical, starting on September 1, and ending on December 31, 2025. The Sabbatical Team has been at work to ensure that Sunday Services, Pastoral Care, and services celebrating Rites of Passage are available to our community during the sabbatical. We have set up systems to ensure smooth day to day operations of UUCE, as well as support for our staff.
Why a sabbatical?
Sabbatical leave is a tradition for Unitarian Universalist clergy. It offers an extended time for study, reflection, rest, and renewal — all ingredients for healthy and effective ministry.
Sabbatical leave is part of our congregation’s covenantal agreement with Rev. Jen as our settled minister, as is recommended by the UUA and UUMA. Just as importantly, the congregation will benefit as Rev. Jen returns refreshed, filled with new ideas and with rekindled energy.
What will Rev. Jen do on her sabbatical?
During her sabbatical, Rev. Jen will seek spiritual refreshment and renewal and allow time for rest and reflection. She also hopes to gain new skills to support our growth as we begin enacting our strategic plans from the visioning process.
Can I contact Rev. Jen?
Rev. Jen’s sabbatical is a time for a complete break from her duties as our minister. To honor that agreement, we ask that the congregation not contact her during this time.
The network described on this page will manage all routine matters, and emergency matters that might arise. The only people authorized to contact her are the Board President and Vice President, the Sabbatical Administrative Minister, the Pastoral Care Coordinator, and the Business Administrator.
Sabbatical Team
A team of members from different areas of church life will work together to support the leaders sharing Rev. Jen’s duties during the sabbatical. The team includes: Steve Kuzma, Jones Hollister, Kris Topaz, Emmet Band, and Izzy Crecca.
Please send comments or questions to sabbatical@uueugene.org.
Sunday Services
Rev. Jen and the worship team are already planning the services that will take place during the sabbatical. During her absence, they will be managed by the worship team and staff.
We will have a few guest speakers, including our former Ministerial Intern, Rev. Jennifer Hackett. Other services will be led by Affiliated Community Minister Rev. Dennis Reynolds, our Ministerial Intern Ember Morgan-Wigmore, in addition to lay led services from the worship associates and others in the congregation.
We will continue to provide information about upcoming services in the Weekly Connections newsletter, as well as on our website.
For worship inquiries, including pulpit announcement requests, contact:
- Worship Team
- Joe Rondeau, Music Director
Rites of Passage
Suzanne Reynolds will help congregants find someone to conduct rites of passage (weddings, memorials, child dedications). sabbaticalcare@uueugene.org
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care and support will be provided by our Pastoral Care Coordinator, Suzanne Reynolds, who has been hired to take on the ministerial pastoral care duties and work with the Pastoral Care Team.
As Pastoral Care Coordinator, Suzanne will also receive and respond to requests for financial aid that usually directed to Rev. Jen.
- Suzanne Reynolds, Pastoral Care Coordinator
- Ember Morgan-Wigmore, Ministerial Intern
- Pastoral Care Team
Church Operations
The Sabbatical Team, Rev Jen, and the staff have been working together to assure that church operations will continue to function smoothly in Rev Jen’s absence.
Business Administrator Izzy Crecca will function as the staff team leader, so questions about church operations should be directed to Izzy.
Rev. Janet Onnie will serve as our Sabbatical Administrative Minister and will work to provide ministerial leadership and support for the board and staff.
- Izzy Crecca, Business Administrator
- Phyllis O’Neill, Treasurer
- Steve Kuzma, Board President
- Rev. Janet Onnie, Sabbatical Administrative Minister
Church Programming
Each area of programming, including Justice Groups, Affinity Groups, and Religious Exploration will have a staff liaison continuing to provide support over the duration of Rev. Jen’s Sabbatical.
Justice Council and Programming
- Ryan Doppelmayr, DRE
General Inquiries: sabbatical@uueugene.org
