The Umpqua Unitarian Universalist Church welcomes our new minister, the Reverend Annie Holmes. Born and raised in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Annie’s religious search has included seven years in a Francisan order in Manitowoc, fourteen years as a Lutheran, which included some Lutheran ministerial studies, a Masters of Arts degree in World Religions, and a Masters of Divinity degree from Meadville-Lombard Unitarian Universalist Seminary in Chicago.

Unitarian Universalist Achievements
Rev. Holmes received two achievement awards for completing two Extension Ministry appointments, 1997, 1999. Edited the booklet,“A UU Fellowship Resource Guide: Steps to a Successful UU Fellowship” published in the Pacific Northwest District, 1999. Completed the training for Accredited Interims, 2001.

Outreach to the Larger Community
Annie chaired the CROP Hunger walks in Mukwonago, 2001-04. She was the chair and presider of the Southeastern Wisconsin Interfaith Group, 01-04. From 1993 to 1997 she was the vice president of the Interfaith Ministers group in Kenosha, WI. and served on the Board of Kenoshans Against Sexual Assault, and the Women’s Resource Board, Wenatchee, WA. She chaired the Small Fellowship Task Force, PNWD, 1998-99. Co-chair of the District Interweave committee, Central Midwest District, 1994-96. Led five city-wide panels on issues of faith and ethics in Wenatchee, WA., 1998-99. Taught a World Religions Course for Lakeland College, Milwaukee, WI., 1996.

Some Personal and Theological Background
Annie always felt called to be a leader in the church. She doesn’t remember a time when she was not involved in a church setting, either as a minister’s wife for 11 years, a Director of Religious Education in the Lutheran Church for two years, or as a UU minister for the past fourteen years. Her professional development has included two UUA sponsored Extension training; 1991 and 1997. She worked for the Girl Scouts of Chicago as a Field Executive, 1988-89. Meadville/Lombard hired her as the admission assistant, 1989-90. She completed her UU internship at Hinsdale Unitarian Church, Hinsdale, Il., 1990-91. She then served the Bradford Community Church, Kenosha, WI., 1992-97. In 1997 she left Bradford church and took another Extension congregation in East Wenatchee, Washington. She served there until June, 1999. In 2001, when the interim in Iowa was completed she was called as the full time settled minister in Mukwonago, Wisconsin where she served until coming to Roseburg.

Personal Joys
Annie enjoys canoeing, camping, walking, biking and hiking, needlepoint, knitting and the care of her pets, a 16 year old dog and a cat. She is starting line drawing and enjoys working with clay.

Personal Theological
Her religious journey enhances and continually informs her ministry. As Taoism became her religious foundation, she found there were others who drew her out and strengthened her conviction to seek answers to her life’s questions in her own way. In 21 years of religious education she had never been asked what it was that she believed. Now, she has dedicated her life to be the one who asks people what it is that they believe and to be the one who is encouraging them to trust their own religious authority. Professional ministry has been the most joyous, rewarding and difficult vocation of her life. In every aspect of ministry she has felt complimented in her skills and talents with the needs and demands of the work that is to be done.