The Rev. Meredith Garmon was elected ourfull-time minister (he and his wife, LoraKim Joyner, co-ministered from August 2006-June 2010) at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville on January 31, 2010.

Meredith is a life-long Unitarian Universalist, raised by UU parents, and attended several UU churches throughout his life.  As a layperson, Meredith served as president of the UU Fellowship of Waco, TX, as Vice-President of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - UU in Charlottesville, VA, and as chair of Adult Religious Education at First UU of Nashville, TN.

Meredith has five degrees in four different fields: BA, philosophy, State University of West Georgia, 1979; BA, English, State University of West Georgia, 1980; MA, communication studies, Baylor University, 1985; MA, philosophy, University of Virginia, 1991; PhD, government: political theory, University of Virginia, 1992.

He was an assistant professor of philosophy at Fisk University (Nashville,TN) for four years, 1992-1996 before studying for the ministry. Meredith attended seminary at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (New Brighton, MN) for one year (2000-01); Shaw University Divinity School (Raleigh, NC) for one year (2001-02), and Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary for one year (2003).

He was admitted to the Fellowship of UU ministers in 2004, and was ordained later that year at the UU Community of El Paso, where he served as half-time co-minister with spouse and fellow minister, Rev. LoraKim Joyner, DVM (2004-6).  While co-minister in El Paso, he was the half-time sole minister to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland, Texas for a year, 2005-06.  In 2006, he was again called to co-ministry with Rev. Joyner at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, FL and served in that capacity through July 2010.  In 2008, he received Final Fellowship at the UUA General Assembly. Meredith has also served as a consulting minister to the UU Church of Tarpon Springs (2008), and to the UU Fellowship of Marion County (2009-10).

Meredith has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism since 2001.  He currently runs the UU Dancing Crane Zen Center from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, with meetings on Friday evenings.  He also leads a Saturday morning UU Meditative Worship Service.

Availability: Rev. Meredith is in his office on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 AM- 5 PM.  His day off is Thursday. To make an appointment, please contact Cam in the office (377-1669 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Fellow UUFG Members,

The UUFG Interim Minister Search Team is very pleased and excited to announce the selection of our new Interim Minister, Reverend Benjamin Maucere (pronounced Mah-chair-ah). Reverend Maucere has been an Accredited Interim Minister (AIM) since July of 2010, and has been working in Interim Ministry since 2007. He comes to us from the Community Unitarian Church in White Plains, New York, and served as the Interim Minister at Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City prior to his service at CUC in White Plains. Here’s a brief biography, In Reverend Maucere’s own words:

“I’m pleased that your search committee invited me to be your interim minister! I’m excited about getting to know UUFG and exploring the Gainesville area! Here’s a little bit about me.

I discovered Unitarian Universalism in the mid-70’s and served in various capacities as a lay-leader. Sometime in the mid-nineteen eighties, I realized that I felt most alive and best utilized in my church work, and decided to pursue ministry. In 1988, I enrolled in Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley California.

I completed the M. Div. program and was called to the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in 1992. My wife, the Reverend Dr. Holly Horn joined me as co-minister in 1998. We left in 2005 and since then I’ve served as interim minister to congregations in a suburb of Houston, in Iowa City, and White Plains NY. I received the Accredited Interim Minister designation in 2010.

I enjoy collaborative problem solving. I value the liminal aspect of the interim period, both looking back at what the congregation has and has not done, and helping them look forward to future possibilities. I look forward to working with UUFG to help you lay the groundwork for a successful settled and shared ministry.”

In Fellowship,
Pete Runyan
On Behalf of the UUFG Interim Ministry Search Team

Etherington has been a member of the congregation since 1993 and served as its president in 1997-98. A long-term immigration and estate attorney in Gainesville, he began pursuing a seminary degree in 2010.  He will complete work on a Master’s of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard School of Theology on April 26.  His ordination is planned for May 5, 4 p.m. at his home congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville.

Etherington will work as a community minister focusing on social justice. As part of his seminary training, Etherington completed a one-year chaplaincy internship at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville and a social justice engagement with Saint Francis House in Gainesville. For the past two years he has been a half-time intern at his home congregation, where he initiated an immigrant justice initiative. Etherington plans to affiliate with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), combining legal and financial background with ministry as he works with UUSC partner agencies and builds relationships between the UUSC and congregations.

David's Internship ended with his Ordination on May 5, 2013.

Starr Austin came to serve UUFG as Director of Religious Education (RE) in August 2012.  She considers the work of religious education a ministry shared by the entire congregation; RE is everybody's business. She brings to her work a zest for community building, spiritual practice, and what she refers to as a "geeky love of Unitarian Universalism".

Starr is a wordsmith, an advocate for gender identity awareness and body positivity, and loves to spend time on the water. She has a daughter, Olivia, and a miniature poodle. When she isn't writing, reading, or hiking, Starr is catching up on Doctor Who.

Availability: Starr is in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 AM-12 PM; she is available for meetings by appointment. Her day off is Friday. Please contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 352/377-1669.

Alex Boostrom, a master's student from the University of Florida, became UUFG's Director of Music in March 2013, after serving as the Acting Director of Music from October 2012-March 2013. Alex is a pianist and composer who is working towards receiving his Master's in Music Composition at the University of Florida after having received a Bachelor's of Music in Piano Performance in 2009 from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI.

Alex participates in music in many different ways including writing, playing, and listening to everything he can. He has re-harmonized several of the hymns for the adult choir, and is finding new and exciting ways to engage and challenge the Children's Choir. Alex also teaches piano lessons to several students and is a Teaching Assistant to a music theory class at the University of Florida.

Availability: Alex is available for meetings by appointment. Please contact him at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .