Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner and Rev. Joel Miller, Co-Ministers

Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner and Rev. Joel Miller

Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner (she/her) and Rev. Joel Miller (he/him) are co-ministers who share one full-time position: Rev. Joel works two-thirds time (between 35 and 40 hours a week) and Rev. Debra works one-third time (between 15 and 20 hours a week). They share worship responsibilities and pastoral care as well as working with the Board of Trustees. Rev. Joel serves the chief of staff and the ministers’ representative on the Operations Council, and has primary responsibility for governance, religious education, operations, building, governance and supporting FUUSN’s Lay Ministers. Rev. Debra has primary responsibility for community relationships, social justice, communications, and membership outreach. They may adjust their hours and responsibilities as they learn more about FUUSN.

Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner has been a UU minister for 21 years, and previously served congregations in Huntington, NY, Santa Cruz, CA, Reston, VA, Westport, CT, and Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. She is the President Emerita and co-founder of the Religious Institute and has written numerous books, including Beyond the Big TalkFrom Diapers to Dating, and What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know. She is the creator of the Sexually Safer Best Practices Initiative used by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Rev. Haffner has been recognized for her dynamic worship, loving approach to congregational life, social justice work, and ability to give and receive feedback.

Rev. Joel Miller has been a UU minister for 33 years and has served many congregations in interim and settled ministry, including congregations in Morristown, NJ, Indianapolis, IN, Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY, and Littleton, CO. He has been praised by many for his pastoral care, organizational leadership, worship services, and thoughtful presence. He is a co-founder of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry and has been a thought leader in Unitarian Universalist Interim Ministry.  His focus on trauma response ministry is rooted in Rev. Miller’s personal experience serving the Littleton, CO, Unitarian Universalist congregation during the aftermath of the Columbine High School mass shooting.

Rev. Debra’s FUUSN hours most weeks are Tuesday evening for meetings, Wednesday and Friday days in the office, Thursdays for writing and study, and Sunday mornings. Rev. Joel’s FUUSN hours are the same but also include meetings Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. They take Sunday afternoon through Tuesday mornings as their shared Sabbatical time off. They may adjust their hours and responsibilities as they learn more about FUUSN.

Rev. Joel Rev. Debra
  • Worship*
  • Pastoral Care*
  • Head of Staff
  • Governance
  • Steering Committee
  • Operations Council
  • Denominational Affairs
  • Leadership Development
  • Finances
  • Lay Ministers
  • Worship*
  • Pastoral Care*
  • Social Justice and Community Connections
  • Membership Growth
  • Stewardship
  • Communications