What people say...
Lara is a very good minister. This sounds like on the surface like faint praise, but it is intended as the opposite: UU ministry is one of the few true generalist professions. Lara is excellent in her primary role at Unity of pastoral care, but her ministry is not a narrow one; she is a gifted preacher, a clear-eyed observer of systems, an agent of change, and a cultivator of lay leadership. Most of us are excellent at a few things, Lara has strengths across the many competencies that make up excellent ministry.
- Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair, Senior Minister, Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN.
Rev Lara Cowtan has been our Interim Minster for the past three years here at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. It is astounding how much we have evolved within this time frame, and truly grown as a community. With grace and strength she engaged our congregation in the hard work of deepening our understanding of who we are and who we want to be, and 'cleaning house’ accordingly. Rev Cowtan offered vision, patience, experience and guidance as we grappled to move forward after a long settled Ministry. Through challenging and often joyous hard work, our congregation is now poised to embark on an exciting future with a new settled Minister, and we would not have made it to this milestone today without her expertise. We at UCV are forever grateful to Rev Cowtan.
- Diane Brown, Past President, Vancouver Unitarians Board, Artistic Director, Ruby Slippers Theatre
Lara is a minister who’s intelligence, insight and wisdom are the perfect companion for her initiative. And that is what exactly what Unitarian Universalism needs from its leaders in the 21 st century!
- Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, former President and Professor of Ministry, Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary
Lara brings maturity and calm to her ministry. She has an eye for detail and is very well organized, traits that will serve her well in the future. I have been especially impressed by her willingness to lead us in our justice work. She works collaboratively with the senior staff around educating and communicating our need to go out into our community. She helped me design a long term strategy on anti-racism, including classes, entering into the Beloved Conversations program and new partnerships with a local African American Congregation and a Mosque.
- Rev. Dr. John Morehouse, former Senior Minister, Unitarian Church in Westport, CT
As a former District Executive of the Southeast District of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I have extensive experience in recognizing the skills and attributes that make for a successful minister. Lara Fuchs-Holm (Cowtan) is one of those people. I have known Lara personally for over twenty-years . Lara is a strong, determined, resilient, kind, and loving woman who will bring many gifts to Unitarian Universalism and the people she serves.
- Annette Marquis, former UUA Professional Staff, South East District Executive, LGBTQ & Multi-Cultural Programs Director
She is warm and caring and kind, testament to success in integrating nursing skills into a pastoral presence. And, as a player in the UUA/ICUU/European international world, she seems to me to be at once both quiet leader and decision maker and dependable follower and ally. I am a Lara Fuchs (Cowtan) fan!
- Denny Davidoff, Former UUA Moderator
I have every confidence that she will be a reliable colleague, a faithful leader, and an ethical representative of our living tradition in the ministries that she pursues.
- Rev. Eric Cherry
We wish her “God’s speed” in her future ministry and know that her genuine heart and care for others will always lead her to where, as Frederick Buechner says, “your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
- Rev. Lynn Granke, CPE Supervisor
- Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair, Senior Minister, Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN.
Rev Lara Cowtan has been our Interim Minster for the past three years here at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. It is astounding how much we have evolved within this time frame, and truly grown as a community. With grace and strength she engaged our congregation in the hard work of deepening our understanding of who we are and who we want to be, and 'cleaning house’ accordingly. Rev Cowtan offered vision, patience, experience and guidance as we grappled to move forward after a long settled Ministry. Through challenging and often joyous hard work, our congregation is now poised to embark on an exciting future with a new settled Minister, and we would not have made it to this milestone today without her expertise. We at UCV are forever grateful to Rev Cowtan.
- Diane Brown, Past President, Vancouver Unitarians Board, Artistic Director, Ruby Slippers Theatre
Lara is a minister who’s intelligence, insight and wisdom are the perfect companion for her initiative. And that is what exactly what Unitarian Universalism needs from its leaders in the 21 st century!
- Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, former President and Professor of Ministry, Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary
Lara brings maturity and calm to her ministry. She has an eye for detail and is very well organized, traits that will serve her well in the future. I have been especially impressed by her willingness to lead us in our justice work. She works collaboratively with the senior staff around educating and communicating our need to go out into our community. She helped me design a long term strategy on anti-racism, including classes, entering into the Beloved Conversations program and new partnerships with a local African American Congregation and a Mosque.
- Rev. Dr. John Morehouse, former Senior Minister, Unitarian Church in Westport, CT
As a former District Executive of the Southeast District of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I have extensive experience in recognizing the skills and attributes that make for a successful minister. Lara Fuchs-Holm (Cowtan) is one of those people. I have known Lara personally for over twenty-years . Lara is a strong, determined, resilient, kind, and loving woman who will bring many gifts to Unitarian Universalism and the people she serves.
- Annette Marquis, former UUA Professional Staff, South East District Executive, LGBTQ & Multi-Cultural Programs Director
She is warm and caring and kind, testament to success in integrating nursing skills into a pastoral presence. And, as a player in the UUA/ICUU/European international world, she seems to me to be at once both quiet leader and decision maker and dependable follower and ally. I am a Lara Fuchs (Cowtan) fan!
- Denny Davidoff, Former UUA Moderator
I have every confidence that she will be a reliable colleague, a faithful leader, and an ethical representative of our living tradition in the ministries that she pursues.
- Rev. Eric Cherry
We wish her “God’s speed” in her future ministry and know that her genuine heart and care for others will always lead her to where, as Frederick Buechner says, “your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
- Rev. Lynn Granke, CPE Supervisor
