The First Parish UU in Canton is engaged in developing shared ministry as a reflection of our faith values in action as Unitarian Universalists. Ministry is our service orientation to each other and our larger world, whether we are lay, commissioned, staff, or ordained. Our two lead co-ministers thus share leadership with the congregation and its governing board, as well as with our ministerial intern and staff. The lead co-ministers have divided responsibilities so that Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs takes the lead on strategic visioning with the governing board as well as supervision of the intern and staff, and shapes the overall worship calendar. Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh takes the lead in pastoral care support and community networking on behalf of social justice education and activism and preaches once a month. Our ministerial intern engages religious education programming and preaches once a month in a supportive learning environment. In all of shared ministry, the laity are crucial partners for its fulfillment.

Both Clyde and Michelle are from working class first generation heritages and now hold doctorates – Clyde’s is a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) where he studied decolonization of religion at the former Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and Michelle’s is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) where she studied practical and pastoral theology at Boston University. Both Clyde and Michelle are trained as spiritual directors through Still Harbor. Michelle also has made scholarly contributions through her book – Violent Trauma, Culture and Power: An Interdisciplinary Exploration in Lived Religion, as well as chapters in other books. Clyde and Michelle share a deep commitment to bringing indigenous wisdom to the issues of our time with the worsening climate crisis and the intersectional anti-oppression work needed to truly live into a beloved and just community.