NORTHAMPTON — Although she was raised in a secular household, the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence’s new settled minister, Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer, said she long sought the sense of meaning, community and tradition often found in organized religion.
Now, after more than 20 years as a Unitarian Universalist minister, Carvill Ziemer said she was drawn to the liberal faith tradition after years spent exploring different mainstream religions. Unitarian Universalism is characterized by its commitment to theological diversity and a non-doctrinal exploration to spirituality.
Sitting in her office at the church at 220 Main St., surrounded by artwork inspired by various mainstream religions, the Easthampton resident explained how attending services with friends after teenage sleepovers sparked a spiritual curiosity that stayed with her into adulthood and eventually led her to the ministry.
“I would go to religious services with my friends. On Saturdays, I would go to synagogue with my Jewish friends, and on Sundays, I would go to all manner of Christian services with my Christian friends,” Carvill Ziemer said. “I really had a sense that there was something important that they and their families had in heritage and in meaning and belonging, and I wanted that for myself, so I went looking.
She continued, “One day, when I was at Smith, I heard a student talking about this place. I had never heard of Unitarian Universalism, but I was so intrigued … I came the next Sunday, and I knew immediately that it was what I was looking for.”
During the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence’s (USNF) vote to anoint Carvill Ziemer last Sunday, in which 173 members of the congregation cast anonymous ballots, she was endorsed with more than 99% of the votes. Her assumption of the position, which is slated to officially take place in August, ends a yearlong search process and a week in which Carvill Ziemer preached two trial sermons before the congregation.
A 1995 Smith College graduate, Carvill Ziemer spent 12 years serving as a settled minister of a Unitarian Church in Kent, Ohio, and worked at the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association for 16 years, at one point as a co-director. She also served as an affiliated minister at First Parish of Northfield Unitarian.
In a world where “evil is rampant” and “greed and violence” are ever-prevalent, the minister said she believes the lack of religious dogma or strict theological propositions in Unitarian Universalism makes it appealing to today’s population.
“Unitarian Universalism has something that a lot of people are looking for: a place to belong, a place to make some friends, do some good and tend your soul. Because we have this non-dogmatic, pluralistic, progressive approach to religion, there’s a lot of room for people to bring their identities, bring their beliefs, bring their heritages,” Carvill Ziemer said. “We don’t ask people to check parts of themselves at the door. They can bring all of that. And what we get an opportunity to do together is share our stories, learn from each other’s experiences, and find the strength and courage to commit again to our values.”
The church’s previous settled minister, Rev. Janet Bush, retired two years ago after 15 years at the congregation’s helm. In the meantime, Rev. Eric Cherry served as interim minister.
Walking through the church’s front entrance Thursday, congregation member Jonathan Wright stopped to congratulate Carvill Ziemer on her new role.
“It’s wonderful, we’re so excited. It’s like this homecoming — now we’re settled,” Wright said to the reverend. “Chances are you’ll probably bury one of us, or both of us. That matters. Having someone to guide us through living and not living, it’s just so wonderful.”
USNF Board President Kate Kruckemeyer, in a written statement, echoed Wright’s excitement for the new minister, making note of the fact that she’s a local resident who was chosen during a national search.
“We are so excited to name Rev. Carvill Ziemer as our new settled minister,” Kruckemeyer wrote. “The search committee looked at minister candidates from around the country, and amazingly, found just the right match here in Easthampton.”
