In the act of sharing with one another, we cultivate the sacred in our lives.
Why UU ministry?
Being a Unitarian Universalist is how I keep having hope in humanity and honor the earth for providing us shelter and nourishment.
My journey into ministry was born from the non-profit sector, where I dedicated myself to caring for those marginalized by society, providing services that nurtured their existence in a world that deemed them different, or even less than human. My call to serve in a congregational setting is focused on providing opportunities for communities and individuals to understand the values and beliefs they embody, to honor the sacred mystery and awe that surrounds us and is part of us, and to care for the planet and its resources. These opportunities continue to empower us to navigate this world riddled with chaos and suffering, yet also filled beauty and opportunities for gratitude”
One of the facets of ministry I cherish most is the role of facilitator and coach. These roles help me to effectively convey information and deeply understand the people I serve. When communities share their stories with each other, it honors the sacredness in each person's story throughout their lives and affirms their sense of belonging. It is a sense of belonging to covenanted community, as well as to the larger web of life.
About Misty-Dawn Shelly
I am a white, cisgender, lesbian, married without children. I grew up in a poor working-class family and became professional middle class after attending seminary. I’ve been told that my family ancestry is Irish/English/Italian and I look forward to learning more about my heritage.
I am married to the love of my life and my best friend, Jenna. Our union was blessed in our home UU church in Brookfield, MA in 2001. In 2004, we renewed our vows in our friends’ backyard to have our marriage recognized legally. We currently live in Worcester and share our house with my mother, Sandie. She has lived with us since 2021.
For fun and in caring for my soul, I practice yoga and love a good walk or hike. I enjoy knitting and embroidery. I anxiously await spring each year so I can dig in the dirt and see what awakens from the earth. Our whole family enjoys feeding the birds and keeping track of which birds are visiting the feeder. Once a week we have family dinner followed by a rousing game of UNO!
I share my identities and interests with you as one way to disrupt the assumptions and prejudices we have of one another. In religious communities, we share our stories to honor the sacredness of each person across the lifespan. This invites each of us to see the beauty of being human in this complex world and encourages us to claim and celebrate the truths of our whole and holy selves.
I graduated from Bridgewater State University with a BS in Psychology and earned my M. Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in 2009. Following seminary, I completed a two-year part-time internship while working full time and was received into preliminary fellowship with the UUA in 2011. The members of the Unitarian Universalist congregations of Northborough and Brookfield, MA ordained me on June 12, 2011.
Having moved to Indiana in 2012, I was active in our local community, collaborating with interfaith leaders throughout our city. I've served our larger UUA movement as a Regional Transitions Coach and have companioned three congregations through ministerial transitions. I received full fellowship with the UUA in 2016, surrounded by my family and a dozen members and youth of the Fort Wayne congregation. It was so wonderful that the annual General Assembly was close by in Columbus, Ohio. I served the UU Congregation of Fort Wayne, Indiana with compassion and collaboration for 10 years.
My family returned to Massachusetts in August 2022 for work, ministry, and to support our aging family. I currently serve the First Parish Church of Berlin, MA as three-quarter time contract minister.