One of the joys of my years serving our UUA as a Congregational Life Consultant, and now serving as the Regional Lead for the MidAmerica Region, has been the ways in which it has given me the opportunity to meet Unitarian Universalists from across our country, and to journey with Unitarian Universalist congregations in times of joy, times of challenge, and everything in-between. Through my time serving our Association, I have learned that no matter the congregation or community, we share a hope for the future at the heart of our faith.

In becoming the Regional Lead I not only get the joy of journeying with your congregations in those times of joy and challenge, but I also get to work with an amazing team of professionals in the MidAmerica Regional Staff. My roots in the work of serving congregations as Congregational Life Staff began in the Central Midwest District (CMwD), in what was a cross between a good “seminary job” and an internship with Rev. Dr. Ian Evison and the CMwD staff. Not only did I learn about the congregations of the MidAmerica region, but I learned from some of those who are still serving on the MidAmerica staff. That experience eventually led towards my becoming the District Executive of the Joseph Priestley District, and then a Congregational Life Consultant in both the Central East and the New England regions. That journey for me began here in MidAmerica.

Since September I have been integrating with the MidAmerica Regional Staff and the MidAmerica Board, as well as closing up my responsibilities in the Central East Region. My wife and I will be moving to Southwestern Kentucky over the month of October. I know that you will continue to work closely with the members of the MidAmerica staff for the support that you have come to expect from your regional staff team. I will be looking for opportunities to meet and get to know you and your congregations through this time of integration. One thing I have learned in serving other regions is that every moment spent getting to know the people and the congregations of a region makes supporting our congregations toward building the beloved community all the more successful.

I look forward to this journey with you! If there are questions that you have specifically for me, please do not hesitate to contact me at dpyle@uua.org. And as always, if there is support that your congregation needs to bring your mission and vision to life in your community and in the world, please be in touch with the members of the MidAmerica Staff Team. I look forward to getting to know you!

Yours in Faith,

Rev. David Pyle 
Regional Lead, MidAmerica Region of the UUA