Candidates for UUA Moderator (2025-2031) Co-Moderator Candidate Team: Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young; and Moderator Candidate Natasha Walker

There are three individual photos of the candidates - Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson on the left, Bill Young in the middle (his picture slightly under hers), and Natasha Walker on the right.

On November 11, 2024, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees nominated the following people to campaign for UUA Moderator for a six-year term beginning at the end of General Assembly 2025 and ending at the end of General Assembly 2031 (listed alphabetically):

  • Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson (she/her) and Bill Young (he/him) — running as a Co-Moderator Candidate Team
  • Natasha Walker (she/her) — running as an Individual Moderator Candidate

The election will begin on June 1, 2025 and conclude at General Assembly 2025.

Information about the Candidates

(listed alphabetically)

Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson (she/her) and Bill Young (he/him)

On the left, Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson is a woman with brown skin, short gray hair, who is smiling and wearing a multi-colored stole and tortoise shell glasses. She is in front of a tree with green leaves. On the right, Bill Young is a white man with brown glasses and white hair, wearing a plaid button-down shirt. He is positioned in front of a wood-panelled wall and window.

Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young

Campaign Statement

This is a pivotal time for Unitarian Universalism. Our Association and member congregations and communities are experiencing heightened changes, challenges, and transitions. At the same time, the recently adopted shared values present an opportunity for us to articulate our shared faith in a new way. We are enthusiastic about how these values can serve as a foundation for us to live our call more clearly and more boldly in the world.

Together we bring a broad range of leadership experience in Unitarian Universalist (UU) settings – in congregations, districts, UUA adjacent organizations, UUA General Assembly, the UUA Board of Trustees, and UUA committees. We also have extensive experience in leadership roles in non-UU nonprofit organizations. We worked together for three years on the UUA Appointments Committee, and are excited about this opportunity to team up again. Our team provides leadership continuity (Bill is currently on the UUA Board of Trustees), pastoral presence, and focus on mission-driven organizational leadership.

About Rev. Kimberly

Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson serves as minister of the UU Congregation of the South Fork in Bridgehampton, New York. She has served on the boards of the UU Service Committee, the UU Women’s Federation, and Black Lives of UU. She has also served on the boards of the St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education, New York UU Justice, the Long Island Area Council of UU Congregations, and UU Class Conversations. Before ministry, Kimberly worked as a union organizer for the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). She continues to teach Women’s and Gender Studies – with a focus on diversity and difference – as an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University. Kimberly has a dozen niblings who make her a very proud auntie.

About Bill

Bill Young has been on the UUA Board of Trustees since 2020, while also serving as UUA Secretary until November 2024. Prior to that he was on the UUA Appointments Committee from 2017-2020, and President of the Clara Barton District from 2014-2017. He was on the board and treasurer of EqUUal Access from 2013-2024. Bill has been a member of three UU congregations since the 1980s, involved in almost every committee and leadership role, and serving as president of each congregation. He is currently chairperson of the governing board of the UU Meeting of South Berkshire in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Bill is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LPC, Connecticut) and a board-certified national clinical counselor (NCC). He primarily works with non-profit behavioral health organizations on their planning, financial management, change management, and governance. Originally from Chicago, Bill and his wife, Martha Page, live in South Lee, Massachusetts with two lively dogs and a tolerant cat. Their adult children and grandchildren are spread across the United States, Mexico, and China.

Campaign Website and Social Media

Natasha Walker (she/her)

Natasha Walker is a woman with brown skin and dar hair, worn up on the top of her head, smiles and wears a pink, blue, and green plaid dress and stands in front of a background with trees and grass.

Natasha Walker

Campaign Statement

I believe this role is the critical fulcrum for modeling how others (congregations, etc) can successfully navigate a complex world and exemplify Unitarian Universalist values. In the quick changing spiritual landscape, Unitarian Universalism as a faith has to evolve in both methods and communications. Unitarian Universalism is facing modern challenges and needs to evolve strategy and approaches to meet this moment. I think I can bring innovative thinking and useful structure and rigor to decision making and approach. It is all the more important that we model radical transparency and leading from love, even as we navigate dichotomies of belief, identity, and path of evolution. I can step into ambiguity and enable others to bring their gifts to bear to the full benefit of us all. There is much to be optimistic about and we have to call one another in to embrace tradition and amplify impact.

About Natasha

Natasha Walker is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago and serves as the Developmental Board Chair for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). Her background is in industrial engineering with expertise in process improvement/efficiency and mindsets and capability building. She has been a Unitarian Universalist since 2015.

Campaign Website and Social Media

Press About the Candidates

UUA Media

Links to UUA media will be added here as they become available.

UU World

UUA Moderator Election Nominees Announced (November 12, 2024)