Clara Kelley
Team Member
The Ministerial Search Team is thrilled to announce that we have a new minister!
Rev. Ali K.C. Bell (he/him) accepted our offer to be our next minister on March 26, and started full time on August 1, after working closely with Pastor AJ before then to assure a smooth handoff of the service responsibilities.
The Search Team could not be more excited about this match. Throughout our search process, Rev. Ali set a remarkably high standard every step of the way. Starting with his impressive ministerial record, to his glowing references, through the first and second interviews, and concluding with what can only be described as a magical weekend when he and his wife, Rev. JeKaren, visited us here in Colorado in early February, he only grew in our esteem. We were impressed with his depth and wisdom, warm pastoral presence, commitment to shared leadership, prophetic voice for social justice, and strong preaching skills. We are thrilled that Rev. Ali chose BVUUF to begin what we all hope will be an enduring and meaningful ministry together.
Click the button below to learn more about Rev. Ali. You can see photos, read a short bio, peruse his website, listen to sample sermons, review his exhaustive Ministerial Record, and learn more about why we are so enthusiastic about him.
Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry ended her beautiful ministry with us after 16 years, effective at the end of January 2024. We held a fitting and meaningful ending to her time with us, with many celebrations and closing rituals. We are grateful that Rev. Teri Schwartz and Rev. Ruth Rinehart stepped in to help for a while, and in August of 2024, we welcomed Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman as our Interim Minister. She served as our Interim Minister through January 2026. Pastor AJ Blackwood served the congregation as from February through July 2026.
The search for a new minister was led by our Ministerial Search Team, pictured below. Members of the Team were nominated by the congregation and appointed by the Board in May of 2025. Their charge was to gather feedback about the congregation’s priorities, to put together materials about BVUUF for candidates to review, to consider all applicants, and make a recommendation to the Board. The Board makes the final decision on the hiring of the new minister, who we anticipate will begin serving sometime around August 1, 2026.
You can reach the Ministerial Search Team by email at: Ministerial-Search@BVUUF.org.
Click on the names or photos below to get a short bio of each person.
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