Our Minister - Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle

Welcome!

I'm delighted that you've found the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church. We are a theologically diverse congregation and faith. We do not have a prescribed creed, but gather in caring relationship with rich diversity of beliefs and shared values.

There are over 1,000 "UU" congregations across North America and a few dozen others around the world. Our roots are as diverse as our beliefs, but we emerged originally from the Free Church tradition of the Radical Reformation in 16th century Europe. Both Unitarianism and Universalism flourished simultaneously with the founding of the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The two denominations were predominantly liberal, Christian denominations until the early 20th century. In 1961, they consolidated to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. Each congregation is self-governing, following the tradition of congregational polity that was established in 17th century New England.

I have been the minister at BAUUC since 2004. This is my first settled ministry, but my third career. You can read my biography below. My call to ministry is one of service. I long for the moment when it will be unnecessary to struggle for women's rights, gay rights, and racial equality, but that moment has not come. I long for the moment when wars will be unnecessary, but that moment has not come. I long for the moment when poverty will be non-existent, but that moment has not come. I long for the moment when the world population universally respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person, but that moment has not come.

My humble hope is that in relationship with one another, and in the presence of all that is holy to us, we can work together in loving community toward changing the world, step by step.

Please click here to contact me.

Blessings,

Matt



Rev. Matt's Biography:

Ministry is a third career for Matt. He is a 2004 graduate of Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Until May 2004, Matt was an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was previously the Assistant Director of the Univ. of Illinois Campus Honors Program. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the Univ. of Illinois in 2001. Matt also holds an M.A. in the Teaching of Russian from the Univ. of Illinois, an M.A. in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, and a B.A. from the Univ. of South Carolina. He is a graduate of the U.S. Defense Language Institute, and is a certified teacher for grades 6-12.

Before his academic and ministerial careers, Matt served on active duty as a naval officer for over 11 years and retired in 2003 from the Naval Reserve at the rank of Commander. During his naval career, he served as a nuclear weapons inspector in Russia; conducted research for the Department of Defense POW/MIA Office; saw combat action in Grenada and Lebanon; and had the opportunity to travel to over thirty countries on five continents. Most of his active and reserve service was as an intelligence officer specializing in Soviet/Russian military affairs.

Matt grew up primarily in Charleston, South Carolina. His wife, Gail, is a social worker, specializing in child welfare and currently working as the Manager of Curriculum Development with the Protective Services Training Institute at the University of Houston. Matt and Gail have two children, Alex (16) and Andy (11). Before moving to Houston in 2004, the Tittles lived in Urbana, Illinois for over 10 years.

You can learn more about Matt and his book, Taking Back Faith: Heretical Thoughts for a New Century (iUniverse, 2006) at his personal website: www.revmatt.org.