Rev. Fred Weidmann is the Senior Minister of Hillcrest Congregational Church.  He joined our church in December 2009.  He is new to the church, new to the Bay Area, and excited to be here.  But he is not new to preaching and ministry, and working with others to experience God in their lives and answer God’s call to serve.

Prior to coming to Hillcrest, Fred served as the Director of the Center for Church Life and Professor of Biblical Studies at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York where he developed and directed a professional coaching and consulting program to work with church leaders and ministries to renew and enhance their vision, actualize their mission and values, and thrive.  Before that, Fred served on the clergy staff of The Riverside Church in New York, where he directed the Education programs of the church, including children and family ministries, interfaith dialogue, and small group study and fellowship.  He has also served on the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in New York as Associate Professor of New Testament, Faculty Advisor to the New York Area Theological Schools’ Jewish-Christian Dialogue, and a leader of the conference, Bible, Church, and World: The Challenge of Scripture to Changing Cultures.
 
Fred is the author and editor of several books and articles on the New Testament and early Christian world, including a commentary on the shorter epistles of Paul due to be published in 2010 by Westminster/John Knox Press.  He has also written on the challenges and opportunities for the churches today.  He received his Ph.D. (1993) and M. Div. degrees (1988) from Yale University, and his B.A. from Muhlenberg College (1983), and also studied at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (1984-86) and the University of Chicago (1985).  Fred has preached, lectured and led workshops throughout the United States and abroad, served on the Advisory Boards of Christian Networks Journal and The Yellow Star Project, contributed to the “Quick to Listen” Blog (www.quicktolisten.org) and the San Francisco Examiner, and has been interviewed by local newscasts as well as by the BBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, Jewish Week, The Middle East Times, and ARD German Radio.  

When asked about his ministry here, Rev. Fred responds, “God is at work in the world.  The people and ministries of Hillcrest are the recipients of God’s grace and serve as God’s hands and feet in helping to put that grace to action in our own lives and on behalf the community and world.  Join us, and grow with us.”

The Rev. Dr. Ray L. Welles is the Associate for Eldering Ministries.  A native of Southern California, Ray found a congenial rut in Northern California and spent his entire professional life here.  He has served in congregations in Berkeley, Redding, San Francisco and Orinda.  He “retired” in 1991, and has served nine congregations as Interim or Transitional consultant.

A graduate of Pomona College, Rev. Welles attended Yale Divinity School, the Pacific School of Religion, and holds a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.  He was ordained in South Pasadena, in 1955.

He serves as a Director for Carmel Valley Manor, and has been a Trustee of the Pacific School of Religion. He is an Annuitant Visitor for the UCC Pension Boards, visiting several dozen retired clergy or their widows, each year.  He authored three publications, none of which were ever mentioned in the New York Times, nor are they available on Amazon, but they say much about him:

* Between the No-Longer and the Not-Yet, A New Model of Interim Ministry, 1977
* Prophets and Paupers, Religion in the California Gold Rush, 1848-1869, with Harland E. Hogue
* Familiar Strangers, Encounters with Jesus, Eight Soliloquies by those who Knew Him, 2000 

In 2001, Ray received the Arts Minister of the Year Award from the Center for Arts and Religious Education, Pacific School of Religion.  While in Redding, he engaged Frank Lloyd Wright to design the building for the new congregation there.  For many years he had a private practice in family therapy and Spiritual Counseling.  He also helped design the Interim Ministry specialty, and was instrumental in the building of Orinda Senior Village, in Orinda.

His special interests are marriage preparation and Spiritual Eldering.  He preaches often and consults with clergy and lay leaders. With his wife, Jackie, he has been a docent at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  After owning property in Boulder Creek for thirty-five years, he moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek in 2000. He married Jacqueline Bell in 1952, enjoys his two daughters and six grandchildren who loom large in his life.

Janice Wood, Director of Religious Education, has a Master of Theological Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, History and Political Science.  Previously she served as Dean of Education at Western Career College and as an Instructor of Religious Education at Bishop O'Dowd High School. Janice has also been an instructor for Art and Meditation workshops, and has recruited and managed volunteer staffing for both a Senior Services Foundation and a Women's Daytime Drop-in Center.  Janice has been instrumental in introducing the Godly Play curriculum and brings to us her enthusiasm, dedication and warm heart for the children and youth of our church.