Message from Rebecca

April 30, 2009

Dear Starr King Friends,

Our beloved Patti Lawrence, Professor of Congregational Studies, has been in intensive care in recent days, surrounded by friends and family who have been offering her healing touch, music, prayers and blessings. She died today, April 30, 2009.

A beautiful celebration in honor of her years of service to Starr King School for the Ministry was held two weeks ago. That evening, holding her grandchild in her lap, she spoke of her joy in teaching, and said, “All my life I have been surrounded by love.”

Patti gave back that love in full measure. I am deeply grateful for her life, for the gifts she gave to all of us who have been blessed by knowing her, working and playing with her, and learning from her – a true saint.

Patti is survived by her family: Kelly, Stephanie, and Liliana Teague, and Joe Britton.

When plans are in place for her memorial, I will let you know.

In peace,

Rebecca Parker
President


Patti Lawrence

Born and raised a Unitarian Universalist by parents who she says, "lived their religious values seven days a week and placed the church at the center of their lives," Patti Lawrence’s first leadership experience was as an officer of the Liberal Religious Youth at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. She has been active in Unitarian Universalist congregations, district leadership, lay leadership education, and Unitarian Universalist Association leadership for the past 30 years.

From 1985-1991 she served as administrator and director of volunteer services for the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento. Her denominational positions have included president of the Pacific Central District Board and chair of the UUA Pacific Central District Extension and Growth Committee.

From 1996-2003 Lawrence served on the UUA Board of Trustees where she convened the Faith in Action/Religious Education Working Group, the International Relations Working Group and the Congregations, Districts and Extensions Working Group. She also served on the Committee on Committees, the Finance Committee, the UUA Right Relations Task Force, Accessibilities Committee and Anti-Racism Task Force. She was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Davis, Calif.

An experienced educator and consultant to congregations before joining Starr King's faculty, Lawrence taught congregational organization and development over eight years at the Pacific Central District Leadership School, and served as a consultant to numerous congregations in areas such as board development, lay leadership education, worship, and conflict management.

Lawrence joined Starr King’s staff in 1991 as the Associate to the President for Administration and became a member of the faculty in 1995 as Dean of Students and Congregational Outreach, charged by the board to lead the school to greater partnership with congregations. She revised and improved the school's parish internship program by organizing orientations for congregational lay committees, site visits to teaching congregations and an annual internship conference with teaching ministers.

She created opportunities for Unitarian Universalist ministers and denominational leaders to address Starr King classes, present case studies, and conduct workshops at the school. She frequently taught and preached in Unitarian Universalist congregations and led workshops at General Assembly. An advocate of shared ministry, she published "A Theology of Shared Ministry" in The Shared Ministry Sourcebook (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 1996).

Lawrence was named Professor of Congregational Studies and promoted to the rank of full professor in 2003, and served as acting Dean of the Faculty in 2006.

Widely acknowledged as an outstanding teacher with deep knowledge and experience in the many facets of Unitarian Universalist congregational life, Lawrence pioneered the inclusion of congregational studies in Starr King School for the Ministry’s curriculum. She taught a series of congregational studies courses including Congregational Dynamics,” "Parish Problems and Joys" and "Leadership for Growth and Change,” directed the school’s parish internship program and developed a pilot program for lay theological education.

She was a strong advocate of anti-racism, counter-oppressive work and helped establish Starr King School’s priority commitment to “Educating to Counter Oppressions and Create Just and Sustainable Communities,” (ECO).

“Real world. Real congregations. Real ministry,” is how one student described the opportunity to study with Patti Lawrence.